PENTECOSTAL MARRIAGE/CHRISTIAN MARRIAGES

"The two shall become one flesh".Christian wedding like most of the weddings of the world have their root in its religion. In fact it is regarded as a form of worship. Christians believe that the God has intended marriage to be an instrument to bring about the welfare and happiness of mankind. Christian life is living out one's baptism. A Christian disciple after being baptized dies and rises with Christ. Marriage is thought to be a part of living out one's baptism for many Christians.An ideal Christian marriage has the "Christ as the head, the husband, of each partner in the marriage individually; both man and woman, as part of the church, are the bride of ChristIt implies more than the oneness of bodies, it indicates oneness of souls.Christian wedding usually takes place in a Church, before a priest. asian bride,bride and groom,india matrimonial,kerala matrimonial,marriage,matrimonial sites,matrimonials,muslim matrimonial,punjabi matrimonial.,shaadi,tamil matrimonial,
telugu matrimonial A Christian bride traditionally wears a white gown. Her head is covered with a white veil and a bunch of white flowers crown her. Both the groom and the bride accept each other in front of the priest.Bridal Wear White gown is the most common dress worn by Christian brides worldwide. It came into being because people thought that it represented purity, affluence and virginity. She also wears a veil of net and carries a bouquet of flowers in her arm.Saree is also used by brides in many places.n the state of Kerala where the quality of ornaments worn by a bride decides the social status and honour of her family, pentecost weddings stand aloof with simplicity. After extensive background checks, including financial and social standing, and several meetings later, between the parents of bride and groom, the actual players get to encounter each other. Once things are endorsed, they have to notify their individual churches to procure sanction. Once the sanction is granted, they have to undergo a marriage preparation course conducted by the church. After that, at a day of their convenience (except on Fridays), they have to present themselves before the church officer for "manasammatham" (engagement), accompanied by friends and relatives. A prayer will be held before engagement ceremony and afterwards the vicar gives the blessing. Rings can be swapped after this, but it is not there in the general itinerary. Two male persons from both the parties have to stand witness for this ceremony. This will be recorded in the church register. After this for the next 3 successive Sundays, while the church is in congregation, this engagement will be announced. This is to inform others and to give them a chance to file objection, if they have any. Alternatively this information will be displayed at the church notice board. If some objections are noticed, church will conduct an inquiry regarding this and proper actions would be taken. There is no bar on breaking the engagement.The parents of the bride and groom, after mutual consultations, fix a date for the marriage. Normally the wedding is held at the diocese of the groom.On the appointed day, both the bride and groom, along with their relatives and friends, will reach the marriage place before the appointed time. At the given time, both the groom and bride will enter the church, escorted by relatives and friends, and proceed towards the altar. Some of the customs of traditional kerala wedding, "thalikettu" the process of tying the sacred thread around bride's neck, giving "mantrakodi" the wedding sari, are incorporated into the Christian wedding. As soon as the vicar enters the altar, the process of marriage (divyabali) begins. Reciting of those portions of bible which are relevant to the marriage function will be done by the vicar as well as the congregation, accompanied by music.

MUSLIM MARRIAGES

The Muslims have some special rituals and customs which they follow on the occasion of a wedding.The Muslims are one of the best people when it comes to showing their love.They are very trustworthy and this has lead to the happy living between Hindus and Muslims in India inspite of communal riots.This is one of the facts which you would realize when you visit any of the muslim weddings. In the earlier days, both the bride's and the bridegroom's places were traditionally used to hold the different muslim wedding customs. But in the modern day India many of the ceremonies are held in the banquet halls.The Muslim girls dress will be pardha,dress covering whole body or a veil “lachha” with a veil covering head.There will be dance ceremonies on and before the days of marriage.Muslim brides usually get married at an earlier age and so most of them will be arranged marriages.

