Marriage in the Hindu tradition (or Kalianon Kalyanam, or Thirumanam Tiroumanom) is both a union between a man and a woman in order to form a family, and the alliance between two families.

As in many religions, Hinduism regulates this institution, both in ritual practice in the lived experience of individuals. It is a major religious ceremony that lasts a day and sometimes several days depending on regions. Thus, customs differ according to caste, regions and countries.

The Hindu marriage practices

Historically, “arranged marriages” exist in the Hindu religion. Parents use their network of friends, family, or a matchmaker to find the partner (e) s. In this case, the family of the bride must provide a dowry to the husband’s family. This portion may be represented by land, a house or / and often money.

Nichayadartham

The Nichayadartham is the meeting between the two families of the newlyweds a few weeks or months before the wedding. It is at this point that the two families are in agreement on the dowry, consult an astrologer to check the compatibility of the couple and set the date and time of the ceremony.

Thirumanam

The Thirumanam is the marriage ceremony which takes place in several stages and can last one or two days.

The bride and groom wear traditional costumes which vary from one region to another. The costumes are made specifically for the occasion. The groom wears a white Vetti with a white sweater and a hat wedding. As for the woman, she wears a red sari and traditional jewelry.

The brother of the bride (tholan), with very close members of the family, the groom will look at him. The latter offers tholan a gold ring. Then the groom arrives accompanied tholan the place of the ceremony (Manavar), two each with a necklace of colored flowers White.

These collars were once made by the priests, but today they are made by the preparers of marriage. The priest begins a religious ritual which lasted a few hours.

During this ritual, the bride arrives with her family and sister of the groom (Athol). The first brings a necklace of flowers to offer to her husband.

The priest sealed the union between husband and wife accompanied by a verbal blessing of shots of flowers (and Arimna Poomanam Iduthal).

The tholan and Athol spend with the thali among the guests so they bless. The Thales Taal is a yellow collar purchased by the groom and adorned with two gold coins. Both parts are supposed to represent the heritage of both families.

Then the groom puts the thali around the neck of his wife. At that time, guests throw flower petals on the couple. To mark the union, the husband marks the forehead of his wife with a red dot (poddu) and offers her toilet articles, followed by an exchange of garland.

They turned seven times around a sacred fire (saptapathy).

* First Phera (tower), the couple invokes the gods to have a life noble and respectful.

* In the second Phera, they demand the physical and moral strength to properly conduct their common life.

* Third Phera is dedicated to the fulfillment of spiritual commitments. The gods are invoked to bless the couple.

* In the fourth Phera, the couple prays for a long and happy life.

* The fifth Phera is a prayer for the well being of all living beings in the universe.

* In the sixth Phera, the couple prays for the season.

* And finally, the last Phera, they pray for peace and loyalty.

Then the groom pass Minji (ring) around the toe of the bride and it does the same for her husband with the Metti. To amuse and after the old tradition, two rings are placed in a bucket of water and the couple must find them by dipping their hands. This practice aims to create links between the two protagonists.

Two seniors, usually grandmothers, are Arathi, which consists in averting the evil eye around the couple. The bride and groom kneel at the feet of the priest and parents to receive their blessings. Follows the thiru pootuthal which is the blessing each guest with rice.

Then comes and Mama Kalyana Vevu Vevu where the newlyweds receive gifts from both the other two families. To close the ceremony, a meal is served to all guests, it is the Kaichi Utrrudal.

Var Mala

The groom is conducted on a small platform where he was received by the family of the bride with flowers. The maternal uncle, brother or friend of the bride accompany it with the groom on the dais.

The newlyweds receive garlands while the priest chanted hymns. The married couple then exchange garlands of flowers, or you called var mala mala jay, expressing their mutual acceptance as husband and wife.
The current customs

The newlyweds first put the right foot when they penetrate, for the first time in their common home. They must, after the wedding, go to the temple to pray.

There is no wedding list. Each guest has what he wants to married. Most often money, kitchen utensils and jewelry that are available.

Once the marriage ceremony, the couple are united for eternity. If the husband dies, the woman should, in theory, make for the rest of his life a white sari and does more poddu.

They are shelved during religious festivals. Hindu law prohibits widows to remarry. If a law enacted by the British settler has lifted the ban in some families, a second marriage is still very poorly received today.

Source: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariage_hindou

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