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“THE BIG FAT INDIAN WEDDING”

BY:

Shalini Ranjan

F & LA-VI

Nift, Chennai

INDEXSerial Topics Page Nos.

No.

1 Introduction

2 Hindu marriage rituals and customs

3 Famous Indian weddings

4 Indian baarat

5 Wedding facts

6 Kanyadaan, mangalsutra, solah shringar

7 Seven vows of inHindu wedding

8 Var mala

9 Vidaai

11 The Indian Wedding industry

12 Current market of wedding

13 Expenses on Indian marriages

14 The prospering allied industry

15 Changing trends in Indian marriages

16 The concept of love and arranged marriage

17 The wedding attire, wedding dress

18 Survey analysis

19 Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

Indian weddings are no longer unplanned, mismanaged affairs with the entire clan chipping in and running helter-skelter to get things organised. Weddings are now professionally managed, right down to the flowers that need to be arranged to the food that needs to be served. The Indian wedding market has grown fourfold corresponding to the purchasing power of the to-be-wed couples.

Professional event managers have stepped in to ensure an “all fun and no sweat affair” in weddings. Each event manager uses his or her creative abilities to plan out a dream wedding in keeping with the philosophy of each family to have a different kind of wedding.

Indian wedding have come a long way from the traditional, bedecked with the flowers wedding halls. While the mehndi could be held in an old British villa, the wedding could be held inside a renovated palace, and the wedding reception in the banquet hall of a luxurious hotel.

Families are getting more adventurous and their demands are being happily met by hotels vying with each other to provide the best kind of ambience and back drop for theses well orchestrated events.

The BIG Fat Indian Wedding

Hindu marriage rituals

According to Hindu Shastra there are four stages of life, of which Grahastha Ashram or married life signifies the second stage. It begins, when a man and a woman come together and marry. In India, marriage is treated as an institution, which teaches the actual values of life. Every stage in life has its own charm and a married life is no exception. In India, a marriage is usually arranged by the respective parents of the bride and the groom and follows various steps. Marriage among Hindus is not only considered a union of two souls, but of two families.

Hindu Marriage Rituals & Customs

A Hindu wedding not only involves the bride and groom but the entire community, friends, family and relatives as everybody participates in their coming together of the to-be couple. The first and the foremost step is the selection of the bride and the bridegroom. While in love marriages, a boy and a girl themselves select their life partner, it is crucial when it comes to arranged marriages. Talking about arranged marriages in the Hindu custom, the parents select the prospective bride/groom for their son/daughter.

After the selection procedure is over, the family members of both the girl and boy ask the priest to suggest an auspicious date for the engagement of the two also known as misri or ring ceremony. Since India boasts of diverse cultures and traditions, the engagement ceremony rituals differ from region to region and community to community. However, the basic of all the rituals, mentioned here, form an indispensable part of Hindu wedding. In the betrothal ceremony, the to-be bride and

the groom exchange wedding rings among each other. Sweets and garlands are also exchanged among the couple.After the festive spirit of engagement, the next important ritual is the mehndi party. It is believed that the color of mehndi signifies the essence of love in a marriage, so it is put on bride's hand to strengthen that bond of love. The bride's family and friends mainly celebrate this ceremony. The female friends and family members of the bride rejoice and celebrate this occasion, as henna gets painted on her hands and feet. Apart from the bride, the family members also get their hands painted with henna. Singing traditional songs and dancing to the beat of music forms a major part of this ritual.

Among the other important rituals is the Sangeet party, wherein all the family members and friends of the bride and groom celebrate, by singing and dancing the night away. Along with song and dance there are arrangements for food and drink. A large affair, Sangeet party is most popular among Punjabis, Marwaris and Gujaratis, although most of the regions today also practice this ritual. Ghari puja is also another important religious ceremony, which is performed on the eve of the wedding day at the groom and bride's place separately.

On the morning of the wedding day, Pithi or Haldi, the cleansing ceremony is practiced during which the bride and bridegroom are pasted with turmeric powder in their respective homes, as a part of their beautification process. Talking about the actual marriage ceremonies, the Hindu wedding mostly takes place in a mandap or a tent, which is beautifully decorated with flowers. The main Hindu wedding ceremony is a long and elaborate affair, which lasts for several hours and is attended by a large number of relatives, friends, and acquaintances and so on.

One of the most significant rituals the bride and the groom perform is the Saptapadi or saat phere around a scared fire and light, which is symbolic to God. While the bride and the groom take the seven circles, the priest or purohit recites the mantras and speak of the real essence and significance of marriage. It is also during this time that the groom fills vermillion or sindoor in the center parting of the bride and puts mangalsutra around her neck. Both sindoor and mangalsutra have strong religious implications and are sacred symbols of a married woman. These were some of the rituals and customs, which were generally followed in all the Hindu marriages.

Famous Indian Weddings

Indian Wedding ceremonies have always been known for their elaborative and ritualistic nature. As most of the Indian religions regard marriage to be a social as well as religious ritual, the wedding ceremony acquires dual importance in the Indian context. Apart from this, in Indian families the Wedding ceremony is also treated as an occasion of celebrations and display of riches and wealth. That is why, the trend of grandiose and ostentatious wedding ceremonies have caught the attention of the people in the country. When even the middle class people go far beyond their capacities to make their wedding ceremony pompous and extravagant, you can easily imagine the display of luxuries in a famous Indian Wedding.

Some of the most famous Indian Weddings in contemporary times have been the wedding ceremonies of Sahara Shree Family and the Mittals. The wedding ceremony of Subroto Roy's sons Seemanto and Sushanto have been one of the most grand marriage ceremonies of modern Indian times.  Arranged in the Sahara city, Lucknow the wedding ceremony was attended by over 11,000 guests and the guest list included the all the big and famous names in India.  The wedding ceremony was so grand that it would always be remembered as one of most exotic wedding ceremonies in the Indian History.

Another wedding, which became the talk of the town, was the wedding of Vanisha Mittal, the daughter of London-based steel tycoon Laxmi Niwas Mittal with Amit Bhatia, a Delhi based investment banker.  The venue of the wedding was the famous Palace of Versailles, where the French 'Sun King' Louis XIV held court in the 17th century, and the 17th-century Vaux le Vicomte, acknowledged as 'the finest chateau and garden' in France. The wedding celebrations went on for six days and the total estimated budget of the wedding was £30m / $55million i.e. about INR 200 crores. The guest list included all big and famous names from Indian and British

society. Movie stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta and Aishwarya Rai to name a few.