KERALA MARRIAGES

Kettukalyanam was the practice among Nayars (also Kshatriyas, Ezhavas, Arayas, pulayas and even certain tribes to conduct ritual marriages of their daughters usually several girls of different age groups belonging to a tarawad had their marriage conducted in the same place and on the same occasion. The adult males married the girls. Some times one adult married several women.In some cases, the bridegroom belonged to the Kshatriyas or Aryapattan or Elayatu communities lower status sub-castes among Nambootiris.He also acted as the priest.He tied a sacramental thread around the neck of the bride. Then the brother of the child bride carried her on his shoulders to a decorated pandal, a thatched shed improvised for the occasion in the front courtyard of the house.The bride would be in her wedding shawl (mandrakodi) which covers her face as a veil. After the wedding is performed by tying the thread, the priest - bridegroom washes his hands, an act which symbolises his severance of all relationship with the girl whom he had just initiated into wedlock. The real marriage of the girl has yet to take place after she attains puberty. But for a girl to attain puberty before she had her Kettukalyanam among Nayars, Kshatriyas, Tiyyas is very expensive, elaborate and festive than the real marriage ceremonies. The ritual marriage ceremony would be concluded by sumptuous feasts for four days consecutively in which friends and relatives would participate. On the fourth day, the women of the village took a ceremonial bath along with the girl and returned to her home to make merry and rejoice with dances and songs.FOR HINDU, Marriage is the attempted union of two different families rather than the union of two individuals. Social status, financial security and a host of other things are take into consideration while searching for prospective matches. It is assumed that when the horoscopes foretell compatibility, things will progress smoothly. The young people get a chance to see each other. But, in most cases, what makes the marriage work is the trouble shooting done by the parents. After the prospective horoscopes are matched "nakshatra porutham" matching of the stars by the astrologer, an auspicious day and time is fixed.

TAMIL MARRIAGES

The Tamil community is fairly large and Tamil weddings are usually well attended by close as well as distant relatives. The Tamilians believe in simple living, hence their weddings are not necessarily extravagant affairs. A special marriage hall - 'Kalyana Mandapams' is booked for the occasion and decorated with flowers and lights. The date for the wedding is fixed after consulting the Hindu calendar. Tuesdays and Saturdays are not auspicious for weddings and so are Rahu Kaalam and Yama Kandam.So the wedding time is fixed accordingly. The bride's birth star is used to fix the most appropriate date and time for the wedding. Once the match is finalized, a private function is held to draw up the marriage agreement. On an auspicious day priests from either side meet in the groom's house and the two parties exchange the marriage agreement. The agreement is placed on a plate along with bananas, coconuts and betel leaf. The terms of the marriage too are announced by the parties and accepted. Usually the girl is presented with a silk sari by the groom's family and the groom receives clothes or cash in lieu.'Rangoli' designs can be seen at the entrance of the marriage halls, which match the mood of the occasion and beckon a hearty welcome to the well-wishers who arrive for the wedding. Flowers are in abundance at a Hindu wedding. They are both present in the form of decorations around the hall and for the bride, and also used in the wedding prayers as offerings to God. With the parents of the bride, the priest performs Ganesh Pooja. The bride is asked to come out and sit in the venue. The groom's party gives the bride a new sari. Then the bride is seated and a tilak of chandan and kumkum is applied to her forehead. The pallav of her sari is filled with fruits, paan supari, turmeric, kumkum, coconut and flowers and tied around her waist. An aarti is performed for her.

PUNJABI MARRIAGES

Punjab is perhaps the most colorful state of India. Punjabis are generally known as large-hearted cheerful people and they live their life joyously and vigorously. People out here believe in enjoying every single moment of their lives. No doubt their marriage ceremonies are one big carnival gaieties and jubilation. The culture of Punjab is very rich and the people are so attached to their land that they have still preserved their tradition in it's very original form.They follow a number of rituals and perform music and dance programmes on every evening till the wedding day. The wedding dress for the girl includes a Sharara, which is a long following skirt and blouse and a dupatta to cover the head.The groom wears a Sherwani or a traditional salwar and kurta. But there are no hard and fast rules here.The time for the "pherey" or the actual wedding comes late in the evening. On this occasion, the boy and the girl are made to sit in front of the Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhs' holy book. The brief ceremony of the circumambulation of the Granth Sahib ends with the reading of the ardas, a rousing salutation to the ten gurus of the Sikhs. Bride's father puts a ring on the boy's finger and then he gives his daughter to the boy. This ritual is known as the Kanyadaan. It is after the kanyadaan that the pheras begin. The groom's sister ties the bride's sari to the boy's turban.The bride's chunni has at one of its end a small knot containing meva,chuara,mishri,badam and silver coin.At the time of ongoing marriage the boy's sister-in-laws hide away his shoes in a ritual called Juta Chepai.They ask the boy for money in exchange for the shoes.

