Weddings in India have been a grand affair. With a boisterous aura, Indian weddings define merrymaking. However, Christian marriage in India is famed for its simplicity and sobriety. As compared to a Hindu or Sikh wedding, every Christian marriage is a short & sweet affair. Despite being an intimate affair, a Christian wedding in India is a perky blend of Western and Indian traditions.
The bride, bedecked in a frilly white gown, and her Zorro donning a three-piece suit, both look like shimmering candles. When the beautiful bride walks down the aisle towards her groom, he feels butterflies in her stomach and weakness in his knees- that’s an otherworldly experience.
There’s a lot of roller coaster ride at a Christian wedding in India. Several rituals and customs shouldn’t be missed. If you’ve never attended a Christian marriage in India, we’ll help you attend a virtual one. Read on the not-to-miss rituals of an Indian Christian marriage.
Interesting Christian Wedding Rituals
Here’s a look at some amazing Indian Christian pre-wedding rituals.
1. Engagement
That’s the kickstart of weddings. Both families of the bride and groom assemble and announce the formal union that will take place shortly. It is marked by exchanging the rings by the bride and groom. A lot of merrymaking marks on the way.
2. Bachelor/Bachelorette
Celebrating the “Last Hours of Freedom” is called bachelor/bachelorette. It is a party hosted at the bride’s and groom’s home respectively. This party mainly comprises their respective peer and cousins. There’s a lot of merrymaking and naughty antics that celebrate the Last Hours of Freedom.
3. Haldaat
So here’s the Desi touch in an Indian Christian marriage. It is the typical Haldi ceremony you’ve seen/attended in a Hindu/Sikh marriage ceremony. The ritual revolves around applying turmeric paste to the bride and groom at their respective homes. Haldaat ceremony takes place exactly a day before the Big Day! On the other hand, the same ceremony in a Hindu marriage takes place in the wee hours of the wedding day.
The Wedding Rituals
Now, you’ll read about the Christian wedding rituals.
4. Bride’s Entry
“Behold all, here arrives the Queen of Fairyland” Such quotes and entry phrases have become a great contributor to the joyous entry of the bride. Yes, that’s a ritual in a Christian wedding. The mesmerizing & emotional sight of the charming bride, all decked up in white, walking down the aisle with her parents. When the father hands her hand in the groom’s, that’s indeed emotional.
5. The Wedding Mass & Vows
The family parish priest reads out Biblical testaments that signify the marriage as a holy union of two souls till eternity. The whole choir then sings hymns to shower blessings on the couple. Next, the couple stands holding their hands together while the priest reads out the vows. The vows are about love, respect, and look after each other throughout their lives.
6. I Do
Soon after exchanging vows, the priest asks for the consent of the bride & groom for their marriage in front of all nears & dears present in the church. At that moment, the couple commits it by saying I Do.
7. Solemnizing The Wedding
The priest solemnizes the wedding, after the couple takes the vows, and declares them as a married couple. They seal the marriage with a kiss. But we have a Desi touch in it too! The Indian groom ties a mangalsutra around the bride’s neck.
8. Tossing the Bouquet
Quite similar to breaking kaleera ceremonies in Hindu marriages, throwing the bouquet in Christian marriage is an essential ritual. In this ritual, the bride tosses a bouquet back. The one who catches is said to get married next.
Summarizing On A Whole
Christian weddings are fun to attend. These are the top rituals that they follow to complete a marriage. Many people worldwide of other faiths opt to hitch in the Christian style of wedding owing to its sobriety.
