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Gujarati Wedding

Gujarati marriages are full of symbolic rituals. These rituals lay down the terms of the marriage and give instructions to help the couple lead a good life.

Mandap Mahurat
This ceremony is undertaken at the outset of the most auspicious events. Hence, the families of the bride and the groom perform this ceremony in their homes a few days before the wedding. The families pray to Lord Ganesh the Hindu God who is believed to remove all obstacles and seek his divine blessings. The puja is performed by an acharya or a priest in front of a sacred fire.

Griha Shanti
Griha shanti is a puja or prayer session conducted at the brides as well as the grooms house. A mahurat or auspicious time is chosen for the puja after matching the horoscopes of the prospective bride and groom. This ritual springs from the belief that the stars and constellations exert tremendous influence on the lives of human beings. Any disturbance in the stars can cause harm or clashes in the marital relationship and the lives of the couple. The purpose of the puja is to bring peace among the stars. The puja for Griha Shanti is conducted by an acharya with the family members and relatives of the bride's father participating in the rituals.

Jaan
A typical Gujarati Wedding starts with the arrival of the groom - "ponkvu" - who is welcomed by his mother-in-law at the entrance. While performing the "aarti" she tries to grab his nose, symbolizing that finally he has arrived, rubbing his nose at her door to ask for her daughter's hand in marriage. All this is in jest.
This gesture also symbolizes his humility and understanding of the tremendous sacrifice that his future wife is about to make. She will, after all, be leaving behind a life without care, changing her name and taking on the responsibilities of running his household. The grooms prospective mother-in-law blesses him and performs a small ritual to ward off the evil eye.

The madhuparka ceremony is performed after jaimala in which the groom's feet are washed while sitting under the mandap and he is offered honey and milk. Meanwhile the groom's saalis - sisters-in-law steal his shoes which at the end of the day the groom has to retrieve by offering her a suitable amount of money which she agrees to.

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Kanya Daan
These wedding rituals are performed in front of a sacred fire and conducted by the acharya. The rituals begin with the kanya daan or giving away the girl. The bride is given away by her parents who abstain from eating on that day, to make themselves pure in body and mind for the occasion. Their folded hands reflect the hope that their son-in-law will take good care of their daughter and never cause her pain. They wash his feet as they believe that he is none other than the Hindu Lord, Vishnu, to whom they are handing over his rightful consort, the Goddess Laxmi in the form of their daughter.

Hasta Milap
In this ritual, the groom's scarf or shawl is tied to the bride's saree. This knot and the joined hands of the couple symbolise the union of two souls joined together in holy matrimony. The acharya chants mantras to invoke the blessings of Goddess Laxmi and Goddess Parvati for the saubhagyavrata or wife. The family and relatives present also come together to bless the couple and shower grains of rice and rose petals on them.

Mangal Pheras
The bride's parents partake in milk and refreshments before the pheras. The Mangal pheras or rounds around the sacred fire must begin now. The couple goes around the fire as the acharya chants mantras. The groom also recites mantras which express his heart's desire and seeks the loving support of his wife. The initial four circles symbolize the four basic human goals of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.

Saptapadi
The saptapadi or seven steps is another ritual that makes up the wedding ceremony. The couple must go around the holy fire seven times. The groom chants mantras with each step. Through these mantras he seeks his bride's support and makes a particular request to her with each step. Thus, he makes seven requests totally. The bride, on her part, promises to fulfill these requests.

Reception
The reception is usually held immediately after the wedding. It is an opportunity for relatives, friends and well-wishers to bless the newly weds, enjoy a spectacular meal with them and give them gifts.

Vidaai
The bride is bid a tearful farewell by her parents, siblings, relatives and friends. It is a sad moment as she steps into a palanquin, a specially decorated car, and leaves for her new home.

Ghar nu Laxmi
The bride's first step into her new home is considered auspicious. She is the ghar nu laxmi or the goddess Laxmi who will bring wealth and good fortune to her home. Hence, the bride is welcomed by her mother-in-law who performs a small ritual. She places a vessel, filled to the brim with rice, at the entrance of the house. The bride must knock the vessel down gently with her right foot, spilling some of the rice over. The rice is a symbol of wealth and by following the ritual she conveys her full understanding of her duties responsibilities towards her new home.

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