The marriage ceremonies of Indian film and cricket stars are no less grand. Raveena Tandon's marriage ceremony was held with all the possible grandeur at the Jag Mandir Palace on an island in Pichchola Lake in the Udaipur city of Rajasthan. Hrithik Roshan's wedding ceremony with his long time sweetheart Sussanne at the Golden Palms Resort and Spa, Bangalore was also no less than a fairy tale. The other Indian ceremonies which came to limelight because of their grandeur and magnificence are actress Karisma Kapoor and businessman Sanjay Kapur's wedding, actor Abhishek Bachchan and former Miss World and famous Indian actress Aishwarya Rai's wedding, Ace Cricketer Sunil Gavaskar's son Rohan Gavaskar's wedding with his childhood sweetheart Swati, Former cricketer Ajay Jadeja's wedding with Aditi Jaitely and Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar's wedding with Anjali Mehta.

Indian Baarat

The traditional Indian wedding establishes a bond between two families and their cultures, apart from creating a very special relationship between the couple, who tie the nuptial knot. The marriage ceremonies is a series of colorful events, spread over two to three days. One of the important and fun ceremonies is the arrival of the groom on the day of the wedding, at the venue. The groom's family members, relatives and friends accompany him to the wedding venue, in a marriage procession called 'baraat'. Groom's friends and relatives are called the 'baraati'. The wedding baraat is held with high esteem and the baratis are pampered by the bride’s family, when they arrive at the wedding venue. The baraat is received in different ways in different parts of the country. In the following lines, we have given description about the baraat in indian marriage

.

Indian Wedding Barat Traditionally in north India, the groom, dressed in his wedding attire, is seated on a white

decorated mare, when he heads towards the wedding venue along with the baraati. Before sitting on the mare, the groom is adorned with a saafa (turban, preferably pink or

saffron colored) along with a sehara (floral veil), which is tied around his forehead, by his mother. Saafa is mandatory, but tying sehara is not a compulsion. In some regions of north India, a sword is also provided to the groom.

In the mare, the groom is accompanied by his younger brother, cousin or nephew who acts as his caregiver, who is called 'sarbaala'.

The baraatis are often accompanied by music band, which provides them with entertainment, while on their way to the venue. The baraatis dance to the tune played by the band.

A vivid display of fireworks contributes to the festive spirit of the marriage procession.

A contemporary approach to the ritual is to make use of a car, instead of mare. For the purpose, people rent a car, in which the groom is seated. However, to maintain the tradition, the groom travels a certain distance via car and then rides on the mare.

After reaching the wedding venue, the groom and the marriage procession are welcomed by the bride's parents and the elder members of her family.The bride's mother performs the aarti, when the groom enters the venue. In the mean time, the other members of the bride's family welcome others in the marriage procession.

The groom's acquaintance is introduced to the bride's family, friends and relatives. This ritual is known as milni.

Earlier, married women were not allowed to join the marriage procession. However, with the changing time, they have also become a part of the baraat. Nonetheless, married women are still not allowed at the interiors of rural India, to accompany the groom in the marriage procession.

The barati who comes in the procession are garlanded and seated. Cold drinks, snacks and sweets are served to them. They are also invited for dinner as the guests of bride's parents.

In most of the cases, all the expenses of the barat reception,marriage ceremony  and the dinner are born by bride's parents in most of the cases.

Wedding Facts

Indian wedding is a perfect blend of serious rituals and customs along with other fun filled rituals and frothy moments. Wedding marks the beginning of a new relationship not just between two individuals but also between two families and thus, there are various moments in the wedding ceremonies that help to build new relationships. Every caste and community has its own tradition and culture. India with such diverse cultural background showcases variety of rituals and customs. Here are few very interesting facts about various kinds of Indian Wedding:

Interesting Indian Wedding Facts In many communities in the Hindu Religion, there is a wedding ritual in which the sisters-

in-law hide the shoes of their jija or brother-in-law and return them only in exchange for money. It's a very fun filled and enjoying ritual.

In some communities, there are rituals where the hands of the couple are covered with a sacred cloth to ward off ill omen and evil eye during the pheras.

In Parsee marriage ceremonies, the sisters-in-law take gifts from their brother-in-law during the ritual of Haath Boravanu where the groom puts his hand in water and cannot remove them until he pays money to them, Pag Dhovanu is another such ritual where the groom is threatened with milk on his shoes and chero chorvanu is a ritual in which seven strands of thread tying the couple are removed on payment.

In Gujarati custom the groom's mother-in-law tries to catch his nose on arrival of the baraat, as a reminder of the fact that he is taking away their daughter and is now responsible for her happiness.

Aeki-Beki is also very fun filled rituals among the Gujarati community. A tray or pot of water is mixed with milk and vermillion. A ring and a few coins are thrown into the mixture. The bride and groom are given seven chances to fish out the ring. The winner is considered as having a dominating personality and it is predicted amidst much laughter that he or she will rule the roost!

In Punjabi custom the bride's wear a Chuda, this is a set of red and ivory bangles by her maternal uncle. This custom is considered good omen for the bride as it is said to bring good luck to the bride in her new home.

Punjabi brides wear Kaleeres. These are silver or gold plated ornaments tied to the Chudas. It is said that the bride has as many friends as there are leaves in the Kaleere. One interesting ritual related with the Kaleere is the custom in which a bride shakes her Kaleere over the unmarried girls in her family. It is said that if the Kaleere falls on the head of any of them, she is the next one to be married.

Another ritual which is found in almost every community is when the groom brings home his new bride; the groom's sisters block the entrance to the home and demand money from their brother as a shagun before they let him in. This is a fun filled and amusing ritual.

Kanyadaan

A Hindu Wedding is very elaborate and ritualistic.  There are several compulsory rituals in a Hindu wedding that hold immense significance and deep rooted meaning in the Hindu Religion. The rituals of the Hindu wedding ceremony start days before the actual wedding ceremony. Sagaai

is the first step towards the formal announcement of a marriage which is followed by various other rituals like Sagan, Haldi, Sangeet and Mehandi. Apart from the religious and ritualistic nature, a Hindu wedding is also quite an emotional affair. The most emotional of all the rituals of the Hindu Marriage is Kanyadaan when the father hands over all his rights and duties towards his daughter to her prospective groom.

