Arrival of the Bridegroom – Barat

The festivities begin with the groom arriving on a beautifully decorated horse, a joyous celebration of singing and dancing to welcome the groom accompanied by members of his family and friends.   He meets his bride’s family at the entrance of the venue.  The bride’s parents welcome the groom and the families with floral garlands.  Then the groom is escorted to the mandap (alter) to await his bride.

Mala Parivarthana

The bride makes a grand entrance at the setting being escorted by her close relatives and friends.  The bride and the groom are separated by an antarpat (curtain) and at the appropriate moment both of them exchange flower garlands.  The bride and the groom are then invited to sit together in the Mantap flanked by their respective parents.

 Anugna, and Lord Ganesh Puja

The events begin in the Mantap seeking the blessings of God and elders in the family and welcome the assemblage to the marriage ceremony.  Offerings of flowers, rice and water are made to Lord Ganesh, the God of Wisdom, remover of obstacles. Prayers are offered to the Lord to ward off any obstacles and for a successful ceremony.

 Punyahavachanam:

The priest recites Vedic mantras for the sanctification of the ceremony and makes offerings to Lord Varuna.  The pooja materials used for the ceremony and the altar are sprinkled with the holy water.

 Pratisara Bandham, Lakshmi Pooja

A sacred thread is tied around the wrist of the bride and the groom to offer protection and invoke positive thoughts.  The bride performs Sri Mahalakshmi pooja, the Goddess of prosperity and virtues.  She seeks Sri Mahalaksmi’s blessings for a successful long term relationship and happiness for the new life she is about to enter.

Shubha Muhurtam  ***Auspicious Marriage Ceremony Time***

 Kanyadanam:

The bride is the symbol of Sri Mahalakshmi, the Goddess of virtues, wealth  prosperity.  In this important part of the ceremony, the bride’s parents jointly entrust the care of their cherished daughter in the hands of the groom.  The bride, groom and the bride’s father hold their hands while the bride’s mother pours holy water over their hands. The step denotes giving of the bride to the groom and acceptance of the bride by the groom as his life partner.

Mangalya Pooja and Dharanam,

The sacred Mangalsutra, the pendant is worshipped first.   The groom ties the sacred pendant around the neck of the bride as a symbol of love and eternal union.

 Pani Grahanam

The bride and the groom hold hands, welcome each other into their lives and pledge eternal faithfulness to each other.   A knot is tied with the scarves worn by the couple signifying the unification of their souls and eternal relationship.

 Agni Prathishta and Agni Pradakshina (circling of the fire)

Agni, the God of Fire, is invoked as a witness to the ceremony by lighting up the sacred fire.  The bride and the groom walk together 4 times around the Agni, the fire God with their upper garments tied together.  With each round they seek four basic goals of human life:

Dharma : Doctrines of spiritual paths for way of life

Artha: Prosperity to make life comfortable

Kama: Passion in their fulfillment of the desires of life

Moksha: Attainment of salvation

Sapthapadi

The bride and the groom take seven symbolic steps, each representing a marital vow and leading them to their new life. The couples hold hands and express their vows as they take each step.

The first step signifies mutual respect and love

The second step is for supporting each other and sharing

The third step is to lead life as one soul

The fourth step signifies attainment of knowledge

The fifth step is for commitment to family and children

The sixth step is for companionship

The seventh step is for eternal love

 Vivaha Havan (Homam)

The groom pours ghee (melted butter) as an offering into Agni, the God of Fire, and witness of the holy union of the marriage.  The couple offers prayers to the great Lord for their eternal happiness.

 Laja Homam

The bride’s brother or close relative joins the couple at the Mantap representing bride’s family.  He hands over fistfuls of puffed rice to the bride and the groom to make the offerings to the fire.  The groom extends his love and friendship to the bride’s family member and offers a gift to him.

 Neela Lohita Pooja (Ring Game)

A ring game is played by the bride and the groom to amuse the families and guests.   A ring is placed in a vessel filled with water and the bride and the groom compete to pick the ring.   It is believed that whoever grabs the ring, majority of the times will have upper hand in the marriage.

 Arundhati Darsan, Asheervadam and Acharya Sanmanam

The bride and the groom witness the twin stars Arundhati and Dhruva signifying the steadfast eternal link.  The priest invokes and chants the Vedic Asheervada mantras to signify God’s blessings and for wishing the couple a very bright future and happiness.  The newlywed couple bows to the priest, and honor the priest.   The bride and the groom bow to the parents and elders for their blessings and extend their respect and gratitude. Friends, relatives and family shower the couple with rice and offer their blessings to the newly married couple.

 Aarathi

The wedding ceremony concludes with prayers to God and offering good wishes for a bright future and happiness for the bride and the groom.

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• revitalizing the body and mind
• eradicate disease
• weight loss
• flexibility
• cure lethargy
• sleeplessness

When properly and deliberately done Surya Namaskara stretches, massages, tones up and simulates the muscles, vital organs and other physical parts achieved by alternately flexing the body forward and backwards. The postures enhance prana (life energy). The flow of the postures reflects the rhythms of the universe – 24 hours, 12 zodiac signs. It is this rhythmic superimposition of the form and energy that transforms the lives of those who practice this regularly. 

