Indian Wedding Essay

Different traditions, different cultures and different customs that’s one way to describe weddings around the world. Wedding cultures and traditions differ greatly between countries and religions even though they have one meaning. Weddings used to be simpler but nowadays it’s more of a celebration than just ceremony. United states and India are two countries with very different wedding traditions and customs. The differences in traditions and customs are not just in the ceremonies but also in dress, pre-wedding days, and receptions.

Wedding has one meaning in every culture but it is practiced very differently. Most of the American customs and traditions have been taken from different cultures, primarily European since the United states was

Unlike the western countries the most acceptable form of marriage is still arranged marriage, meaning the parents of bride and groom will find each other the ‘perfect partner’. This culture is quickly changing throughout the country but still you’re needed to ask for the approval of parents as a respect and let the family members talk and arrange the wedding for you. Indian weddings are not like a wedding you will find in western countries, they last for weeks. The wedding has three parts to it: prewedding, main ceremony and post wedding. The pre wedding starts at least a week before the big day. Both families of bride and groom will get together for a night called sangeeta rathri, people and guests dance and party all night and this night usually takes place two days before the wedding day. On the same day the minister, who selected the day for wedding based on horoscopes of bride and groom, will pray together with the people presented there for the good fortune of couple that’s getting married. The second day starts with a ceremony called mehndi (Henna). The day is celebrated with songs and dances while henna is applied to the brides hand and feet. This ceremony is a important ceremony for all Indians in every religion. It is believed that the darker the color of henna leaves on hand and feet the bride will be loved more by the groom’s family. Mehndi is also a medicinal herb that can help reduce stress by keeping the nerves cool and also acts like a sanitizer used to prevent diseases from spreading, to keep the couple healthy during the wedding. The party continues at night but ends earlier than it did the day before because next day is the wedding day. On the Wedding day the bride will wear bright red wedding dress with lot of