KASHMIRI MARRIAGES

Kashmir is known as "Paradise on Earth", the land of beautiful valleys and snow-clad mountain peaks, stretching plains with flowerbeds and frizzy air. The Kashmiri society has more affinity with the societies of India rather than the other Himalayan people. Structurally, the society is complex and generally stratified and there is a caste system.There is an unique language adhered to the people known as Kashmiri language.Kashmiris are one of the most colorful people on earth.Kashmir form a distinct cultural and ethnic group.This characteristic trend is reflective in their marriages as well. It is the state perhaps with the maximum number of customs and rituals. And to be odd enough, these rituals are more of a enjoyable nature rather than the orthodox type.A Kashmiri marriage also gives opportunities to all the relatives to enjoy and participate in it substantially.Right from the Kasamdry to the Valeema, it's a long list of events and literally speaking a festival rather.The bridal dress is very elaborate for the Kashmiri girls. The bride has to wear a headwear.The cap is folded two to three times and lined with either silk or cotton from inside. Kashmiri groom usually wears a pheran and the waistband.A sword at his waistband and local embroidered shoes are also normally used for the occasion.

SYRIAN MARRIAGES

The Syrian Christians of Kerala were originally Namboodiri Brahmins and their conversions took place during St. Thomas' visit to India about AD 46.Their Church is the Syrian Orthodox Church, the head of which is known as Catholicos and he resides in Kottayam, Kerala. Although they embraced Christianity,the Syrian Christians retained many of their Hindu customs and till date their marriage rituals follow many of the old Hindu traditions.The Syrian Christians of Kerala were originally Namboodiri Brahmins and their conversions took place during St. Thomas' visit to India about AD 46 and probably continued for several centuries following.One of the best and most reliable source of information about the Syrian Christians of Kerala is written by a Professor/Writer Z.M. Parret.Their Church is the Syrian Orthodox Church and the head of church is known as Catholicos of the East, also known as “Malankara Metropolitan” (Malankara literally means the shores of the mountains). His Holiness resides in Devalokam (abode of the God’s), Kottayam, Kerala. Although they embraced Christianity, the Syrian Christians retained some of their Hindu customs and till date their marriage rituals follow some of the old Hindu traditions.A typical Syrian Christian wedding is an elaborate affair and is usually arranged by the elders with the full knowledge of the boy and the girl. Always the bride's family makes the proposal to the groom's family, and subject to the boy’s family accepting the proposal or rejecting the proposal depending on the status of the family, the dowry the girl’s family is able to provide and finally the boy and girl seeing each other and giving their consent or rejection.

BENGALI MARRIAGES

The Bengali wedding is an attractive affair with plenty of unique customs.The bride’s parents lovingly prepare all their precious daughter’s favourite Bengali delicacies for her.The Gaay Halood is the applying or tumeric and fragrant oils on the groom to make him beautiful.The groom’s sisters and cousins begin to make fun of him.The turmeric is then sent to the bride’s house.Before sunrise, the bride is given curds. Then she is not allowed to eat anything till the ceremonies are over.The turmeric and gifts and are taken to the groom’s house.The rohu fish is the biggest gift and after that there are prayers.During the prayers, seven married women give pearl bangles to the bride.Silver and metal bangle are sent for the groom. The symbol of a happy and prosperous married life. Boyeejothri is the arrival of the bride’s relatives to invite the groom and his family to the venue of the wedding.When the groom arrives, he is welcomed with lamps,honey,curds.The groom is then gifted a shawl and a dhoti which he must wear for the ceremony. As the ceremony begins, the groom awake a look at the bride’s face which is covered by betel leaves. The turosome exchange looks. Then they exchange garlands. During the wedding ceremony, a white cloth is held over the bride and groom. The bride is then handed over to the groom. The ‘hasthmilap’ is next. The couple’s hands are symbolically tied together. Then comes the ‘saptapadi’ and the ‘Sindhoor Dhaan’ where the groom applies vermilion on the bride’s forehead.According to Bengali tradition, the groom must stay at the bride’s house.The young boys and girls in the family surround them and it is time for fun and laughter. They sing and dance through the night.After the wedding, the groom returns his house with his bride.With a fish is one hand and a bowl of water in the alter, the groom leader the bride to step on a floor with rice flour.The bride steps on a platter.Its marks get imprinted on the floor.The ‘bhoubhat’ is held on the next day.The bride cooks a delicious meal for the family.