On the wedding day, the complete marriage ritual last lasts for hours due to several small and big customs that are considered auspicious as well as vital for solemnizing a marriage. Among all the main day wedding rituals, kanyadaan is the most vital and significant ritual. Kanya Daan literary means gifting away a virgin, the word is actually a combination of two words, Kanya and Daan, where in Kanya means a virgin and Daan means donation.

The ritual of Kanya Daan is performed just before the Mangalphere. Kanyadaan is a ritual in which the bride’s father entrust her daughter to the groom, who is at the time of marriage considered to be a form of Lord Vishnu. As a condition for offering his daughter to the groom for marriage, the father of the bride asks a promise from the groom for assisting the bride in achieving three important goals of the life- dharma, artha, and kama. The ritual of Kanya Daan is considered very auspicious in Hindu religion. It is a very pious and dutiful ritual which is said to bring fortune as well as relief from the sins for the bride's parents.

In the ritual of kanyadaan the bride's parents normally her father or in his absence any elderly relative give their daughter to the groom by putting the bride's right hand into the groom's right hand (Hastamelap, which means joining of hands) while reciting sacred verse. The curtain separating the bride and groom is then removed and then the couple exchange flower garlands. When the father of the bride gives away his daughter to the groom, followed by the offering of gifts and presents, then the elders of the family place an auspicious white cotton cord around the couple's shoulder's to protect them from ill omen since cotton signifies unity, the bride and the groom shower each other with rice. This ritual is a symbol of couple's bond and love. The groom holds the bride's hand and they both take vows to love, be loyal, committed and protect each other throughout their life.

MANGALSUTRA

The sacred symbol of wedlock, Mangalsutra is an inevitable part in Indian weddings, more specifically, in Hindu marriages. According to a Hindu custom, marriage not only represents a bonding of two individuals but also the bonding of understanding, commitment, mutual love and spiritual growth between them. Marriage is not all celebration and fun. It demands sacrifice, dedication, companionship, and yielding from both the partners. Each and every ritual and custom involved in marriage impersonates the real essence of wedding. There are five signs of marital status of women according to Hindu culture- mangalsutra, toe rings, kumkum, bangles and a nose ring. Mangalsutra, thus is considered as one such symbol of marriage. 

Mangalsutra is not just a jewellery item. To an Indian married woman it holds ample significance. Mangalsutra is regarded as `a sacred thread of love and goodwill worn by married women as a symbol of their marriage`. It is tied by the groom around the neck of the bride. This ritual is performed on the auspicious day of their marriage signifying the union. Mangalsutra is named differently in different states of India,. It is known as `Thaali` in the southern region and `Mangalsutra` in the northern region. But in most parts of the country it is called Mangalsutra. The word mangalsutra means an `auspicious thread or cord`. It is also known as thaali or thaaly or maangalyam in Kannada, Telugu and Tamil in South India.

Mangalya dharanam (literally "wearing the mangalya") is conidered the most important part of a Hindu conjugal ceremony. The `mangalya` is threaded onto a yellow thread, which was earlier prepared by using Turmeric paste. It is tied around the bride`s neck with three knots. In some customs, the groom ties first and his sisters tie the rest. Later the mangalya is restrung on some later propitious days. The mangalya represents an uninterrupted bond of understanding, love and sacrifices in the lives as husband and wife. After marriage the Mangalsutra is never taken off by the woman until the death of her husband. 

Mangalsutra has been reckoned as `the token of dignity and love` that is given to a bride by her groom. Most commonly mangalsutras are made of two strings of small black beads tied to a locket or pendant. Sometimes small beads of gold and black are used with gold and diamond pendant. The implication of the black beads is that, they are supposed to protect the woman from evil powers that may come in the way of their married life. Alongside those black beads are believed to protect their spousal relationship and life of their husbands. It is looked as propitious for married women to wear mangalsutra even after marriage. 

The concept of tying the Mangalsutra is believed to have originated in south India. Thereafter it followed to the north as well. In north Indian culture, the mangalsutras are made of a `thread in which small black beads are strung along with the "Mangalya"`. In other regions the Mangal sutra is made of a gold string or chain along with the gold `Mangalya`. 

But the concept of wearing a mangalsutra today has altered to a great extent. Today it has become a fashion statement rather than a symbol of marriage. The credit of which can be attributed to daily soaps and Hindi films. Even the expressive style has also changed over the passing years. Previously women use to wear simply designed mangalsutra with small pendants, but now the trend is to wear short length ones with single string and instead of gold pendants diamond pendants are given a priority. But the black beads remain eternal. Whatever may be the reason to wear, the mangalsutra symbolises the real essence and concept of marriage. Considering the latest fashion trend, still today the `beaded thread` is reckoned as the `undisputed symbol of holy matrimony` and will remain so in India. 

Solah Shringar

Solah Shringar for bride on the wedding day is one of the most exciting aspects of her life. She dreams of looking like a princess on this day and weave many expectations. Most of the girls in our country have lots of dreams for this day since it symbolizes the beginning of their journey into womanhood. Everybody wants to look best on this day. Different kinds of beauty sacraments are associated with this day as her female friends and relatives spend the entire day preparing her for the occasion. The full adornment consists of sixteen parts from head to toe and is thus called Solah Shringar. On this very special day of her life she wants to look the best in her lifetime. She typifies beauty on this special day. The bride`s solah shringar starts from the top with her hair and ends at her toe. 

Preparations for Bridegroom are a long process and interesting to watch. First her hair is washed, oiled, and adorned with flowers and other head ornaments. It is usually decorated with borla. These are conical shaped ornaments for the head. Than a paste of turmeric, oil and gram flower is mixed and made into a scrub. Then this cream is applied to the bride`s hands and arms. Later her forehead is decorated with a mang-tikka or bhor ornament that is worn along the hairline. The face is also decked up. And the eyes are highlighted with kajal to give it`s a dark and beautiful effect. 

