Mehendi
Saturday 14th November
Henna, happiness, and the start of it all
The colourful Mehendi ceremony is a festive and relaxed chance for guests to mingle, meet people from both sides and of course, get their own mehendi patterns.
The bride’s hands and feet are adorned with intricate mehendi (henna) designs to represent love and good fortune. In addition to its aesthetic appeal, the green paste, which will later turn to a deep red, is said to have a soothing effect. Hidden somewhere in the pattern are Alex’s initials - a playful custom for the groom to find later.
Sangeet
Saturday 14th November
A night of music, dance, and celebration
Sangeet literally means “music”, and this ritual began as an evening of songs, teasing and revelry– a way for both sides to gather before the more formal wedding rituals and have fun.
Indians love to eat and love to dance, so get ready for high-energy performances, fabulous MCs, and authentic Indian flavours and spirits to match. You’ll watch family and friend dances, where loved ones rehearse for weeks (or sometimes a few minutes) and light up the stage to Bollywood beats. After that, everyone joins in on the dance floor!
Chooda
Sunday 15th November
Blessings for the bride and the Indian bouquet toss
In this ceremony involving the bride’s family that takes place the morning of the wedding, the bride’s maternal uncle gifts her a stack of red and white bangles called the Chooda.
The chooda marks the bride’s transition into married life and she wears it as a symbol of the blessings and love she carries with her. Friends and family then tie foil ornaments called Kaleera on the bride’s wrists, to add their good wishes.
The Kaleera also get their moment: in our version of the bouquet toss, Shayna shakes them over the heads of unmarried friends - whoever they fall on is said to be next to marry.
Baraat
Sunday 15th November
Alex walks down the Indian aisle
The groom receives blessings and a turban or safa is tied on him to signal his change from bachelor to husband. Guests are also invited to get a safa tied or if you prefer an easier-to-wear option, just use the fabric as a scarf.
The Baraat is the groom’s wedding procession. Traditionally, the groom travelled with family and friends to the bride’s home on a white mare, accompanied by music and dancing.
Alex’s baraat will be a lot of fun and everyone is welcome to join in, no matter which side you are from. Dhol players will set the rhythm and the baraatis will cheer as they walk (or dance) over to the bride.
When the baraat arrives the bride’s mother will perform a simple ritual called the aarti to honour the groom and the groom’s family is welcomed by the bride’s family.
Varmala
Sunday 15th November
Garlands and vows
Shayna will walk along with her sister Kimaya under a floral canopy held aloft by her childhood friends and cousins, as a symbol of their love and lifelong protection for her.
Shayna and Alex will exchange garlands, in a ceremony called the Varmala, signifying that they have accepted each other, in the presence of witnesses. They will then read out the vows they have written to each other.
The wedding ceremony
Sunday 15th November
A union blessed by the sacred fire
Alex and Shayna will enter the mandap, where the rituals will take place. The ceremony that follows is a sequence of prayers, vows and blessings. A priest will officiate, chanting ancient Vedic mantras in Sanskrit.
Before they circle the sacred fire, Shayna and Alex will quite literally tie the knot, their scarves will be tied together, symbolising that they will now move through life side by side.
The couple will then commence the pheras. They will circle the fire four times, promising with each round to embrace the four main tenets of life:
dharma: duty and righteousness
artha: prosperity and wellbeing
kama: love and desire
moksha: liberation and spiritual freedom.
Once the rituals are complete, the groom will apply a red powder called sindoor, in the parting of the bride’s hair, welcoming her into his life as his wife. He will also tie a gold necklace with black beads called the mangal sutra around the bride’s neck, symbolising that he will love and protect her all his life.
The ceremony ends with blessings from the elders of the families and a shower of petals from everyone gathered there, wishing the newly-weds a long and wonderful life together.
Joota Chupai
Sunday 15th November
The shoe heist
At some point during the wedding, the bridesmaids may attempt one of the ceremony’s most important unofficial rituals: stealing the groom’s shoes.
This playful custom is called Joota Chupai - literally, “hiding the shoes.” While the groom is busy with the rituals, the bride’s sisters, cousins and friends try to spirit away his footwear. To get them back, he must negotiate, charm, bargain (and usually pay up.)
