I didn't realize how much I loved Indian weddings or just weddings in general. Last week, I found out that my cousin, Karuna just got engaged and well..the wedding is in January. Although, its in India which means two days of crappy travel and misery.But anyway, in 2006 the oldest granddaughter of our family and my cousin, Pooja(yes we have the same name) got married. I remember that whole process of looking for her outfits, going from Pune to Mumbai, invitations, mithai's, catering, clothes, family and lots more to deal with. Phew. Its a lot of work

We go through approximately 6  and more occasions, until the big day and then the reception off course. But here are the Pre-Wedding Ceremonies

Kachchi Misri 

Kachchi Misri or Kuchcha shagun is the first formal ceremony that takes place, after having the approval of the prospective bride and groom's family. In this ceremony, mishri and coconut is given to the girl/boy. It signifies that he/she is the one.

Pakki Misri Ceremony

Pakki Mishri ceremony is the formal engagement that takes place one week prior to marriage. Close friends and relatives are present in this occasion to witness the exchanging of rings between the to-be bride and groom.

Berana Satsang

A satsang called Berana is organized ten days prior to marriage. It is conducted in the name of the Sindhi God, Jhulelal. It signifies the beginning of the wedding ceremonies.

 Saagri Tradition

Saagri tradition involves the showering of flower petals on the bride. This ritual takes place in the evening time, when the groom's married sisters and cousins visit the bride's house with the jewelry made from mogra flowers. They help her wear a silk sari. They prettify her with the flower jewelry. In the nighttime the bridegroom visits the bride's home, where he is welcomed with garlands. A special feast is prepared.

Ghari Puja

Ghari Puja is performed in the bride as well as groom's house by the priest. In this, prayers are done using rice, coconut, wheat grains, oil, betel nuts, turmeric and a number of other spices. Married women grind wheat, which symbolizes the prosperity of home. The bridegroom offers a handful of grains to the priest.

Janya(for the groom) 

Janya refers to the sacred thread ceremony where the groom wears a yellow thread and a guru mantra is whispered in his ear by the priest, or the Mehraj as he is generally known in the Sindhi community. Though it is supposed to be conducted in adolescence, most Sindhi men prefer to have this done a day or two before the wedding. A marriage is considered incomplete if the groom has not had the thread ceremony.

Mehandi

Weddings in India are considered to be a sacred and sanctified ritual. They are long ritualistic and elaborate affair with lots of pre-wedding, wedding, post wedding ritual. The occasion of Mehendi is one of the most important pre-wedding rituals. It is fun a filled ritual, which is celebrated mainly by the bride's family. Different regions of the country celebrate the ritual in a different way according to their own marriage customs, rituals, and culture.The mehandi ( Henna) is applied to every lady at the ceremony. According to the Hindu Tradition..the color that your mehandi brings out..This I find cute. 

The bride is tattooed from her arms to the tip of her fingers and on her legs as well..

Sangeet

Okay...The sangeet is my favorite part and I'll tell you why - This is where all the fun happens. All of the bride's sisters,brothers, cousins and friends work on dances and skits or plays and so does the groom's side. It's almost like a dance party :) The "Uncles" and in their own world with their Whiskey and Coke and you can really see them get on where as the "Aunties" are usually hanging out with other aunties or dancing. Oh boy, and here it comes, I know stereotypically you would think that Indian dancing usually seems like screwing a damn bulb and petting a dog, Yes that happens- but not really. 

Oh how I love my culture.

On the Wedding Day 

Haldi ceremony

A ritual followed by both the bride and the groom, this involves the family members pouring oil and haldi all over the groom's/bride's bodies and hair as a form of purification. After the ceremony, the couple cannot leave the house.
Garo Dhago 

A red thread is tied on wrist of the bride/groom, their parents and all the family relatives would take part in the wedding ceremony later on.
Preparing the groom

A ribbon is tied to the groom's hair by the priest to protect him from the evil eye. Then a red cloth is placed around his neck that contains a coconut tied to an end. Another white cloth is also placed whose one end is tied up in a bundle comprising of with karchi (lucky money), rice, and elachi. Afterwards, the bride's brother and other female relative go to the groom' s house to accost him and his family to the wedding venue.
Baraat 