TELUGU MARRIAGES

Comprising the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Hyderabad is the Capital of Andhra Pradesh. It is famous as the center of the fabulously wealthy Nizams of Hyderabad. Andhra Pradesh is known as the Cyber State of India. Andhra Pradesh has a rich and varied cultural heritage.The customs, rituals, traditions and conventions are unique to the state. It has hordes of treasures in the form of artistic dance forms, theatre performances, different local festivals etc. Andhrites are progressive minded hardworking people who have their roots entrenched deep in culture. The royal influence of the state lends a colorful aura to its people and their affairs. And, wedding is no exception. Andhra weddings are as zany and glitzy as the palace of Nizam and IT industry blooming in Hyderabad. Telugus marry within their community only. A Brahmin would marry off his daughter to a Brahmin only. Match between Brahmin and non-Brahmin is not generally made unless the girl or the boy is exceptional. Matches are tried to be made by word of mouth among known people. If it doesn't work only then, advertisement in the newspapers are given. The dress code for the bride is a saree - mostly a red one or any other similar bright color. She would gold and pearl jewellery. Pearl is exceptional as it is a Hyderabadi specialty. The bride would also wear flowers in hair. The Telugu marriage ceremony is striking as well as fabulous. It has the girl's mama or the maternal uncle carrying the bride in a bamboo basket to the mandap.The bride is well adorned in a bright coloured saree and precious jewellery. As per custom the girl would carry some betel leaves, betel nuts, a coconut, a sandalwood stick and a red pumpkin. The procedure of the marriage is such that a curtain is placed between the bride and groom, so that they do not see each other till the wedding is completed.

BIHARI MARRIAGES

Weddings are the festivals of Biharis with large numbe of celebrations an preparations.The wedding customs which are followed in the country of India varies from one part of it to another.The country consists of people who belong to different faiths and culture. Thus one of the factors on which the Bihari wedding customs depend is the religion of the people who are getting married.Another factor which comes into play is the caste of the person, particularly if he or she follows the faith of Hinduism The celebrations and the customs of the Bihari weddings depend on these are various other factors. Sending out invitation cards is one of the traditions which is followed in Bihar during a wedding.If there is one country which knows how to celebrate the special occasions, then it has to be the country of India. You just have to see the way the Indians celebrate the occasion of a wedding, to realize that the Indians love celebrating the happy moments of life. Different states of the country have different ways of celebrating a wedding

PARSIS MARRIAGES

The bridegroom's principal ceremonial dress is the Jama-pichori, or sayah, which is a loose flowing dress full of folds and curls. It is always white in color. The upper garment (sari) of the bride also is a loose dress full of folds and curls. The bridegroom holds in his hand a shawl, which is considered to be, in India, an emblem of respect and greatness. The bride and the bridegroom are at first made to sit opposite each other, separated by a piece of cloth held between them by two persons as a curtain, so that they may not see each other. Their hands are joined and the curtain is held over the hands. It is dropped after the hand-fastening ceremony. This part of the ritual signifies that the separation which hitherto existed between them, no longer exists now, and that they are now united in the bond of matrimony. As long as the curtain is held between them, they sit opposite each other, but on its removal, they are made to sit side by side. This also signifies that they, who were separate upto then, are now united togetherWhen the bride and bridegroom seat themselves opposite each other, separated by a curtain, the two officiating priests pass round the chairs of both a piece of cloth, so as to enclose them in a circle. This circle symbolizes unity. The ends of the cloth are tied together with the recital of the sacred formula of Ahunwar or Yatha Ahu Vairyo. This signifies the tying of the marriage knot. The bride and bridegroom are given a few grains of rice in their left hands when their right hands are fastened together. At the close of the above ritual of hand-fastening, of tying the marriage knot, and of encircling the couple, the servant who holds fire in a vase places some frankincense on it. This is a signal for the couple to throw the rice they hold in their hands over one another. This process is watched at times with some interest by the friends of the bride and the bridegroom.