Make up is applied on face with powdered and lipsticks. Nose rings are worn. It can be made of gold, pearl and diamond. In some regions and community nose rings are never removed and they become symbol of married woman like Mangalsutra. Gorgeous earrings are also worn on ears. They are of different shapes and sizes, often embedded with precious stones. Necklaces of different designs and sizes are adorned around the neck. It can be of different lengths short, long or choker or collar type. The bride also wears floral garland. On both the hands bangles and

bracelets are worn. It is the most visible part of the body so bangles and bracelets are one of the most important ornaments worn by the bride. Bangles can be of different kinds. It can be made of gold, silver, iron, ivory, glass, ceramic or other metals depending upon the custom and rituals of the particular region. On the upper arm, armlets are also worn, which can be made of different metals. 

Mehendi designs are made on the hands and feet. On the waist elaborate gold or silver belts are worn. The belts serve the purpose of keeping the bride`s sari in place. And last but not least the toes are also adorned. Various kinds of toe rings of different designs are worn and it gives an elaborate look to the bride`s feet. The bridal dress is the most important part of solah shringar and is always red in color because red is considered to be auspicious. The sari usually has heavy and rich embroidery with gold and silver threads some also beads work on it. The groom`s dress and adornments are also an aspect of special interest on that day. Grooms wear different kinds of clothes in different parts of India on their day of marriage. In the South, grooms either wear the traditional veshti (dhoti) and kurta or three-piece suits. Grooms in the north usually wear a sherwani with a churidar pyjama, a bandha gala suit, or a western-style suit. Turbans also happen to be a very popular adornment for the groom and the important members of his family. North Indian grooms wear a sehera, a veil of flowers tied to the turban, to hide their faces from the evil eye. 

Wedding is an ethnic association of families, of two souls with their individual fates and destinies of time and infinity. A typical Indian marriage is an institution in its whole, a unification of two individuals, symbolizing the giving and receiving of love for each other all through their married life. A marriage is incomplete without the typical Indian wedding garment, which reflects our culture and heritage. Wedding day is the most important day in ones life and hence every bride and groom strives to look the best.

The last day of the individual`s bachelorhood and entry in to marital bliss should see the groom in his best Indian wedding outfit. A vast collection of Indian wedding wears and are sure to become the envy of everyone`s eyes is available in several stores of all the Indian cities. The customized tailored Indian wedding suits match with the imagination of the couple. 

Seven Vows In Hindu Wedding

The bride and the groom take the first step of the seven vows to pledge that they would provide a prospered living for the household or the family that they would look after and avoid those that might hinder their healthy living.

During the second step of the seven pheras, the bride and the groom promise that they would develop their physical, mental and spiritual powers in order to lead a lifestyle that would be healthy.

During the third vow, the couple promises to earn a living and increase by righteous and proper means, so that their materialistic wealth increases manifold.

While taking the fourth vow, the married couple pledges to acquire knowledge, happiness and harmony by mutual love, respect, understanding and faith.

The fifth vow is taken to have expand their heredity by having children, for whom, they will be responsible. They also pray to be blessed with healthy, honest and brave children.

While taking the sixth step around the sacred fire, the bride and the groom pray for self-control of the mind, body and soul and longevity of their marital relationship.

When the bride and the groom take the seventh and the last vow, they promise that they would be true and loyal to each other and would remain companions and best of friends for the lifetime.

Var mala

Indian wedding ceremonies today are a lavish affair, characterized with great pomp and gaiety, thanks to the infliction of commercialization. Right from lavish and stupendous Decor to sumptuous feasts and extravagant outfits and jewelry, weddings have become resplendent celebrations. However, the main essence of the festival, that is, the rituals and customs performed have managed to remain intact. The bride and the groom are mostly dressed in traditional Indian wear. While the bride wears ethnic Indian sari or lehenga and is adored with sparkling jewelry, the groom flaunts a traditional sherwani with a saffa or turban on his head.

Description Of Var Mala

Talking about the wedding day functions, var mala or jai mala is one of most significant rituals that are performed. Var mala is a garland made out fresh flowers. Colorful and exotic looking, in the preset times, var mala is also made of artificial flowers. While the tradition of var mala is practiced in all the parts of India, the garland used varies from region to region. The var mala used in southern part of India is extremely heavy and long in size, as compared to ones used in North India. Red roses are the most picked choice for wedding garlands, though you can even go for orchids, carnations, and so on.  

Var Mala Ceremony

Following the reception of the baraat, the groom is then taken to an elevated stage in the wedding place, where the var mala ritual is performed. While he is on the stage, the bride enters the wedding place escorted with her sisters and friends. She is then made to stand next to the bridegroom. It is here that the ritual of var mala is performed. The bride and the groom exchange their flower garland, by putting it around each other's neck. Var mala carries an important significance and implies mutual acceptance of both the bride and the groom towards each other, as future husband and wife.

Var mala is one of the occasions, when fun and frolic completely dominates the wedding scene. Mostly, the male relatives of the groom lift him, so that the bride is not able to put the var mala around his neck. At this, the male members of the bride even lift the bride and the two groups try to dissuade each other. According to the traditions, the bride first put the garland around the neck of the groom. After her successful attempt, it is the turn of the groom to try his luck. The lifts are mainly done to bring in the element of fun. It adds a chuckle and smile on the face of both the bride and the groom.

Vidaai

Hindu wedding also poses as the ideal time for family union and merriment. Relatives and friends flock the to-be bride and groom's house, a week in advance of the wedding day. Singing traditional songs, dancing to the tunes of traditional music and Bollywood numbers, munching on delicious delicacies, preparing for the D-Day and performing all the pre wedding rituals encompass as the main activities that are practiced. A time of heightened excitement and enthusiasm, Hindu weddings signify the coming together of two souls for eternity. In a nutshell, Hindu weddings are all about tradition, culture, rituals and of course, enjoyment and cheerfulness!!

Vidaai In Indian Marriage

Amidst all fun and entertainment, marriage is one of the most emotional moments in Hindu marriage. Vidaai, a post wedding ritual, marks the end of the marriage ceremony. It is a very emotional episode for everyone, when the bride seeks leave from her parents, family members, friends and relatives and goes to her husband's home to start a new life with new dreams and hopes. It is a new beginning for her, as she bids farewell to her parents and goes to build a new life with her husband and his family. She leaves her parent's home with tears of joy and sorrow - joy, because she is starting a new life and sorrow, because she has to leave her parents for it. The bride’s father gives her hand to her husband and tells him to take care and protect her loving daughter.