The groom is placed on the horse and a sehra is tied to his forehead. The groom's mother holds a lamp lit for the household deity, makes oblations of grain to the crown worn by the groom. Then they set forth for the marriage venue along with a band of musicians.
Swaagat

Swaagat refers to the welcome accorded by the bride's family to the wedding entourage. As the barrat is being received, the bride gazes at the groom's turnab form a window of the house but is careful not to look at his face. The women in the barat entourage are welcomed by vermilion. The bride comes out to receive the groom where he places his foot on hers to denote his dominating strength in their future life together
Paon Dhulai 

The bride's brother conducts the ritual of washing the feet of the bride and the groom. It is believed that due to all the prayers that have preceded this moment, the groom is an embodiment of Lord Vishnu on this wedding day. The couple is then seated with a screen between them so that they cannot see each other. Their feet are then washed in a bronze thaali with raw milk. The priest then measures the feet of both the groom and the bride with a thread kept by the bride.
THE SINDHI WEDDING CEREMONY(I'm Sindhi)

After the Pao Dhulai ritual is over, the couples face each other and exchange garlands. Then the white cloth that was placed around the groom's neck is put around the bride's while being tied to the groom's red cloth. Simultaneously their right hands are tied together with a sacred thread as the couple prays to God for lifelong happiness and strength. As the holy fire is ignited, the priests starts chanting a series of holy verses prayers taken from the Holy Scriptures to God. It includes prayers to Lord Ganesh, Laxmi, and the 64 devis to bless the couple. Then the couple walks around the fire. A Sindhi wedding involves only four pheras. After the pheras are over, kanyadan is performed by the bride's parents, which is denoted through the holy water flowing from the parents' hands into the groom's hands through the bride's. The last of the Sindhi wedding rituals, Saptapadi is performed when the couple places their right foot on seven small piles of rice. Afterwards, they touch the feet of the elders to seek their blessings.

POST WEDDING SINDHI RITUALS

Vidai
After the wedding, the bride and the groom are entrusted to the care of the bride's brothers, and the baraat leaves for the groom's house. Gifts are given at the time of Vidai by the bride's father. The newlyweds arrive separately by different routes. As they approach the house, drums are beaten to announce their arrival. The women of the house receive them.
Datar
The rinsing of the bride's feet at the threshold of her new home by the groom's parents is the beginning of the Datar ritual. Then the new bride enters the house and sprinkles milk in all corners of the house, following which she places a handful of salt in her husband's hand. He passes it back into her hands without spilling any salt. This ritual of Datar is done three times and then the bride repeats this ritual with all the other present family members.
Chhanar/ Dev Uthana 
The ritual of Chhanar involves the removal of the chakki that was instated during the Dev Bithana ritual before the wedding. Conducted a day after marriage, in this the couple pray before the household Gods after which they are fed feeds seven mouthfuls of rice, sugar, and milk.
Reception/ Sataurah
The boy's family holds a reception on the evening following the wedding. Some families tend to have the reception and the wedding on the same day. Traditionally, after a short visit by the bride's father to her in-laws' house, the couple, at an auspicious time fixed by the priest, pays a visit to the paternal home of the bride.
I'm really desi :) and I love Indian weddings and just the idea of it. I will attach some pictures from Pooja(Kashish) and Sanjay's Weddings and some from Ekta(Hinaara) and Dino's Wedding(The two most amazing couples I have ever come across) 

Pooja And Sanjay's
Mehandi and Sangeet 

Pooja looked absolutely stunning in her typical traditional wedding outfit.

The Bride's Side

The Grooms Side
Ekta and Dino's Wedding :) 

She looked absolutely stunning on every occasion. Ekta made an beautiful bride. 

The hottest couple around;) 
What a great weekend, I must say! 

The Mahtani's and Dodani's 

 Mrs and Mr. Dodani
I woke up this morning and went through all the dvd's in my room and found Dilwani Dulhaniya Le Jayege .. (It's bollywood and it's all about wedding fever)
Maybe thats what Inspired me to write today :)
Indian Weddings and Weddings in general are beautiful. Pooj and Ektu, you two made lovely brides and I'm sure even better wives. Without the two of you, I wouldn't write about weddings.