Also, Surya plays a significant role in astrology as the head of the solar system.  Generally speaking, the planet Surya in astrology signifies power, position and authority.  The seasons happen due to the Sun and the movement of the earth.  Thus, Hindus celebrate and worship Surya during the harvest season, thanking him for crops and effects he has on all the plants, trees and wellbeing of all human beings. 

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“Namaste” is a respectful form of greeting in Hindu culture when two people meet and when they depart. Persons greeting each other face each other joining their palms together, touching the tips of all the fingers pointing upward, and say namaste with a bow. This greeting is appropriate for all – people younger than us, of our own age, older and even strangers.

Namaste is a greeting with scientific and spiritual reasons behind it. According to Hindu belief, divinity is present in all of us. Namaste” is a combination of words derived from Sanskrit that mean “I bow to you” or “I bow to the divinity within you” The spiritual meaning of namaste conveys that “the divine in me respectfully recognizes the divine in you.” This invokes the feeling of spiritual oneness of heart and mind with the person one is greeting.

Scientifically it is a non-contact form of greeting, as opposed to hugging or shaking hands and will not spread any disease and so is very relevant in the current times. It is quite proper if a person from a different culture uses this form of salutation to another person, Hindu or non-Hindu.

Namaste is an expression of respect, humility, harmony and accord, the vital qualities in every human interaction. With understanding of its spiritual context, namaste can be a proper greeting for us all.

Written by Anu Darbha, for more info www.paintandcraft.com

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Rangoli or Rangavali is ubiquitously popular across all states of India, and covers a wide variety of artistic themes. Men and women engage in this more generic art form, which uses rice and chalk powder mixtures dyed in different colors to create custom designs conceived by the artist. These creations are either specific to any religious festival, or pertinent to a trending social theme. Images of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, free illustrations employing natural subjects and objects, human forms, and expressions are all popular themes in Rangoli.

Kolam or Muggu is more specifically an art of South India, particularly popular in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Muggulu (the plural of muggu) is the term used for this art in Andhra and Telengana, while Kolam is the term used in the other South Indian states. For the purpose of uniformity in this article, Kolam will be the common term applied.

Kolams are drawn wet or dry. The dry ones use pure rice flour or mixtures of rice flour and chalk powder to create intricate patterns formed by continuous movements, extensions and intersections of straight and/or curved lines. Wet kolams are created using pre-soaked and ground raw rice batter. Lotuses, birds, vegetables, fruits, leaves, mud lamps, serpents, etc. are common objects from nature depicted in kolams. Traditionally, only 2 fingers – the thumb and index are used in drawing dry kolams. Symmetric designs based on geometric patterns, predictable repeats, strategic intersections and curved lines moving along predetermined dot patterns are hallmarks of intricate kolams. Kolams are predominantly white, retaining the purity, simplicity and grace of the rice flour or batter used. Brick powder – finely sifted and mixed in water is usually applied between spaces in the kolam designs for naturally creating visually appealing contrasts.

Rice subsequently becomes food for the ants, and so is intentionally used in this traditional art form. In the temple courtyards and the unified rural neighborhoods of South India, it is still customary for women and men to draw massive expansions of kolams together, especially during festive days to engage their bodies and minds in the meditative experience, and participate in the good deed of feeding ants.

Going into why kolams are drawn, their presence in a home is an auspicious sign – a sign of all-round good physical and mental health, and contentment in the family. A Hindu household is never complete without a kolam at the Divine altar, and at least, a simple one at the entrance of a home. Traditionally, before the advent of advanced communications and technology, kolams served a greater purpose. A large, elaborate kolam outside a home conveyed the message to any passer-by from the neighboring communities, that there’s an occasion to celebrate.
Conversely, the absence of a kolam conveyed information about a recent death in the family. Typically kolams are not drawn until the last rites are completed for a deceased person in the house. After the formal sanctification, lamps are lit, and a kolam is drawn to represent the return of the household to normalcy.

On a daily basis, South Indian women adorn the front entrances of their homes with simple kolams. A typical morning in a traditional South Indian household begins with the aromatic coffee decoction gradually descending down the filter, Divine music playing in the background, and the woman of the house drawing a kolam. Working through the delicate design, the woman connects with the tranquillity of dawn, the sunrise, the chirping birds, and all the simplicity of life around us. The kolam is often depicted as an object of poetic beauty, with the woman whispering her quiet secrets into the peaceful air, taking in her moments of reflection, and declouding her mind, slowly but definitely bringing clarity in her thoughts and actions. It is indeed a meditative experience. Such is the scope and power of this simple art form.

Visit our videos and picture galleries for technique demonstrations, and design suggestions. With social media groups and personal bloggers showcasing their skills across the world, there are numerous designs on the web to replicate or recreate, adding in our own customizations. So what are you drawing at your place tomorrow?

