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Officiant: Priest S. Visveswaran
Description
of Wedding Ceremony
List of ceremonies:
1. GANESH
PUJA (Prayer to Lord Ganesh)
2. PUNIA
VACHANAN (Prayer to Lord Varuna)
3.
RAKSHA BANDHANAM (Tying of the sacred thread)
4. MALAI
MATRUDHAL (Exchange of garlands)
5. PALUM
PASHAMUM (Milk & Fruit)
6. KANNIKADANAM
(Giving Away of the Daughter)
7. MANGALYA
PUJA (Prayer to Goddess Lakshmi)
8. MANGALYA
DHARANAM
9. HOMAM
(Invocation of Lord Agni)
10. SAPTHAPATHI
(seven steps)
11. AKSHADA
AASIRVADHAM (Blessings)
12. MANGALA
AARATI (Santification & Closure of
Ceremony)
1. GANESH PUJA (Prayer to Lord Ganesh)
A prayer is made to Lord Ganesh, god of wisdom and salvation, for
the removal of all obstacles during the wedding ceremony.
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2.
PUNIA VACHANAN (Prayer to Lord Varuna)
Blessing are invoked for Lord Vruna, the god of Water. In these
blessing the bride and groom are symbolically purified.
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3.
RAKSHA BANDHANAM (Tying of the sacred thread)
Sacred threads dipped in turmerric water and decorated with leaves
and flowers are tied to the right wrist of Josh and the left wrist
of Reka. These bracelets are worn to shield the couple from harm
and to ensure a successful ceremony.
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4.
MALAI MATRUDHAL (Exchange of garlands)
The bride and groom exchange floral garlands conveying their mutual
desire for marriage.
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5.
PALUM PASHAMUM (Milk & Fruit)
The priest offers milk and banana to Josh and Reka, who accept it
with a prayer that they imbibe its purity and sweetness.
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6.
KANNIKADANAM (Giving Away of the Daughter)
T.C. and Usha Shanmugavel, Reka's parents, offer Reka's hand in
marriage to Josh. Josh places his right hand over Reka's right hand.
Reka's mother then pours water, while her father channels the water
down onto the clasped palms of the couple. This symbolizes the dissolving
of the individual identities of Josh and Reka and gives them a single
identity of husband and wife whose life will flow together from
this point on.
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7.
MANGALYA PUJA (Prayer to Goddess Lakshmi)
A prayer is made to Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of Prosperity.
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8.
MANGALYA DHARANAM
Mangalsutra (Tying the wedding necklace)
Josh ties a sacred necklace called a 'mangalsutra' around Reka's
neck. By placing this necklace, Josh signifies that their lives
are eternally bound.
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9.
HOMAM (Invocation of Lord Agni)
Josh and Reka pray for their future prosperrity as a married couple
by offering rice and flower petals to Agni, The Lord of Fire.
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10.
SAPTHAPATHI (seven steps)
Josh and Reka take seven steps together around the fire, one for
each vow:
- The first step is
for prosperity
- The second step is
for strength
- The third step is
for wealth and to put it to proper use
- The fourth step is
for happiness
- The fifth step is
for blossoming creativity
- The sixth step is
for health
- The seventh step is
for everlasting friendship.
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11.
AKSHADA AASIRVADHAM (Blessings)
The priest recites selected hymns from holy scriptures invoking
blessing of God and wishing prosperity to the newly wed couple.
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12.
MANGALA AARATI (Santification & Closure of Ceremony)
The ceremony closes with the Mangala Aarti which involves lighting
a flame on a silver tray. The circular motions of the flame symbolize
the removal of evil from the path of the couple.
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