The ritual of vidaai is marked as one of the most emotional aspect of the wedding festivities. It is the formal departure of the bride from her parents' home. However, just as we know that every ritual in a Hindu wedding has an element of fun to it. During the Vidaai ceremony, the sisters of the bride ask for money from the groom, for the shoes they had stolen, prior to when the wedding

rituals started in the mandap. After much argument (in a good sense), the sisters are presented with either gold/silver ring or cash money. Thereafter, the bride finally takes steps ahead, leaving her house and embracing her friends and family members. According to the Hindu tradition, as the bride steps out of the house, she throws back five handfuls of rice over her head, in a way that it falls on the person standing behind her, as a symbol of prosperity and wealth.

The custom of throwing rice signifies that the bride is paying back or returning, whatever her parents have given her in all these years of her stay with them and wishes for prosperity to always flourish in the house she is leaving behind. Just when the bride and the groom sit in the car and its starts, the bride's brothers and cousins pushes the car from behind, signifying that they have given her a push ahead to start a new life with her husband. After the last car starts, money is thrown on the road to discard the evil. Mostly younger sister accompanies the bride to her new home to give her moral support.

The Indian Wedding Industry

With the ongoing wedding season one can’t help but notice that the Indian wedding industry is a huge one. In an Indian wedding, everyone just spends and does not think of returns. Every manufacturer and retailer involved with marriage related goods eagerly awaits the season to push business. With each passing decade the Indian weddings are getting grandeur. Three decades ago people hardly thought about the lavish wedding function that has now become a trend and may be a compulsion. However, no one’s complaining; at least not the retailers and associated players because of the tremendous business opportunity that comes along with it. Let’s penetrate deeper

The Indian Wedding Industry

Currently, the Indian wedding industry is over Rs 100,000 crore and is growing at 25 to 30 per cent annually. The estimated cost of a wedding with no expenses spared could be between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 5 crore, in India.

 

The wedding market in India

No. of Indian marriages in a year: Approx 1,00,00,000 Indian wedding market worth: Rs 100,000 to Rs 110,000 crore

Gold and diamond jewellery market worth: Rs 60,000 crore

Apparel market (wedding) worth: Rs 10,000 crore

Durable goods market worth: Rs 30,000 crore

Hotel and other wedding related market worth: Rs 5,000 crore market

Pandal and venue decoration market: Worth Rs 10,000 crore

Favourite honeymoon destinations: Goa, Jaipur and Udaipur

Goa wedding cost: Between Rs 1 crore to 1.5 crore

Jaipur wedding cost: 1 to 2 crore

Wedding cost in metropolitan cities: Between Rs 25 lakh to 70 lakh

Wedding invitation card market : Worth Rs 10,000 crore annual

Bridal Mehendi market in India: Worth Rs 5000 crore

 

Item-wise expenses on Indian weddings

Dinner cost: Rs 700 to 1000 per person Pandal decoration cost: Rs 10,000

Bridal designer saree/lenhga cost: Between Rs 10,000 to 50,000

Designer shervani cost: Rs 15,000 to Rs 40,000

Wedding invite cost: Rs 500 to Rs 1500 per card

Bridal make up cost: Between Rs 5000 to Rs 50,000

Bridal Mehndi cost: Between Rs 1000 to Rs 5000

 

With each passing year, Indian weddings are getting bigger and better offering lucrative business opportunity to players involved. Giving up the basic traditional look, the Indian weddings are donning a more corporate look, these days.

 Currently, the country has a population of around 1.25 billion and considering an average family with five members, there are around 250million families in India. With about one marriage per family every 20 years, the country averages roughly 10 million marriages every year. An average 30 to 40 grams of gold is spent in every marriage across the country, thus the total consumption of gold comes between 300 to 400 tonmes annually.

 It is also expected, the per capita income will be tripled in a couple of decades and the per capita consumption of gold during weddings or otherwise will increase. With half of India’s population

being under 29 years of age, the marriage market is set to boom like never before over the next five to ten years.

 If we take the above figures, it means the Indian marriage market is around Rs 1 lakh crore to Rs 300,000 crore annually, if one crore marriages are solemnized in the country annually.

A person, in India, spends one fifth of the wealth accumulated in a lifetime on a wedding ceremony. That means, a tremendous opportunity for retailers to capitalise on.

 

The prospering allied industries

Today, everyone, from those in entertainment to décor, beauty clinics, cosmetic giants, travel, tourism and even matrimonial web sites are making money out of marriages. Even foreigners, who want to solemnize their marriage in India, contribute to the Indian wedding industry.

Online portals like Shadi.com, Bharatmatrimonials and others rack up revenues of Rs 200-250 crore from match-making annually, and believe the business can only get bigger. While the traditional tentwallas still rule the roost, creative wedding planners are also making the most of it. There are wedding planners in the country who are ready to make all arrangements required in an Indian wedding, from beginning to end, for a whopping amount. But keeping in mind the middle class of the country, which is the largest segment, there is a huge demand for planners who can arrange for a budget wedding.  

Fashion designers, florists, confectionery makers and event managers are cashing in on the flourishing wedding market. Considering the Indian wedding market, Bregeut launched its expensive watches ranging between Rs 8-15 lakh in the Indian markets.

Replicas of temples of India, palace look-alikes or Sheesh Mahals are much in demand as decor. The cuisine could be anything from Lebanese to Italian in case you want something different. Star Cruises even launched a cruise to Lakshwadeep primarily targeting honeymooners.

The wedding card market in India for the 10 million marriages performed annually is worth Rs 8000 to Rs 10,000 crore. Delhi and Maharashtra alone have more than 500 card printers. In Delhi, these printers are based in Chawri Bazaar, Karol Bagh, and Lajpat Nagar where one can purchase wedding cards according to ones capacity. Over two dozen of highly specialized printers are based in Dadaseth Agiary Lane in Central Mumbai. The elaborate wedding invite comes with the main card and three to four add-on cards like RSVP card, the reception, engagement and the puja invite, and also an invite to attend the sangeet, cocktail and mehndi functions.

