Once the marriage procession, called the Baarat, reaches its destination, the bride’s mother applies tikka on the groom’s forehead as a blessing to welcome her son-in-law. The Baarat is ceremoniously welcomed by the bride’s party and the groom is led to the marriage room where the father of the bride offers him gifts.

After this welcome, the bride enters the room and sits facing her husband to be under a decorated canopy, called a mandap. In some ceremonies, both are veiled until they are married. The bride and groom exchange garlands made of fresh flowers, symbolic of the exchange of their hearts, minds and souls. This is called the varmala ceremony and is a significant event in a Hindu marriage. The marriage ceremony is performed by a Hindu priest starting with the emphasis on the importance of marriage. The priest ties the couples’ right hands together with cord and sprinkles holy water over them. At this point, the bride’s father hands over his daughter to the groom in Kanyadanam.

The Seven Steps

The most important part of the ceremony is the Seven Steps or Pheras, a ritual in which the couple circle the sacred fire. The bride’s veil is knotted to a part of the groom’s attire and they walk around the nuptial fire in a clockwise direction. The couple, or “Saptapadi” either take seven steps around the fire or walk around it four or seven times. The seven steps denote food, strength, wealth, fortune, children, happy seasons and friendships. The marriage is complete and irrevocable after the taking of the seventh step.

In some variations of the ceremony, the groom presents his new wife with a new sari and she changes to symbolise her new status in her new family.

Hindu Gujurati wedding variations

In Hindu Gujarati weddings there are only four pheras (steps around the sacred fire) taken by the couple
called the Mangalpheras. The couple recite the Sapta Padi or the seven vows for married life while the groom assists her to touch seven betel nuts with her right toes. Once all the rituals have been performed, the couple take blessings from the elders by touching their feet.

Feasting and celebrations can last for several days

The newly-weds then feed each other with sweet food, which is first offered to the household God. The ceremony ends with prayers and readings, and the wedding party retires to another room where feasting and celebrations get under way. This can last for several days, with hundreds of relatives and friends visiting the house to offer their gifts and congratulations.

The Vidai Ceremony

The Vidai ceremony takes place when the bride leaves her parents house and bids farewell to her family, marking the move from her own family to that of her husband.