{"id":96263,"date":"2022-07-14T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-14T10:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/?p=96263"},"modified":"2022-07-16T16:31:51","modified_gmt":"2022-07-16T14:31:51","slug":"les-rituels-du-mariage-au-rajasthan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/en\/les-rituels-du-mariage-au-rajasthan\/","title":{"rendered":"Hindu wedding rituals in Rajasthan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

India celebrates more than 10 million weddings each year, which means that the wedding industry is doing well in the country of Gandhi ; with an annual turnover of 50 billion euros per year, it is the most largest marriage market after the United States (70 billion). No need to say that marriage is the most important ceremony in the lives of Indians. It varies from region to region and includes a myriad of highly codified rituals. In this article, I will stick to the Hindu marriage celebrated in Rajasthan <\/a>and more particularly to that of the region of Mewar (Udaipur), where I live.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Hindu Dharma sets forth four “Purusarthas”<\/strong> (four basic aims in life): Dharma (duty, moral values), Artha (prosperity), Kama (pleasure, love) and Moksha (the liberation, spiritual values). The purpose of marriage is therefore to accomplish the Purushartha of “Kama” and then to evolve gradually during one’s life towards “Moksha”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The future groom during the wedding ceremony (Udaipur<\/a>, Rajasthan)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In India, marriages are 90% arranged, that is to say that families are responsible for finding a “good match” for their children of marriageable age; however, the final decision rests with the bride and groom. In Indian society, arranged marriages are considered to be more stable at all levels, as usually the future partners are chosen carefully by the parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ritual during the wedding ceremony<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During the wedding, it is also the reputation of the family that is at stake. Thus, the parents do not hesitate to spend a huge sum for this ceremony, a minimum of 10,000 euros for people belonging to the middle class, which is considerable in India. In Rajasthan<\/a>, for example, it is not uncommon for the guest list to number over 1000 people!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The bride<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Let’s now see the main stages of the Rajasthani wedding; I would like to point out, however, that the list is not exhaustive, other minor rituals are inserted between these major phases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Tilak Ceremony: <\/strong>The Engagement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The exchange of rings during the engagement (sagai)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Tilak ceremony in Rajasthan is when marriage is officially announced. The two families meet at the future bride’s house. There follows an exchange of gifts: costumes, saris and gold jewelry if the family is wealthy. Then, the two respective fathers of the betrothed affix a tilak (red mark) on the forehead of the latter. There is also sometimes an exchange of rings called Sagar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wedding murals<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Wedding fresco evoking the arrival of the bride on her steed (Pushkar)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A few weeks before the wedding, certain cities in Rajasthan such as Udaipur<\/a>, Jaisalmer<\/a>, Bundi<\/a> or Pushkar<\/a> have this beautiful tradition of adorning the entrance to the house of the bride and groom* with elegant frescoes, which either describe a wedding procession or represent Ganesha, the auspicious god.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s another way to formalize the wedding and also a nice way to spruce up the house to welcome the newlyweds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*In India, the married woman live with her in-laws.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wedding drawing consisting of the god Ganesh with the name of the bride and groom (in the pink heart) and the date of the wedding – Jaisalmer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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D-4: Ganapati Sthapana,<\/strong> invoking the gods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Poster of Ganesha attached to the wall on which the Pandit (priest) affixes red dots of Kumkum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A few days before the actual wedding, several ceremonies take place. The very first being that of Ganapati Sthapana.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Hindu tradition, no event can take place without a first ritual to Ganesha<\/a> otherwise known as Ganapati, the god with the head of an elephant, symbol of auspiciousness. Ganesha is always invoked before all other gods in Hindu mythology, as he is said to have received the fruit of wisdom from his divine parents, Shiva and Parvati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bride-to-be prays to Ganesha for a happy marriage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The marriage ceremony therefore begins with a prayer to Ganesha: he is invited to enter the house of each future groom so that he can bless the marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Rajasthan, a poster of Ganesha is fixed on one of the walls of the house located to the East. Several rituals and offerings follow, each with its own symbolism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A thread is tied around the Mangal Kalash by the future bride<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At the end of the ceremony, a Mangal Kalash<\/strong> is prepared. It is a recurring element of Hindu rituals, its origin would go back to the Vedas, a set of thousand-year-old texts, at the origin of Hinduism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The bride affixes a point of Kumkum on the Kalash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Kalash comes in the form of a metal or terracotta pot like in Rajasthan that is filled with cereals, water, coins and sometimes even gold and precious stones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Preparation of Kalashs in a temple before being worn on women’s heads<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Mangal Kalash is, according to Hindu mythology, the pot that contains the Amrita, the elixir of life. As such, it is considered a symbol of abundance, wisdom and immortality. It also represents the woman’s uterus and, therefore, fertility. A thread is tied on the neck of the pot signifying the love that binds the family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Family members carry the blessed Kalashs in a temple to the house of the bride’s parents (Udaipur)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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D-3 : Pithi Dastoor<\/strong>, the turmeric ceremony<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Turmeric paste is applied on the feet on the bride<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Just like the invocation to Ganesha, the Hindu wedding cannot take place without the Pithi Dastoor ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relatives prepare a paste based on turmeric, oil, sandalwood powder and rose water which the married women then playfully apply to the face and feet of the bride and groom (during this ceremony the couple is separated).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Relatives and friends playfully apply the turmeric paste on the bride-to-be<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Turmeric is known to have healing properties and gives a glowing tone to the skin. The mixture is also believed to bless the couple before marriage, as turmeric is considered auspicious and protective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This ceremony is also accompanied by traditional songs and dances (now most often replaced by Bollywood<\/a> songs) and the dress code on this day is to wear yellow, a reminder of the color of turmeric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Yellow is the “dress code” of the Turmeric ceremony<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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D-2 : Henna Ritual (Mehndi)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The henna design on the hands of the bride<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

No wedding without henna in India, and that regardless of faith!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The henna rite is very old, it is said to originate from Mesopotamia and its use was also very widespread in the time of ancient Egypt (traces of it have been found on Egyptian mummies).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some scholars claim that henna body decoration was already common in ancient India, but what is most widely acknowledged is that this tradition was brought to India by the Mughals<\/a> from Iran in the 12th century CE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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