In India, people have become very style conscious and they want to give their best on their wedding. Things have changed in the past few years, it is more about brands and people are ready to spend to look their best. Apparel market is booming because of this.

The annual market of wedding dhol, bands, baggies with elephants, horses and camels, lightings, is also the important part of Indian weddings, which is estimated to be around Rs 5000 crore annual. With the increasing income and more disposable income in India, the wedding market of the country is expected to double within next 15 years, the experts feel.

 

One cannot think about marriages without beautiful flowers. Flowers are important in order to create a delicate atmosphere around the wedding. According to an estimate for decorating the wedding venue, bride-groom dais, showering rose petals for welcoming the guests, requires another Rs 2000 to 10,000 for a middle class marriage.

The facts and figures point towards only one thing that is Indian weddings and the associated industries are bound to prosper!

Changing trends in Indian Marraiges

The concept of Indian wedding has seen drastic changes, over the last few years. In the yesteryears, the ceremony was a brief affair, confined to an economical budget, even though the guest list was long. On the contrary, in the present time, the occasion is generally celebrated in an elaborated way, with number of rituals that are conducted before, during and after it. A long guest list, colourful and extravagant venue, lavish feast and a series of rituals are the key ingredients of the 'big fat Indian wedding' that we see today. In the following lines, we have discussed about the changing trends in Indian marriages.

India is a very colorful and diverse country. When it comes to celebration it’s done very passionately and wholeheartedly. When it comes to something as scared as wedding then no stone is left unturned. With every coming year it’s getting larger, and luxurious.                 “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” That’s how the famous English classic novel Pride and Prejudice begins. One finds this thought valid even today.. 

        Lakshmi Mittal is that single man in possession of astronomical wealth. A man rated as the richest man in the world. His daughter’s wedding was just a mirror reflection of his wealth. At 30 million pound (Rs 240 crore), it was perhaps one of the most expensive Indian weddings. But with time there will be many rich fathers’ who will follow soon

        "The much hyped marriage of business tycoon Lakshmi Mittal's daughter is testimony to the fact that wedding market in India is booming. It is not just the high society which is going in for it, but with spending power increasing, the trend is being seen in middle class families too," says Tarun Sarda, CEO, Vivaha Interactive.

         One cannot forget to mention Subrata Roy’s sons wedding in Lucknow. With 10,500-odd guests, it sure was a wedding, which was grand in all its way. Among the crowd was the renowned Bollywood director Raj Kumar Santoshi who was left spellbound and was heard saying, “I have never seen an event as grand as this.”

         Who can forget Laloo Prasad’s daughter Misa’s marriage to a computer engineer? One of India's most controversial politicians had thrown a lavish wedding for his daughter, which was attended by thousands of guests. Political leaders and film stars were among those who celebrated the marriage of Laloo Prasad Yadav's daughter in the state of Bihar. Laloo wanted the marriage to be fit for a queen. So it was a gift from a king to his little princess. Walking in Laloo Yadav footstep his political rival Ramvilas Paswan to wants a grand weeding for his daughter with a

congress MLAs son.

         Someone rightly said, “ Its all about money honey.” If one has the money, Flamenco dancers, Spanish gig artistes, Russian ballet and Egyptian belly dancers, gurus of traditional music and even the hottest Indian pop and film stars could provide entertainment on D-Day.The Indian wedding Industry is a safe heaven. "In a wedding everyone just spends and does not think of returns. In fact, every industry is looking at weddings to push business. As per Geetika Sharma, organizer of 'Bride and Groom’- a wedding trade fests, says, "This is the only recession-free industry in India." It’s a win-win situation. Everyone makes money. It goes right up to the grassroots level. The artisans make money; the services industry makes money and the wedding planners too.

         The grand Indian weddings and the emerging Marriage industry are bound to prosper. As per the latest survey conducted to ascertain the increase in the Indian household income yields positive results. It is projected that by the year 2005, 53000 families will earn annual incomes more than one crore. The figure will increase to 1,40,000 families by the year 2010. With these projections one can sense that everybody will want to celebrate ones marriages Mittal’s way. If not grand but definitely the best.

Wedding Trends In India 

The Concept Of Arranged And Love Marriage

The custom of arranged marriages has been a part of Indian culture since the fourth century. The practice was begun primarily to maintain and pass on the family traditions from one generation to the other. It is still prevalent in both rural and urban parts of India, former being more inclined towards the system. In fact, arranged marriages are in majority, because not all people have accepted the concept of love marriage. However, with the changing time, people in India have accepted the concept of love marriage, which is otherwise considered against the Indian culture. People in the rural India are now more liberal, when it comes to love marriages. Therefore, both arranged and love marriage find equal importance in the wedding scenario of India.

Inter-Caste And Inter-Religion Marriage

Until some time back, marrying a person belonging to some other caste or religions was strictly not permitted by the families. With the modernization of the Indian society and social awareness of the people, inter-caste and inter-religion marriages have become a common sight. This is primarily due to the acceptance of the concept of love marriage. Nonetheless, people with an orthodox or conservative outlook of life are still firm about marrying within the same caste, community and religion. Contrary to this thought, people in the present time do believe in solemnizing weddings of two different individuals belonging to different family background and culture. The recent trend in Indian marriages is the acceptance of the concept of homosexual marriage.

Wedding Attire

The wedding attire has also seen a drastic change, over the passing years. Initially, the bride and the groom used to wear traditional dress, of their respective religions, regions or community. Today, although they still wear their traditional dress during the important wedding ceremonies, they resort to the outfit that is different from the traditional ones for other rituals. With the changing fashion trend, the way of getting dressed for a wedding has also been changing. People, especially in the elite class, are now hiring fashion designers to choose the wedding attire for the bride and the groom. Inspired by the high-profile weddings of business tycoons and Bollywood stars, people now want to look like a celebrity, on their 'important day'. Hence, the attire chosen for the wedding ceremony is often a reflection of the hot trend.

Planning

People's perception of planning the wedding has also changed over the passing years. Few years back, wedding and engagement were the sole responsibility of the bride's family. People within the family took efforts in decorating the venues chosen for conducting different ceremonies. Moreover, the wedding expenses were also borne by the bride's parents. Today, although the bride's parents still finance for the wedding ceremony, (except the reception party, which is thrown by the groom's family), people are now resorting to professionals to make arrangements for their weddings, right from the menu to the decorations. They hire wedding planners for the purpose. This is especially prevalent in the urban upper-middle class of India, where they want their wedding to be a trendsetter and the talk of the town for a long time.