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“Solar eclipse” the phenomenon which occurs when the Moon comes exactly in line between the Sun and the Earth, eclipsing the light of the Sun. According to traditions, people consume food an hour before and wait for an hour after an eclipse to consume food, fast during an eclipse, do not keep any cooked food in the house and take a bath after an eclipse. Darbha grass is placed on water containers and foods such as milk and yogurt.  These practices have been followed for generations and dates back to Rig Veda.

What happens during the eclipse? Due to changes in the gravity, there is a lot of changes in the cosmic radiations and reduction in the ozone layer, which affects all of us. Lack of sunlight strengthens the bio-magnetic fields of the humans, which causes a lot of disturbance in the stomach and mind. Hence, to avoid chemical reactions in the body food is avoided. Also, chanting mantras keeps the mind at peace due to the vibrations created in the body due to chanting.

During an eclipse the ultraviolet rays and blue radiations are not available, which trigger bacterial growth. So, if the food is stored during the eclipse, food could be contaminated, which leads to food poisoning.

After an eclipse a bath which includes washing hair eliminates toxins and decreases bacterial and viral infections.

Darbha, the sacred grass acts as a disinfectant, thus preventing spoilage of fermentable foods.

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• Beauty
• Auspiciousness/Spirituality

The various names for this art form include Kolam in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Mandana in Rajasthan, Chowkpurana in Chhattisgarh, Alpana in West Bengal, Aripana in Bihar, Chowk pujan in Uttar Pradesh, Muggu in Andhra Pradesh, Sathaya in Gujarat etc.

Rangoli is an art in which patterns are created on the floor using materials such as colored rice, dry flour, colored sand/chalk or flower petals. In traditional homes rice flour is used the most since it invites ants, birds to eat it, thus creating a harmonious co-existence with nature. Also, it is an invitation to Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of prosperity and wealth to welcome into the home.

The designs can be simple geometric shapes, flowers and petal shapes which could be simple or elaborate design and vibrant colors. Design depictions may vary as they reflect traditions, folklore and practices that are unique to each region or area. As visitors come to the house, it acts as a welcome mat with the pleasing colors and designs that calm the mind. These designs are passed from one generation to the next, keeping both the art form and tradition alive.

In the South of India, even today these beautiful patterns are drawn every day which symbolizes the celebration of life, giving a positive start of the day. Women wake up early in some cities as early as 4:00 am, clean the front of their homes and businesses, draw the rongoli while chanting hymns. This sets the tone for a positive vibration in the home!

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According to mythology, when Devas (Gods) and Asuras (demons) churned the milky ocean, God appeared bearing a pot of nectar, which gave immortality. For this reason, the kalasha represents immortality.

During the puja ritual, the kalasha is used for creating seat for the invoked deities. It is said that the coconut attracts the deity from the atmosphere and works as a conductor to the body of water in the kalasha.

Also, kalasha is placed during important auspicious occasions like weddings, grahapravesh (housewarming) and pujas.

Importance of Coconut

The coconut fruit is a symbol of human ego.  The breaking of coconut is symbolic of breaking of one’s ego and being humble before God. The offering and breaking of a coconut signify that “I offer myself at your feet.” Coconut is considered as a satvik fruit; sacred, healthy, pure and clean.

During puja offering coconut is the most important ritual honoring the deity. The same can be performed at home or at the temple. After the puja the coconut is distributed to the devotees as prasad.

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Dharba has unique properties that helps to protect from toxic radiation and negative energies.  During eclipse, the wavelength and intensity of light radiations available on earth is altered.  This leads to uncontrolled growth of micro-organisms in food products and is not fit for consumption.  Thus, dharba is used to protect these food products.  Also, it has healing properties and is used in Ayurvedic medicine.

The dharba grass is used during auspicious as well as inauspicious rituals. This protects the people praying from negative spiritual influences.  A bundle of darbha grass are placed against the Kalasam, which holds water, to invoke Devas for worship. This bundle creates a channel to the realm of the Devas while shielding from negative influences.

Dharbha has the highest value in conducting the phonetic vibrations through its tip.  During Homa, dharba is placed on all four sides of the fire to help block all negative radiations.  It is known that dharba is not cultivated but grows naturally.

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According to Hindu traditions it is customary for a groom to apply sindoor on his bride’s hair parting during the wedding ceremony.  According to astrology, Mesha Rashi, Aries is on the forehead of a human body.  The Lord of Aries is Mars and his color is red, which is auspicious.  It is believed it affects the well being of not only the women who is getting married but also of their life partner.   The red color signifies strength.

In Ramayana, in the section of “Sundara kanda”, Goddess Sita applies sindoor on her parting, immediately hanuman asks her why she did that, she replies, “this is for longevity and good health of my husband, Rama”.  So, immediately, Hanuman immerse himself in sindoor, to show his devotion to Lord Rama.  Thus, this tradition has been passed on from generations to generations for centuries.

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