BUDDHIST MARRIAGES

The Buddhist views on marriage are very liberal.In Buddhism, marriage is considered as personal and individual concern, and not as a religious duty. Buddhism does not compel a person to be married. It does not force somebody to remain as a bachelor. Neither it wants one to lead a life of total chastity. It is not laid down anywhere that Buddhists must produce children or regulate the number of children that they produce. Buddhism allows each individual the freedom to decide for himself all the issues pertaining to marriage. It might be asked why Buddhist monks do not marry, since there are no laws for or against marriage.The reason is obviously that to be of service to mankind, the monks have chosen a way of life which includes celibacy. The Buddhist bride has this dress made of brocade called Bhaku. The dress resembles a sarong, only it has to be full length.Bride wears it with a sleeved blouse, Hanju. The hanju is usually made of Chinese silk called khichen.She also wears aspecial coat and a scarf.Some unusual jewellery s also worn by her, those made of large precious and semi-precious stones for example turquoise, coral, pearl, etc.These jewellery would be worn around the neck and also on the forehead by traditional family girls.The brides also wore special shoes and hat in the earlier days but this is not in fashion these days. Among the Buddhists either the parents or the boy choose his prospective bride. Once it is decided that the you want to marry this particular girl, a family friend would usually go to the girl's house. He would carry a bottle of whisky and a white silk scarf called khada to offer. It is meant to see whether they give a nod to the proposal. This type of visit is usually known as Khachang.In case the family agree, the next step after Khachang is a meeting between the two families. In such a meeting, the members of both the families compare kikas. They set a good date on which the engagement can take place.

JAIN MARRIAGES

Jainism advocates the peaceful co-existence and interaction of two different living organisms in mutual beneficence or mutual dependence. Life is regarded as a gift to be shared together, helping each other to exist and grow. Jains have this wonderful prayer in their hearts always for forgiveness for all living beings also seeking and receiving the forgiveness of all beings. Also prayer craving for the friendship of all beings. Jains regard marriage as more or less a worldly affair. Marriage and family raising are recommended to all the Jain Shravakas.Jains believe in marrying within the community only. They feel that the children thus born would also become Jains only. They mostly find partners for their eligible boy or girl by word of mouth. They intimate their willingness to get their children married to the other known people in their community. Modern day advertising through newspapers and engaging marriage bureaus are also in vogue these days.The Jain brides wear sarees only. The preferred color is red or any other bright color.

MANIPURI MARRIAGES

Manipuri people are simple and largely untouched by the pollution of modern living. They love outdoor life and natural surroundings. The general facial characteristic of the Manipuris are of the Mongolian type. There is a great diversity of the features among them. The people are very good looking, fair, muscular and broad chested. Manipuri girls usually have brownish black hair, brown eyes, fair complexions, straight nose and rosy cheeks.Marriage in society is based on the Hindu pattern and mostly Aryan and non-Aryan elements having certain traditional customs. Out of the eight kind of marriage as referred in the Monu Songhita only Brahma and Kanya or Prajapatya are prevalent in the Society. There is the practice of Gandharva or the secret marriage of Arjuna with Chitrangoda, the princes of Manipur, suggests as the Gandharva style of marriage.

UTTAR PRADESH MARRIAGES

The customs which are followed on the occasion of a wedding, in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, depends a lot on the religion and caste of the persons getting married. The majority of the people in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh are Hindus. Thus you would find that almost all the Hindu traditions, which are meant to be followed on the event of a marriage, form an integral part of the different UP wedding customs. It is quite normal for the guests of the marriage party to bring gifts for the bride and the bridegroom. Presenting weddings gifts is an age old tradition which is followed not only in UP but also throughout the country of India.

