Indian Wedding Traditions

By Amelia Ecevido

What am I looking for?• Does the culture celebrate on one or many days? It takes

place several days.

• Is it a large party or a solemn gathering? There can be 100 to 10,000 people attending which is not small.

• Is there a dowry involved? The groom gives the bride a necklace to signify her married status

• What kinds of traditional outfits do people wear? Indian brides: pink and red saris on their wedding day, also as much jewelry as possible, and henna staining on hands

• Indian grooms: a turban with a veil of flowers streaming down in front of his face to protect him from evil spirts

What about food?

• Is there a sumptuous feast or small foods that represent something?

• Do the bride and the groom exchange foods at the ceremony? Sweets are traded (including a coconut. Some pooja items such as rice and turmeric are too. They symbolize respectively, a sweet life, fertility and prosperity.

Where do the ceremonies take place?

• What is the weather like in the region/country?

• Do you think that has any bearing on why the tradition is the way it is?

Is there traditional music or dance?