Indian Weddings

From LoveToKnow Weddings

As an individual from a non Indo-Pak background marrying into an Indian family, I had the very interesting experience of having a completely Indian wedding. Having experienced Indo-Pak wedding ceremonies both as a spectator and a participant, I had the opportunity to create some very unique memories.

What to Expect at an Indian Wedding

There is so much religious, cultural and linguistic variety in the Indo-Pak region that it is impossible to catalog the specifics of each and every Indian wedding ceremony. However, there are certain basic characteristics that are common to most, if not all, Indian weddings.

First of all, Indian weddings tend to be very colorful. There is a particular color associated with each portion of the ceremony. For example, during the mehendi, where the bride’s hands are decorated with hennah designs, she is required to wear a yellow or orange outfit. In Indian weddings, these two colors are meant to represent the color of the hennah itself. On the day of the marriage, the bride is expected to wear red, in addition to an assortment of jewelry and other accessories. The guests are similarly turned out equally bright colors.

Indian weddings are also characterized by traditional wedding songs, often meant to poke good-natured fun at the in-law’s family. Using sweetmeats as a metaphor for the sweetness of married of life is another common feature of Indian weddings. Often, the bride and groom will feed each other sweets in hopes of a long and happy marriage.

Bridal Preparations for an Indian Wedding

The concept of “sola singhar” is very central to Indian weddings. The literal term may vary from region to region, but the basic premise is the same. The best English translation is “decked out” or “to the nines”. An Indian bride is expected to look her absolute best on her wedding day.

I personally experienced these ministrations for my own Indian wedding ceremony. For an individual who prefers jeans and a T-shirt to anything else, transforming me into an Indian bride was not an easy task for my in-laws. In Indian weddings, the bride is expected to wear a heavy brocaded sari, gold rings, necklaces, hair ornaments, matching gold shoes and purse and an equally heavy amount of make-up.

Becoming sola singhar is serious business!

Indian Weddings Versus Western Weddings

One of the main differences between Indian weddings and Western weddings is in the length of the preceding events. Typically, the celebration of an Indian wedding lasts at least three days (and as much as three weeks or more in certain regions), with various ceremonies and rituals to mark the passing of each stage. In addition, as a whole, Indian weddings are much more colorful and filled with pageantry than Western weddings.

However, the basic premise is the same-the celebration of life, love and commitment.

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Comments

Hi Katherine, Here are a couple of resources about Potawatomi culture that might help: www.potawatomi.org or kansasheritage.org. You might also want to check at your local library for written texts on the Potawatomi culture and customs. Best of luck!

-- Contributed by: Amy Finley

i need to know what i have to do to prepare for a potawatomi indian wedding the end of june next year. i also need to know the traditions please. i am new at this.

-- Contributed by: katherine ferrell