Wedding is a special occasion for both the bride and the groom. Wedding Ceremonies in India consist of several rites and rituals, starting from the Pre-Wedding Ceremonies and ending in the Post Wedding Ceremonies. After going through all the rituals of the main wedding function, some ceremonies are still left. These are called the post wedding ceremonies. Out of the many Post Wedding Ceremonies in India, some important ones are Vidaai, Dwar-Rokai, Reception, Griha Pravesh, Mooh Dikhai and Pag Phera.
As per Hindu tradition, the rituals of Vidaai are carried out at the site of wedding, which is usually the bride’s home. The Vidaai Ceremony is called by the name of the “bride’s departure”. Vidaai is perhaps the most emotional ritual in the register of Post Wedding Ceremonies of India. During the Vidaai Ceremony, the bride leaves the house of her parents and takes the road leading to her husband’s house. Family and friends of the bride present at the wedding also shower blessings and gifts besides bidding her a tearful farewell.
Wedding Reception Ceremony is one of the substantial Post-wedding rituals in India. It is nothing but a party held after the marriage ceremony is completed, in order to introduce the bride to the relatives and friends. Sometimes, the reception is held immediately after the day of marriage while in some cases it is deferred to the nearest holiday so that a majority of the guests can attend it. However, the details of this reception ceremony vary from one society to another, as each of these societies is guided by their own traditions and norms.
Dwar-Rokai, another important ceremony out of the many Indian Post Wedding Ceremonies, is performed when the newly wed couple reaches the groom’s home. The groom’s sister stops the couple at the entrance of the house. The couple can enter only after giving some gifts to the groom’s sister. During Griha Pravesh, the bride is greeted by her mother-in-law with Aarti and Tilak. The bride enters the house after kicking a rice-filled pot. She generally enters the house using the right foot first as her first step is deemed auspicious. According to the traditions, the new bride is regarded as Goddess Laxmi.
Post Wedding Ceremonies of India also comprise of Mooh Dikhai. During this episode, the bride gets introduced to the groom’s family members. Each member offers the bride some gifts as a welcome gesture. The family members as well as the newly wed couple also take part in a variety of games.