GUJARATI MARRIAGES

The meeting of the two hearts of the bride and groom is the essence of the Gujarati wedding. The wife is seen as one who fulfils her duties to the man faithfully.The Gujarati wedding begins with an extremely fun filled ritual. This is called ‘poccav’. The rituals is that the bindies mother must catch the bridegroom’s nose. During the time, the wedding is officially announced, the groom rubs his nose on the door. His motherinlaw then holds his nose. Next comes the ‘madhupaarka rictual. Here the groom’s feet is washed, and he is given a warm welcome with milk and honey. Meanwhile, the brides sister steals the groom’s shoes and the groom offers her gifts to get his shoes back. Then comes the exchange of garlands. It is called ‘Jay Maala’.The ‘mandap’ for a Gujarati wedding is covered with a white cloth. This portion is called ‘Anthar paat’. It is the bride’s maternal uncle who invites the groom to the mandap. After the kanya dan is over, the couple exchange garlands. A senior member of the family ties s string around the groom’s neck to supposedly cast off the evil eye. There are seven rituals in a Gujarati wedding of which four are dharmam, artham, kaamam and moksham. Later during the ritual called ‘sapthapathy’, the groom touches the toes on the bride’s right leg seven time using the aeronaut. Next cames the sowbhagyavathy. During this custom, all the married woman folk in the family whisper the sowbhagyavathy mantra into the bride’s right ear one by one.The new bride is than welcomed into the groom’s home by his mother with a platter filled with rice grains.This is then placed on the floor near the entrance door and the bride pushes it down with her right leg as she enters. That is symbolic of the entry of Goddess Lakshmi the home. And the wealth she brings with her. And finally, there is a fun filled game. A little sindhooram is mixed with milk is a pot and a few coins and a ring aredropped into it. The bride and groom must then find the ring. They will get seven chances for this and game can be played four times.

INDIAN WEDDINGS

Wedding is an important stage in the life of every person.This is the time when two people agree to share their sorrow and joys with one another for the rest of their life.”Marriages are said to be the God’s gift of a partner to humans to spend their life happily.Leading a happy and satisfied married life is one of the things which the people expect from their lives.One of the countries of the world where a great deal of importance is paid to the rituals and customs associated with the event of marriage is India.The wedding customs in India vary from one place in the country to another.India is known worldwide for its diversity and richness in culture.It is one of the very few countries where modernity and tradition form a perfect blend. In fact,these paradoxes attached to this land have only added to its beauty and splendour.The importance of wedding in India lies in the fact that Indians have a strong belief in the institution of marriage.So wedding here is one of the most significant and celebrated occasions.Another factor that makes Indian weddings so fascinating is the variety that is witnessed in the weddings of different regions and religions of the country.It is a true representation of the diverse nature of the land.People in different places celebrate this auspicious occasion according to their own rituals and customs.Large number of religions exist in India and they all live harmoniously.Also people in different states have their own customs for marriage like south Indian wedding is different from a wedding in northern India or a Gujarati wedding can be different from the Oriya wedding.Along with the difference in the customs and the proceedings, variety can be witnessed in the Indian bridal wedding dress, which can be anything from the wedding sari to a traditional lehenga. Also, the wedding decoration may vary to suit the diverse requirements and desires of different people. The decoration also depends on the wedding venues in India and venue being such an important factor, there is no dearth of exotic venues in India.Wedings are performed in temples,churches or even at big halls specially decorated for the occasion.Brides and Grooms are tied up to live together through a special ceremony as provided by each religion which is known as wedding or marriages.An important aspect of Indian wedding is the wedding invitations and wedding cards which are lately given a lot of importance. Like many other cultures the Indian wedding ring this has a very important place and because rings are generally exchanged at the time of engagement, it is often called the engagement ring.So weddings in India are a very important occasion and are characterised by exuberance and splendour.Other than the above-mentioned classifications, people in India have the freedom to follow any customs and rituals in their weddings and no body is bound under any obligations, thus representing the true character of the country.People from different countries visit India and marry beautiful ladies here.They are attracted towards our country because of the high cultural values that exist here which increase the matrimonial value.There are lot of matrimonial services which can be said to be the most wanted in all countries.We can try to know about Marriages conducted in Indian States through which brides and grooms are selected by arranged or love arranged-love marriages.THE HINDU MARRIAGE ACT-1955,The Foreign Marriage Act-1969,The Special Marriage Act-1954, Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872 are the various decisions passed and made law by the Indian Government for the protection of the rights of its citizens .