Being part of an Indian wedding is always a fun experience. But why is that? If you are Indian, you will understand the answer. Weddings in India not only unite two individuals and their families but also encompass a variety of customs, traditions, and rituals that bring excitement to the event.
While the formal wedding ceremony may be the primary focus, the post-wedding celebrations hold equal significance. Let’s explore some post-wedding rituals that are common across all regions of India.
1. Bidaai
It is the most emotional farewell that parents can give to their daughter. It marks the bride’s departure from her parental home through a bittersweet moment.
Now, she steps into a new life with her husband. Girls generally become tearful during this ritual. However, the groom and his family comfort her and take her to her new home.
2. Griha Pravesh
It is a ritual celebrating the bride’s first entry into her husband’s place. She is welcomed traditionally with an aarti. The ritual also demands the bride to step into the house with her right foot first. It denotes good luck.
Also, she has to knock over a pot of rice with her right foot to mark abundance. The newlywed bride is treated as an embodiment of Goddess Laxmi. This ritual marks her official entry into her new home.
3. Game of the Rings
In this ritual, the groom and the bride face each other with a competitive mind. A large dish with milk, sindoor, and flower petals is decorated, where your relatives will place a ring of a few betel nuts.
The couple has to search for the ring a few times. People believe the one who finds it the maximum number of times will rule the household. This playful ritual helps the bride to bond with her new family.
4. Reception
The groom’s family organizes this post-wedding event. Here, the couple enjoys with their relatives and friends once again. It is a more relaxed occasion than a formal wedding. The families of both the bride and the groom can relax and blend during the reception because the wedding is already over now.
5. Suhag Raat
It is the first night for the newlywed husband and wife to spend together privately and intimately. The moment is memorable, filled with prayers, good wishes, and blessings. In some regions of India, the groom honors the bride through rituals and gifts.
6. Pag Phera
Punjabis call it Pag Phera, while Bengalis have named it Asthamangala or Dwiragaman.
This ritual makes the bride happy as she can visit her parent’s house for the first time after marriage. Generally, she has to spend a few days or weeks in her new house before visiting her parents.
Again, it is a joyous ceremony, where the two families exchange gifts and wish well for each other while allowing the bride to reconnect with her parents and siblings.
Conclusion
The post-wedding rituals are crucial for every Indian wedding. However, the ways and modes may vary from region to region. Still, you must not ignore these rituals as they help to strengthen the bond between the newlywed couple and their families.
They also create beautiful and long-lasting memories of the marriage ceremony. Because of these rituals, the bride feels comfortable in her new home. They help her to settle into her new life and feel loved and accepted. So, why avoid the blessings? Just enjoy the rituals!
