Sangeet

Dec 23rd, 2006 - 7:00 pm

Garden Falls, NJ

Although not a traditional function in Maharashtrian weddings, this is a get together time where the friends and family of the groom and the bride get together and enjoy a dance party. The friends prepare performances to enact and the bride and the groom give their own personal performances to display their love for each other....later on its an open dance floor for everyone to enjoy. This open dance floor has some cool Indian and western music mixed by a professional DJ

Haldi Chadawat

Dec 25th, 2006 - 7:00 am

Garden Falls, NJ

During the haldi ceremony, which is usually a day before the wedding, mango leaves that have been immersed in haldi paste are applied from the feet upwards over the whole body of the bride. The groom is also applied the haldi paste in a similar fashion in his own home. A little added fact is that the bride later on applies some haldi paste that is left over from the grooms haldi ceremony.

The Wedding Ceremony

Dec 25th, 2006 - 4:00 pm

Garden Falls, NJ

Ganesh Puja
On the morning of the wedding, a puja is offered to Lord Ganesh to seek his blessings for the success of all the following rituals.
Seeman Puja
As the groom's entourage arrives at the wedding venue, a Seeman Puja is performed as a way of welcoming the groom. Afterwards, the parents of the bride wash the groom's feet and shower him with gifts.
Ceremonial Breakfast
Since the wedding entourage usually arrives in the morning, the bride's parents spread out a lavish lavish ceremonial breakfast for them.
Gowrihar Puja
As the groom is having breakfast, the bride performs a Gowri-har puja simultaneously.
ANTARPAT and KANYA DAAN
As the auspicious time for the wedding approaches, the bride is accosted to the mandap by her maternal uncle. The groom and the bride are not supposed to look at each other as the antarpat ceremony takes place where a silk partition (i.e. the antarpat) is placed between them. Only after the chanting of several specific mantras is the antarpat removed. This is followed with the guests showering unbroken rice over the couple. The process of kanyadan is similar to those of any Hindu marriage where the father hands over the his daughter to the groom and later the couple take seven rounds or pheras around the ceremonial fire.
PHERAS
These seven pheras signify the wedding vows of the groom and bride. The significance of each sacred "phera" is as follows:
First Phera:The couple invokes the Gods for plenty of pure and nourishing food. "With God as our guide, let us take the first step to live with honour and respect. Let us walk together so we get food," the couple prays.
Second Phera:With the second step, the couple prays to the Gods to give them the mental, physical and spiritual strength to lead a healthy life. "Let us be happy and enjoy life. Let us walk together so we grow together in strength," they pray.
Third Phera:The third step is for preserving wealth and prosperity in life. The chant at this stage means, "let us share joys and pains together. Let us walk together so we get wealth."
Fourth Phera:With the fourth step, the bride and groom invoke the Gods for attainment of happiness and harmony by mutual love and trust in all walks of life. "Let us not forget parents and elders. Let us walk together so we get happiness by sharing our joys and sorrows," they say.
Fifth Phera:They pray for the welfare of all living beings in the Universe and pray for virtuous, noble and heroic children." Let us observe all acts of charity. Let us walk together so we have family," the mantras say.
Sixth Phera:They ask the gods to give them a long, joyous life and togetherness forever. "Let us live a long and peaceful life. Let us walk together so we have joy," the couple prays.
Seventh Phera:With the seventh, and last, step, the couple prays for understanding, companionship, loyalty and unity. "Let us be friends with love and sacrifice. Let us walk together so we have friendship," the holy chants signify.
After the seventh step has been taken, the groom says to the bride: "With seven steps we have become friends. Let me reach your friendship. Let me not be severed from your friendship. Let your friendship not be severed from me."

Reception

Dec 25th, 2006 - 7:00 pm

Garden Falls, NJ

As mentioned earlier, if the grooms home town is different than the brides hometown, the groom travels to the brides town with a few close relatives and stays there for all the wedding rituals. Later on the bride accompanies the groom to his hometown to start her life with him in her new home. The grooms side throws another reception in the grooms hometown to invite all the people he knows (again >600) which did not come to the wedding rituals. The function is the same as the earlier reception with different people this time.