What else can you expect from the land of elephants, camels and snake charmers? Everything about India is based on beliefs. Each belief has grown out of a different seedling. Indian weddings are no different. They are only an expression and extension of various types of beliefs we have here. Indian weddings are nothing less than a festival. These are considered as the celebration of a couple being united in holy matrimony.

With such diversifications in the cultures and rituals it is hard to layout the steps of typical Indian weddings. But there are some things that you can be sure of in these weddings. You will observe no shortage of enthusiasm, loud music, colorful ceremonies and food. First and the last item is the core of all Indian weddings.

Wedding customs are not just typified as per the religion but are also distinctive to the area one belongs to. For example, a Hindu marriage includes eight elements:

Swagat which is welcoming of the groom; Tilak of the groom ; Ganesh Puja; Madurparka- which is a sweet welcome by the bride to the groom by offering mixture of ghee, honey and curd; Kanyadaan; Hasta Milapa-meeting of the hands ; Mangal Fera and Satapadi.

These elements are extended up to forty three rituals in a maharashtrian wedding. This is how varied are the Indian weddings.

Let’s talk about something common to all Indian weddings- the food!

From the pre-wedding ceremonies till the final wedding day the food remains the topic of talk for all the guests. Sweets topping the charts in the varieties, Indian cuisine comprises of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian menus. But again, the food will express the type of cultural and religious beliefs of the host. In a Punjabi wedding, where you will see rich varieties of meat, it will be strictly forbidden in Brahman weddings.

This is how Indian weddings are. If you miss out on a festival, attend a wedding of that locality. Enough said.