India has long been the centre stage of traditional living, even with the emergence of modern values. Certain traditional values and principles have transitioned beyond the realm of age and time. Weddings are one such element.
On the surface, there is not much to differentiate an Indian wedding however as an institution it holds its weight and value. A marriage is a cornerstone in a person’s life. It is the unity of two families and more importantly places a new identity to the married couple in their society.
Significance of Wedding Card in Indian Weddings
With hundreds of different cultures living together in the country, marriages are conducted in several different formats with different kinds of rituals. However, one aspect that remains common is the wedding invitation card. Designs of Indian Wedding Invitations may differ however the purpose has remained the same. In Gujarat wedding ceremonies invites are called ‘KanKotri’ whereas in Manipur it is called ‘Luhongba Barton’. They hold much significance and to receive one signifies how much you mean to someone.
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Different Types of Indian Weddings:
- Hindu wedding: a Hindu wedding or ‘‘Shaddi’ is the traditional wedding ceremony of the Hindus, being India’s largest followed religion, the Hindu wedding rituals are similar with slight changes in different communities but the essence remains all the same.
- Sikh wedding: A typical Sikh wedding would detail rituals conducted in a gathering in the presence of the holy book of the Sikhs called ‘Guru Granth Sahib’. The event demands to be experienced with boys and girls sing Sikh hymns during the ceremony and grand feasting post the wedding rituals.
- Maharashtrian Wedding: Maharashtrians are a proud community, however when it comes to weddings, they like to keep it simple. ‘SakharPuda’ and ‘Halad Chandavane’ which is the applying of Haldi paste with mango leaves on the body are all rituals that are unique to the Maharashtrian.
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- South Indian Wedding: The South is a large community of different cultures. In general, their wedding rituals are simple but their celebrations are grand. South Indian communities like the Tamils are known for their lavish menus at weddings.
- Gujarati Wedding: folk music, vegetarian dishes, and several fun-filled activities can be used to describe what a Gujarati wedding comprises. Gujarat is a colourful state and you can witness its colours at its weddings.
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- Bengali wedding: Bengal is known for its sincere appreciation of tradition and this can be seen in its wedding ceremonies. A unique feature of the Bengali wedding is the iconic ‘Ulu’ sound which is performed during the wedding ritual.
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- Parsi Wedding: Parsi weddings are simple and elegant. They are most widely remembered for their usage of the ‘Parsi Dagli’ which is a traditional wedding cap worn by the groom.
- Christian Wedding: The Christian community of India holds their wedding rituals commonly in the church in the presence of a priest. Though they are most widely remembered for their white gowns and suits, this is not a strict code to follow and many Christian communities often wear different attires for their weddings.
- Buddhist Wedding: the wedding rituals of the Buddhists are quite interesting. They last for less than an hour and are performed by ordained monks who chant sacred texts in the ancient language of the Pali. Unlike other rituals, the guests and the to-be-wed couple do not participate in this process and are merely spectators.
- Islamic Wedding: Islamic weddings or Nikah, are very simple while heavily adhering to religious principles. The ceremony comprises of readings from the holy book ‘Quran’ and couples exchange their vows.
