This festive occasion, originally of Muslim origin, is usually held in the late afternoon. This is primarily a ladies tea-party; however the male relatives are allowed to be present. On the «mehndi», the future bride has her hands and feet intricately patterned with a paste which is a recipe of he... Read more

A Hindu Wedding is not simply an exchange of vows and rings. It includes a number of religious rites before and during the nuptials, which are performed in the presence of family deities. These represent the importance of the bond between a husband and wife. A Hindu marriage or «Vivaha» is incompl... Read more

This is a tradition rather than a ritual, which has been adapted by almost all the religions in India. This is basically a party thrown as a celebration of the wedding. Evidently, the reception has an ambience of merriment and wild spree with the guests dancing to the tunes of the band. The ultimate... Read more

Proceedings inside the church are a succession of rituals, one followed by the other. The couple walks down the corridor slowly but gracefully till they reach where the priest stands, who welcomes them and offers his best wishes. The priest then commences the procession of reading psalms from the Ho... Read more

The groom’s Best Man welcomes the bride on the groom’s behalf with a kiss on her cheek and with a bouquet, as she arrives at the church in a car sent by the groom.... Read more

This is the celebration of groom’s last night as a bachelor, since thereafter he will cease to be one. The would-be groom, with his Best Man and other pals, drinks and enjoys himself. Prior to drinking, a toast is raised as a custom. Since bachelors are assembled and drink together, this cerem... Read more

This ritual symbolizes the partaking of each-other’s secrets by the prospective bride and groom, as they unveil to each-other the minutest details of their lives and swear by the Holy Bible that they have not concealed anything about their lives. Apart from this, they are also required to corr... Read more

The Valimah is the lavish reception that the groom’s family hosts after the Nikaah. It is a joyous occasion that brings together the two families, their relatives and other well-wishers.... Read more

The Chauthi is the fourth day after the wedding, when the bride visits the home of her parents.... Read more

The bride’s family bids her a tearful farewell before she departs for her husband’s house. The bride’s father gives her hand to her husband and tells him to protect and take good care of her. Welcoming the bride The groom’s mother holds the Quran above the head of her new dau... Read more

Dinner is a lavish spread. Usually, the women and the men dine separately. After dinner, the newly-weds sit together for the first time. Their heads are covered by a dupatta (traditional scarf) while they read prayers under the direction of the maulvi (priest). The Quran is placed between the couple... Read more

The groom receives blessings from the older women and offers them his salaam. The guests pray for the newly-weds.... Read more

The Nikaahnaama is a document in which the marriage contract is registered. It contains a set of terms and conditions that must be respected by both the parties. It also gives the bride the right to divorce her husband. For the contract to be legal, it must be signed by the bridegroom, the bride, th... Read more

The Nikaah or wedding ceremony can be conducted at the home of the bride or the groom, or at any other convenient venue. A Maulvi (priest) conducts the ceremony in the presence of close family members and relatives. The ‘Walis’ (the father of the bride and of the groom) play an important... Read more

The groom arrives at the wedding venue with his baraat (wedding procession). A band of musicians strikes up some traditional notes to announce their arrival. The groom shares a drink of sherbet with the bride’s brother. The bride’s sisters play pranks and slap the guests playfully with b... Read more