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Wedding
Weddings in Uttar Pradesh are a sight to behold. The various ceremonies mirror its rich cultural heritage and diverse traditions. Every pre-wedding, wedding, and post-wedding ceremony has music and dance to grand feasts. The wedding rituals are as extensive as the pre-wedding celebrations. In Uttar Pradesh, weddings take place late at night. In the Chuda ceremony, on the wedding morning, the bride’s inlaws bring a red Ghaghrachunri and red bangles (chudas) for her to wear at the wedding ceremony. The evening of the wedding day starts with Sehrabandi and Ghodichadna. In Sehrabandi, a decorative veil made from flowers and beads is tied to the groom’s Pagdi (turban) to ward off evil eyes. In Ghodichadna, the groom is put on a lavishly decorated horse to lead the Baraat (wedding procession). The Baraat does not hold any religious significance and only ensures the couple enters into marriage with friends and family. The bride’s family welcomes the groom by showering flower petals, and sprinkling rose water on the Baraatis. This ritual is called Milni. Everyone then proceeds for an elaborate dinner. Around this time, there is a fun ritual called juta churai. When the groom removes his shoes to step on the Mandap, the bride’s sisters and friends steal and hide them. After the wedding ceremony, when the groom has to leave the Mandap, he has to give shagun to the girls to get his shoes back. On the wedding Mandap, the bride and groom first exchange garlands. Then, the bride’s father does the Kanyadaan, which represents him handing over his daughter to the groom. Then comes the Saptapadi ceremony or Saat Pheras, where the couple encircles the holy fire seven times, taking seven vows. In Uttar Pradesh marriages, after the first phera, the bride’s father washes the bride and groom’s feet, as they represent Lord Vishnu and Devi Lakshmi. The Sindoor Daan is another fascinating ritual. In Uttar Pradesh, the father-in-law brings orange or red sindoor (vermillion) from a temple, hidden from the public eye. When the groom has applied sindoor on the bride’s head, this moment marks the commencement of their new bond as husband and wife. The post-wedding ceremonies include Vidai, Griha Pravesh, and Reception. In the Vidai ceremony, the bride bids a tearful farewell to her family as she leaves her parent’s house. During Griha’s pravesh, the groom’s family performs traditional rituals to welcome the bride to her new home.
Cultural Significance
Uttar Pradesh wedding rituals follow ancient Hindu traditions. The Kanyadaan performed at the Mandap signifies that the father has accepted the groom as his son-in-law and is willing to put his daughter under his care.
Also, the Saat Pheres symbolize values like commitment and unity. Similarly, post-wedding rituals like the Vidai and Griha Pravesh signify the bride’s transition into married life.
Fashioning Tradition
In Uttar Pradesh weddings, the bride and the groom look amazing in their traditional attire. The bride typically wears a red lehenga choli and dupatta or dupatta. The outfit has rich embroidery embellished with pearls or crystals. The lehenga and cholis are made from silk, velvet, crepe, and chiffon, while the dupattas are in organza, net, or georgette. Indian designers are creating Indian wedding couture in several styles, colours, and fits for the new-age bride.
In Uttar Pradesh, the groom dresses in an extravagant designer sherwani made from rich fabrics like brocade, silk, and velvet. The sherwanis have substantial weaving and embellishments. It is usually paired with a silk churidar or narrow trousers. The groom also wears a Pagdi (turban) with a Kalgi (turban ornament) and jutis.
Jewellery & Accessories
A typical bride in Uttar Pradesh is decked from head to toe in traditional jewellery. Since gold is considered auspicious and represents prosperity, the ornaments are in 22k gold. She wears a Benda along the central parting of her hair with two chains tied at the back. The Nath is a large nose ring adorned with hued stones and pearls. It marks the bride’s transition into marital life. The Sita Rani is a traditional necklace worn by many brides in Uttar Pradesh. Named after Sita, the wife of Lord Rama, this necklace represents virtue and purity. The necklace has a thick gold chain with a heavy pendant.
Image Credits
Wedding Wire | The Statesman | Money Control | X | Youtube | Wedding Photographer | Pinterest | Candid Photography | Hindustan Times | Rig Photography | Free Press Studio