Hindu

Indian wedding

An Indian wedding is not only the union of the couple but also of two families; the participants are always very numerous and the celebrations are divided into several days, each one of them is dedicated to a celebration that will drive the couple on their most important day. The rite is very complex and can vary according to the religious stock.

Traditional Indian ceremony rituals

The first of these ceremonies is the “Misri“, which takes place several days before the wedding day. Takes its name from the sugar crystals that the groom’s parents bring to the bride together with other gifts, to wish sweetness in the future of the couple.

One or two days before the wedding, the all-female Mehendi ceremony is celebrated, during which the girls – especially the bride – decorate their hands and feet with henna tattoos with fine and light lines. The drawings indicate the deep bond between husband and wife.

Often the Mehendi ceremony is combined with Sagri, in which female members of the groom’s family bring gifts and flowers to the bride. On the evening of the same day, the Sangeet ritual takes place, completely dedicated to fun and socialization by the two families. The ultimate goal is precisely to celebrate and surround the future couple with joy and happiness, with typical dances and dances that go on until late at night.

On the morning of the wedding, the bride and groom perform two small and intimate ceremonies, during which the bride is adorned with white and red-colored bracelets – choora – which she will have to wear for 40 days.

The wedding ceremony takes place under the mandap, a four-pillar canopy, which the groom reaches following the tradition of the “Baraat” which traditionally would provide for the arrival of the groom on a horse or an elephant. The long procession includes many songs and dances. This shows the happiness of the groom and his family in accepting the new bride.

Instead, the bride arrives accompanied by her father and, on her arrival, a white towel divides the couple. This is removed when the future spouses exchange floral wreaths, to show that they both approve this union. At this point in the ritual, the father of the bride puts his daughter’s hand into the groom’s one, officially entrusting the daughter to him.

Then follows the ritual of holding hands, as a symbol of the next marriage union, in which the groom accepts his bride and promises to her and her parents that he will protect and take care of her for a lifetime.

Saptapadi ride follows after: the couple turns seven times around the sacred fire, which is considered a witness of the vows made by the spouses, while they promise to support each other and live happily together. In some regions, a piece of clothing worn by the bride and groom are tied together for this ceremony. Each passage represents a conjugal vow, a promise to commit each other and take care of each other. From a legal point of view, in India, no Hindu marriage is binding and complete before the seventh phase of the Saptapadi rite in the presence of the fire, the bride and groom together.

Indian wedding in Italy

More and more Indian couples are choosing the “Bel Paese” to celebrate their wedding for the entire weekend or for several days! On these occasions the two cultures melt together, combining the romantic Italian atmosphere with the traditional Indian wedding.

Precisely because the rites are spread over several days, we always recommend couples to take advantage of the wide choice of locations that our country offers: castles, villas, gardens, medieval villages and many other types will be able to best characterize each day to amaze all guests.

The wide-open spaces of many structures allow accommodating even more than 300 guests, where the magnificent scenographies and floral decorations with vibrant colors that best reflect these celebrations come to life! Another aspect to be treated with particular attention is that of lighting, set up with candles and scented candles, alternating with ornamental lanterns.

Italy is a country known for its cuisine, therefore, of course, there are countless catering companies that can take care of a typical and local menu, which we recommend for the welcome dinner. However, many couples for the wedding reception require tasty and traditional dishes from India. For a traditional Indian menu, we highly recommend organizing weddings on Lake Como or in Tuscany, which are the regions that offer a wider variety of choices.

Hindi wedding in Florence

We had the pleasure and the privilege of giving a peek into Indian culture by organizing a few magnificent Hindi weddings in Florence.

The traditions and the rituals, so different from Western ceremonies, fascinated us and gave us an unforgettable memory of each and every day.