Cultures, traditions, ancient stories, cults and customs. Colors, symbolic flowers, particular rites. In the world, religious ceremonies are really many and different. The wedding rites are varied, each unique and fascinating. In this article we deal with Jewish and Indian marriage.
JEWISH CEREMONY
The Jewish rite has an indisputable charm: it is rich in symbolism, its engaging function and full of customs, including rituals, lullabies and litanies with a Middle Eastern flavor and very precise marriage phrases that the spouses and all the guests must know.
It is never celebrated during shabbat, that is, never on Friday and Saturday, many choose Sunday or a day of the week. If it is a destination wedding you can find the right compromise to make all the guests participate.
Let’s see what are the most important moments of the wedding:
– TISH (literally means table)
Pre-ceremony moment dedicated to the groom and the groom’s friends. They gather in a room, around a table and toast the bride. They celebrate new married life and marriage. In choosing the location, therefore, it will be essential to find a space where “Tish” can take place.
– CHUPPAH
The ceremony takes place under the Chuppah – a canopy opened on 4 sides (symbolizing openness to new life). Under the canopy there will be the spouses and the parents of these and the Rabbi who celebrates the ceremony (many choose to bring their rabbi during a destination wedding). Floral and decorative arrangements are very important. They must be carefully studied, designed so that they are personalized, they must reflect their love story, their personalities.
– BADEKEN
The moment when the bride reveals herself to the groom, lifting the veil and showing her face. This, during the ceremony, is one of the most sentimental and exciting moments. It will be essential to have a good photographer ready to take memorable photos of this moment.
– KETUBAH
It is the sacred text that will be read by the Rabbi in front of all the guests or, privately, only with the spouses. The text can be customized according to the tastes and style of the couple, it is a document that explains the husband’s rights and duties towards the bride and that will be kept forever by the couple. Many choose to frame it.
– CIRCLING (the 7 steps)
During the celebration, the bride will make 7 turns around the husband. Rite that can be personalized by the couple themselves. Many choose to take the steps together, or to turn around each other.
- SMASHING THE GLASS (breaking the glass)
At the end of the celebration, after the exchange of rings there is the most awaited moment: stepping on the glass. This symbolizes the beginning of the party and “the opening of the dances”. All guests scream in unison “MOLOTOV” as a sign of happiness and love. Certainly one of the most beautiful and fun moments to observe!
– YIHUD (union)
Intimate moment for the newlyweds in a private room. After the ceremony they remain alone and reflect on the step just taken before celebrating.
– DANCES AND PARTY
Continuous dancing and dancing are a must in Jewish weddings. Dancing is not a precise moment, Jews love to dance and for this reason they must be able to do it at any time, even during the aperitif and dinner. Make sure, therefore, that the chosen location has a lot of space where you can dance freely and not a single dedicated area. Jews literally go crazy for wild parties and dancing. It is typical to lift the newlyweds sitting on a chair and make them float in the air.
INDIAN CEREMONY
Three days of celebration full of brightly colored clothes, painted hands, music and dance. Discover the traditions of Indian wedding. In India, marriage can be celebrated in many ways, depending on the region, religion and preferences of the spouses. In any case, these are days of great celebration, celebrated with vast decorations, many colors, music, costumes and rituals. In India, around 10 million marriages are celebrated annually and, in 80% of cases, the typical Indian wedding is Hindu.
– HINDU CEREMONY
It takes place under 4 pillars that support the MANDAP (canopy), set up as desired, which represents a temple. Fundamental are the 4 typical cushions as a seat, it is important that they are of bright colors and typical Indian flowers. In the center there is a SACRED FIRE around which all close relatives sit.
The priest recites rites in Sanskrit – which is translated into Indian or English. The most important religious ritual is BENGALI.
– ANAND KARAJ (SIKH CEREMONY)
A very short type of ceremony, it always takes place before 12:00 pm, in the morning. It usually starts at 11:00 and lasts about 13 minutes, with the priest reading the Holy Book.
– KUNDALI
In some families, the KUNDALI is fundamental, that is, the horoscope: they try to combine horoscopes between women and man. Even today there are arranged marriages, parents choose their respective companions if horoscope among thentwo fits together.
– IMPORTANCE OF THE TIMETABLE AND TIMING
For Indian culture, attention and attention to the timetable and timing is fundamental: everything must happen at a specific time – there is a moment for everything and the timing must be respected.
– SAGAN CEREMONY (OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENT)
It is the official request of the bride’s hand: exchange rings as a sign of union and families (close relatives) they exchange gifts. Gifts are almost always jewels.
– MEHENDI CEREMONY
Pre-wedding ceremony: all the women of the family and the bride get their hands and skin tattooed with henna design. Many colors, all the friends of the brides are dressed alike and create the Indian BANGELS (large bracelets
decorative). Today for this ceremony it is customary to create relaxation “packages” for women close to the bride
example sitting nail art, make up kits, small gifts to all women. It is a moment dedicated to bride and her bridesmaids, friends and family to prepare for the wedding.
– CHOORA CEREMONY
Rite that takes place in small ceremonies, in more intimate ones. They spread PASTE (cream) on the face and body, composed of almonds and milk, to have a clean, purified skin and to make the bride beautiful.
– SINDOOR
Typical ritual during the ceremony, i.e. the application of a red mark on the forehead, the central part of the woman’s hair – a symbol of being married.
– VIDAAI – GOING AWAY
Leaving the maternal home for the woman. It is one of the most sentimental rituals. The newlyweds walk hand in hand in one direction and throw the puffed rice behind them: “I am leaving the maternal home, but I am leaving a lot of prosperity behind me” is the meaning of this ritual.
– CLOTHES AND JEWELS
The bride wears long skirts. Every piece of jewelry he has worn has owned it for many years (it is typical to collect jewels from birth). They wear international clothes, classic dress and other fusion, more western. Every single part of the body is adorned. Necklaces, hands, rings and earrings everywhere. Typical colors are red and pink.
– BAHARAT AND SANGEET
Small event for the groom and his invited men. Fun. It is when it is groom and men celebrate dancing and drinking in the middle of the street to announce it to the community: loud music, a lot of noise. If the spouses request this moment: Permission is needed to block the street.
Sangeet:
It is the big show of the evening, a big stage where she sings and the whole family dances on stage. It does not end sooner from 4-6 in the morning usually. If it is a destination wedding, compromises must be found timetables.
Each ceremony is wonderful and exciting in its own way! Each couple has a beautiful story to tell and we are ready to celebrate it, to make it unique and to express it in the best possible way, which is personal and yours alone!