 

BRIDAL LEHENGAA

Bridal lehenga is one of the most important and elegant attires of Indian weddings. Wedding is considered as an auspicious occasion in India and the bridal outfits are given special attention. Bridal lehenga demands keen attention as it is the main attire and adds charm and elegance. A bit of cautious planning and right selection of the bridal lehenga will help in avoiding any unwanted situation. Factors like choice of suitable colour, designs and the correct fit play an important role in deciding the right bridal lehenga.

TYPES OF BRIDAL LEHENGA

Although, today the Indian brides have an ample variety of wedding dress to opt for but still the lehengas are the most preferred and the admired ones. Today, bridal lehengas are available in a diverse variety of styles ranging from simple lehengas, traditional wedding lehengas to designer wedding lehngas. One can find bridal lehangas for all occasion right from pre wedding ceremonies to the main wedding day. The bride can wear wedding lehengas on the wedding day and other simple types of lehengas on the other days. 

Styles of Bridal Lehenga

 In India, bridal lehengas hold superiority since ancient times. The attire of the brides differs in different parts of the country. Salwar-Kameez is the main attire of a Punjabi bride; a nine-yard Saree is the bridal wear of a Maharashtrian bride while a Rajasthani bride would invariably opt for a colourful lehenga. Lehengas are mainly popular in states of Rajasthan and Gujrat. Bridal lehengas are mostly available in affluent colors, which imply festivity, fertility and richness.

 

Colour of Bridal Lehengas 

It is true that a wide variety of colours are available for bridal lehengas. So, it becomes very important to choose the right colour for the bride. Light coloured lehengas like ruby red, bright orange, rust, turquoise and navy blue are well suitable for a fair complexioned bride. However, they should try and avoid pale colours or pastel shades. On the other hand a dusky complexioned bride can opt for colours like peach, lilac, bright orange, red, magenta, sky blue, sea green, pink and shades of blue. Usually for wedding purposes dark coloured lehengas are avoided. Further, colours of bridal lehengas also differ as per the different occasions of a wedding ceremony. For the evening occasions, bridal lehengas in the shades of deep navy blue and sapphire blue with a hint of silver are perfectly suitable. On the other hand, for morning occasions brides can opt for gold and copper shades of lehengas. 

Designs of Bridal Lehenga

 A lehenga is basically an Indian long skirt worn, with flair towards the bottom. It resembles flowing robes. It covers from the waist to the ankles. A long or short-length Indian blouse, called Choli and Dupatta complete the look. Both Ghagra and Choli, are made exquisite in matching shades and gorgeous designs, created on rich fabric, like silk, crepe, georgette, chiffon, etc.

However, when it comes to considering the elaborateness of designs, the Dupatta do not lag behind. In fact, the design patterns vary from one Lehenga-Choli to another. It depends on the concept of the dress-designer or the dress-manufacturer. Often, styles of presentation differ according to the demands of the customers. The glittering stitching designs of a traditional bridal wear vary from mirorwork, Zardozi embroidery, Kundan-embroidery, beadswork, and Zariwork.

 

Wonderful mix and match drapery is the main attraction nowadays. The lehenga-choli-dupatta with its grand get-up makes a bride look gorgeous like a queen on her wedding day. It is thus because of its elaborate look that lehenga-choli is preferred as the bridal wear among most of the communities in India. Lehenga-choli, with its charm and magnificence will continue to enhance the beauty of the Indian brides over generations. 

Global tourism industry wooing Indian weddings

New Delhi:  The big fat Indian wedding is being lured out of the country by global hotel chains and tourism boards of several countries who are flocking to India in a bid to grab a piece of the lucrative market.

And well-heeled Indian grooms and brides, looking for an exotic location or a once-in-a-lifetime experience to make their wedding memorable, are beginning to succumb.

If these attempts succeed then a small but significant part of the cash-rich Indian wedding market, with a reported turnover of $20 billion, will probably be moving overseas.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Sands Corporation of Las Vegas, which owns plush new hotels in Singapore and Macau, have already started pitching for the lucrative "desi" wedding business.

"Weddings are one of the most profitable niche tourism markets in the world and India with its famously opulent weddings is on top of everybody's wish list. We are planning a new advertising campaign and will offer special packages and sops to attract Indian couples," Chattan Kunjara Nu Ayudha, Director TAT, told PTI.

The recently opened Marina Bay Sands, a multi-billion dollar hotel in Singapore recently organised a special road show in India offering 'Pheras in the Sky' and glitzy casino receptions. The casino nuptials are probably to emphasise that marriage is, after all, a gamble.

While TAT's Ajudha is planning a new advertising campaign to offer special packages and sops to attract Indian couples, the CEO of the Sands Corporation Sheldon Anderson is pitching the seven-star Marina Bay Sands in Singapore as a dream destination.

"Indian weddings are famous worldwide for their opulence and they are definitely part of our target market," Sheldon said.

Word has obviously got around that Indian weddings often last a whole week with several major functions thrown in. And hotel chains are salivating in anticipation.

Since the peak wedding season is only a couple of months away local pandits will soon be matching desi kundlis with foreign locales for an auspicious "lagan" date.

Mumbai-based wedding planner Prashant Thyagarajan, says that the desire to outdo one's contemporaries, lies at the centre of most "razzle dazzle" weddings. Exotic locales are the new 'in thing' he says, and that is great news for hotels like the Venetian Macau which promise you a wedding extravaganza that your neighbours will never forget.

The Venetian has specially employed an Indian chef and promises to customise all kinds of Indian banquets and organise traditional rituals, for it's customers.

"India is now the 5th largest market for high-end hotels and therefore it is an important market for us," said Robert G Goldstein, Executive Vice President, Venetian Macau.

Thyagarajan sees a changing trend, "The last trend was to have an opulent traditional wedding like Vikram Chatwal's in Delhi. Now its more romantic weddings in a exotic settings like France. Many of my clients want beach weddings, for example in the Maldives" he says. To that you can add 'Pheras In The Sky' weddings like the Sands and Venetian are now promising you.

