India is a diverse country and so are its cultures. In order to feel the diversity of Hindu cultures, one must look at the Hindu wedding traditions and customs. The actual beauty of our diverse culture is aesthetically portrayed in our wedding customs across the nation. We have long wedding functions consisting of innumerable rituals, some of which are so interesting that you must not miss to know them.
1.) The Indian La Tomatina
We all have seen the bride’s family welcoming the groom with flowers and garlands as flowers signify new beginnings, fidelity and hope. But tomatoes? People in some tribal areas in UP perform this ritual of throwing tomatoes at the groom at the entrance. Is there any spiritual significance of tomatoes in UP? Not as such. They believe that the relationship which starts with an unfortunate and strange note will surely end with deep love between the bride and the groom. It is a bit funny but imagines the groom can say that he has enjoyed the Spanish Tomato Festival without even visiting Spain!
2.) Protect your nose!
This is a Gujarati ritual called Ponkhana where the bride’s mother as a part of a welcoming gesture, pulls off the nose of the groom.
3.) Groom’s clothes stripped off!
This is one of the most deadly traditions in Sindhi weddings. It is called Saanth. It is performed by the groom’s family. Everyone tears off the clothes of the groom in the name of protecting him against the evil.
4.) Last chances of bachelorhood
Grooms among the Tamil Brahmins are expected to perform a ritual of enactment of disillusionment and pretend as if he’s willing to renounce the world.
5.) The shoe scam
This is the much-awaited part of the wedding. It is performed by the bride’s sisters. It involves stealing the groom’s shoes and hiding it from the bridesmaids and later demanding a ransom to give them back.
6.) Show your balancing skills
This is a strange custom performed in Bihar where the mother-in-law of the bride puts a pot upon her head wherein the bride continues to touch the feet of elders. The savage part is that every 5 minutes another pot is added to her head.
7.) Rice and turmeric showers
It is a fun custom performed in Tamil weddings where the bride and the groom shower Talambralu (rice mixed with turmeric) on each other’s head.
8.) Catch the rice
It is a ritual performed nearly at the end of the wedding where the bride picks a handful of rice and throws it backside while moving ahead and her brothers have to catch and accumulate as much as they can
9.) Ornaments too can astrologize!
It is a fun tradition yet gives chance for one to contemplate upon. The bride wears a gold embellished umbrella-shaped ornament (mostly in Punjabis) beneath her bangles and tries to shred it on the heads of unmarried girls by banging them. The one on whom it falls is presumed to get married at the earliest.
10.) Bribe first!
It is a fun and giggling ceremony mostly performed in the North Indian parts where as soon as the newlywed couple arrives at the groom’s residence, his sisters confronts them and do not allow them to enter till he bribes them away.
11.) We are enough for ourselves!
Wedding of Coorgis (smallest district of Karnataka) has much for us to be intrigued about. There is no requirement of a priest in their weddings. There is no chanting of mantras or the symbolic fire or anything that is conventionally seen. The couple and their families dress up in their traditional outfits with jewelry, pray to their ancestors, take elderly blessings, eat, drink, enjoy and they’re done! Isn’t this quite unbelievable?
12.) Mother Earth is also invited!
This is an intriguing ritual performed mostly in tribal communities. In this, Earth from a holy place is brought to the wedding house where a kiln (a type of oven) is built and all the food for the feast is cooked in it.
13.) Yes, Drink Your Feet!
It is a very weird custom performed at some Gujarati weddings. The ’ would-be father-in-law’ washes the groom’s feet with milk and honey and the groom has to drink that portion. Yes, you read it right! Probably the most deadly of all.
14.) Girl, show your strength
In some Rajasthani weddings, the bride has to try to lift everyone in the groom’s family including the groom.
