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Journey to India

Journey to India is a resource for event planners and brides from all over the world. It provides readers a resource to learn the rich traditions of Indian culture, guided by Nikki Khan of Exquisite Events, the most renowned Indian wedding planner in the world.

In our Cultural Diversity category, Nikki and Madiha present in depth about the vast country of India; various regions, customs, culture, traditions, cuisine, attire and diverse languages spoken in the country. Differences will not only be addressed in Hindu, Sikh and Muslim weddings, but also within Hindu weddings, the differences in various regions and diversity will be taught, as well as cultural awareness.

The blog is designed to provide our wedding planner readers a learning opportunity to assist them in the Indian wedding planning process and to learn tips on how to properly orchestrate a South Asian wedding. All aspects of Indian wedding planning will be covered; from hiring the best caterer, bridal trousseau, music, dance troops, priest, flowers, and so on.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Rukhsati

Posted in Journey to India, Wedding Traditions

rukhsati by exquisite events

The Rukhsati, or sending off, takes place after the Nikah and the Mendhi. It’s a time for the bride’s family to give their blessings and send her off, happily married. The Qur’an is normally held over the brides head by her father or brother as she walks from the stage to the exit in order to bless her. Sometimes three handfuls of rice are thrown and these are all symbolic. The first symbolizes forgiveness for any mistakes the bride has made and to forgive anyone who has hurt her; the second is to ensure all her wishes come true and the last symbolizes leaving one family to join another.

The departure of the bride from her family can be very emotional as she says farewell to the home of her parents and siblings to start a new married life. Traditionally, the groom travels by a decorated horse to the bride’s house and after the wedding ceremony takes his wife in a doli (palanquin) to his parents’ house to live. The horse and the carts have now been replaced by cars; sometimes adorned with beautiful flowers as you see in these photos of a Rukhsati planned by Exquisite Events.

rukhsati by exquisite events

Posted in Journey to India, Wedding Traditions Tags: pakistani wedding traditions, rukhsati, sending off

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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Lakshmi: Goddess of Wealth and Beauty

Posted in Journey to India

We would all like to attract more wealth and beauty in both material and spiritual forms. Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Beauty can help us achieve just that. Lakshmi is the household goddess of most Hindu families, and a favorite of women. Although she is worshipped daily, autumn is when she really shines. The Sharad Purnima (also called Kojaagari Purnima or Kumar Purnima) is a harvest festival in September or October celebrated when the moon is full.

Lakshmi is worshiped and night vigil is observed. According to folk legend, a king became evil and was in financial ruin when his queen observed the Sharad Purnima fast and night vigil, and worshiped the goddess of weath, Lakshmi. From then on, they were blessed by her with wealth and prosperity.

Lakshmi is always depicted as a beautiful woman with four hands, sitting or standing on a full-bloomed lotus and holding a lotus bud, which represents beauty, purity and fertility. Her four hands represent the four ends of human life: dharma or righteousness, “kama” (desires), “artha” (wealth), and “moksha” (liberation from the cycle of birth and death).

Gold coins are seen flow from her hands, suggesting that those who worship her gain wealth. She always wears gold embroidered red clothes. Red symbolizes activity and the golden lining indicates prosperity. Two elephants spraying water are usually shown standing next to the goddess. This denotes that ceaseless effort, in accordance with one’s dharma and governed by wisdom and purity, leads to both material and spiritual prosperity.

Worship of a mother goddess has been a part of Indian tradition since its earliest times. Lakshmi is one of the mother goddesses and is addressed as “mata” (mother) instead of just “devi” (goddess). As a female counterpart of Lord Vishnu, Mata Lakshmi is also called ‘Shri’, the female energy of the Supreme Being. She is the goddess of prosperity, wealth, purity, generosity, and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm.

The importance attached to the presence of Lakshmi in every household makes her an essentially domestic deity. Householders worship Lakshmi for the well being and prosperity of the family. Businessmen and women also regard her equally and offer her daily prayers.

On the full moon night following Dusshera or Durga Puja, Hindus worship Lakshmi ceremonially at home, pray for her blessings, and invite neighbors to attend the puja. It is believed that on this full moon night the goddess herself visits the homes and replenishes the inhabitants with wealth. A special worship is also offered to Lakshmi on the auspicious Diwali night.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi

http://hinduism.about.com/od/hindugoddesses/p/lakshmi.htm

Posted in Journey to India Tags: diwali, durga puja, dusshera, goddess of wealth and beauty, kojaagari purnima, kumar purnima, lakshmi, sharad purnima

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Photos by Joy Marie Photography

Saptapadi means seven steps in Sanskrit and it’s a very important element of Vedic Hindu weddings. The bride and groom go through seven circuits of the Holy Fire (Agni), which is considered a witness to the vows they make to each other. In some regions, sashes worn by the bride and groom are tied together for this ceremony. In other places, the groom holds the bride’s right hand in his own right hand.

Each circuit of the venerated fire is led by either the bride or the groom, varying by community and region. In most cases, the bride leads the groom in the first circuit. In North India, the first six circuits are led by the bride, and the final one by the groom. In Central India, the bride leads the first three or four circuits. With each circuit, the couple makes a specific vow towards a happy relationship and household for each other.

The best man will give a speech to the men and the maid of honor gives a speech to the women. The bridesmaids will carry a young tree that the couple will keep as a symbol of their new life together and a young girl will spray the bride with fragrant incense, such as rose water.

In South Indian weddings, after the bride and groom both recite a mantra at each of the seven steps, the couple will then say these words together: “Now let us make a vow together. We shall share love, share the same food, share our strengths, share the same tastes. We shall be of one mind, we shall observe the vows together. I shall be the Samaveda, you the Rigveda, I shall be the Upper World, you the Earth; I shall be the Sukhilam, you the Holder – together we shall live and beget children, and other riches; come thou, O beautiful girl!”

In North Indian weddings, the bride and the groom recite this mantra: “We have taken the Seven Steps. You have become mine forever. Yes, we have become partners. I have become yours. Hereafter, I cannot live without you. Do not live without me. Let us share the joys. We are word and meaning, united. You are thought and I am sound. May the night be honey-sweet for us. May the morning be honey-sweet for us. May the earth be honey-sweet for us. May the heavens be honey-sweet for us. May the plants be honey-sweet for us. May the sun be all honey for us. May the cows yield us honey-sweet milk. As the heavens are stable, as the earth is stable, as the mountains are stable, as the whole universe is stable, so may our union be permanently settled.”