Indian Wedding Dresses versus Western Style Wedding Dresses

Indian wedding dresses are very different from Western style wedding attire. Understated is definitely not a word that could be ascribed to an Indian wedding outfit. Indian brides are expected to sparkle and shine and this expectation is fulfilled in brightly colored and intricately embroidered ensembles. Indian wedding dresses are usually red, as white is considered to be a color of mourning in many regions. Red is the traditional color of Indian brides and is considered to bring good luck and happiness to the prospective couple.

TYPES OF INDIAN WEDDING DRESS

There is such an incredible amount of cultural and religious diversity in the Indian sub-continent that the exact style of Indian wedding dresses will vary from region to region. However, some common styles include the sari, gaghra choli and shalwar chameez.

A sari is a length of cloth that is wrapped around the body in an intricate pattern. The sari

may be secured by pins or simply tucked in the waistband, with the remaining part draped over

the shoulder. The length of cloth that remains after the sari has been wrapped is called the

pallu.

A ghagra choli usually consists of a very long skirt and short blouse. A lengthy scarf called

a dupatta is draped across the chest.

A shalwar chameez is a long tunic over pants, also with a dupatta draped across the chest.

Depending on the bride's preference, the dupatta can also be worn around the neck, over the

head or pinned to one shoulder on the side.

One thing that all Indian wedding dresses have in common is elaborate and intricate embroidery. Indian wedding outfits are usually a masterful combination of patterns, sequences, beadwork and threading. Depending on the budget, an Indian bride may have parts of her outfit embossed with pure gold or silver wire.

The fabrics for Indian wedding dresses can include silk, satin, chiffon and any other fabric that has a sheen and reflects light.

INDIAN BRIDAL ACESSORIES

In addition to the wedding dress, there are certain elements of wedding wear that are essential to an Indian bride. These accessories include necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings and hair ornaments, all worn at the same time! This type of extensive ornamentation is a traditional part of the wedding ensemble, although sleeker designs are now coming into vogue. Additional accessories can include shoes, handbag and flower garlands to be placed around the neck.

NEW TRENDS IN INDIAN BRIDAL WEAR

Red continues to be a favorite for Indian wedding dresses. Since this color has religious and cultural significance, this selection is likely to stay in vogue for the foreseeable future. However, newer and softer shades of red are slowly but surely making their way into the Indian bridal lexicon. Also, designers are offering a greater selection of Indian wedding dresses and jewelry with a more delicate design.

Another interesting trend is the fusion of Western style with traditional bridal themes. Some modern brides are choosing to pair cleaner lines with the traditional elaborate style of previous generations.

WEDDING SONGS

Wedding songs are inseparable part of weddings in India. Undoubtedly, wedding songs are also the most enjoyable parts of wedding ceremony. Wedding songs also reflect the rich traditions and customs associated with Indian weddings. There are several popular wedding songs suitable for all the occasions of a wedding ceremony. Interestingly, most of the popular wedding songs are extremely old and folk in nature and these have not just managed to retain their distinct charm but are highly popular amongst the new generation. The wedding songs appropriately create the suitable ambiance for the wedding ceremonies in India.

Types of Wedding Songs 

Wedding songs are different for different occasion of Indian wedding. Some of the most popular song ceremonies in Indian weddings include sagaai or engagement, ladies sangeet ceremony or bridal shower, mehendi and Vidai. Inclusion of songs in these ceremonies makes them extremely pleasurable. Passionate participation of close relatives and family members of the bride or groom further adds to the joy. Different local and linguistic societies in India have made up their own interesting wedding songs for various wedding ceremonies. Some of these folk songs, especially Punjabi and Gujarati folk songs devised for the wedding purpose are extremely popular and are sung or played in most Indian weddings. 

Nowadays, several Hindi movie wedding songs have also become extremely popular. Moreover, some of these songs have become traditional and sort of must played Indian wedding songs. Wedding songs hold great significance in Hindu traditions and customs. There is music for every

wedding ceremony. Wedding songs plays a crucial role and the functions add to the festive mood of the wedding functions. To make the wedding function more lively and vibrant the hosts often take help of the professional performers like singers and dancers depending on the personal choice and preferences for the function and theme. 

Wedding ceremonies are considered incomplete without some beautiful songs and dances as they enhance the charm of and fun of wedding festivities. However, choosing the right kind of music for the right occasion is very important. So, one has to be very careful and take into consideration the likings and disliking of the relatives and guests. There are some songs for sangeet ritual, which are very important as a pre wedding ceremony where the female relatives and friends of the bride gather to celebrate the occasion. All of them sing and dance with high spirits for celebrating the ceremony. 

Sangeet ceremony is mainly popular in the north-western part of the country like in the states of Gujrat and Punjab. For every occasion of marriage ceremony there are different songs. Even stage shows have become quite popular nowadays where professional singers and performers are hired. These days the stage shows are getting more popular as guests enjoys the performances. The hosts can choose from hit Bollywood numbers or can opt for traditional regional wedding songs, which are available in various regions of the country. They are such rich in music and lyrics that they will surely give a new dimension to the wedding celebration. No one can even dream of an Indian wedding without songs and music. Thus, it can be said that wedding songs play a significant role in wedding ceremonies in India. 

The Survey analysis which I carried out

CONCLUSION

According to survey carried out by getting questionnaires filled through handouts in Nift, Chennai and through the help of the website, www.surveymonkey.com between the age group of 20-30 years, I came to the following conclusions:

Weddings in India are a very fast growing industry. More and more people are getting aware of the matrimonial sites like shaadi.com and others and think that it is quite a helpful medium in finding a bride or a groom for a marriage, unlike olden times when only arranged marriages were done.

Having lavishing, grand parties in five star hotels and palaces is becoming a status symbol. People want to hire wedding planners for their weddings so that everything is done by the planner in an organised way and they themselves do not need to bother about every small thing like flowers, decorations, etc.

More and more people in India are thinking about creative and theme based weddings. People are ready to experiment new things in their weddings other than the traditional methods of rituals and customs.

In the olden times, for a marriage occasion, what used to mater the most was the ritual and custom properly performed. But now people give priorities to other things like designer clothes, a large reception party, an exotic honeymoon, etc. more than rituals and customs.

With the changing time, people in India have accepted the concept of love marriage, which is otherwise considered against the Indian culture.