Indian Ceremony Terms

Here are some key terms that take place during a Hindu ceremony:

• Anterpat, a curtain separating the bride and groom who are standing opposite of each other.
• Hastamelap, a ceremony where the right hand of groom is placed in the bride's right hand whilst chanting the holy verses. At the end of this the priest will signal the removing of the cloth and the completion is announced by spontaneous beating of drums and with ladies from both families singing. The bride and groom then garland each other to complete the Hastamelap.
• Akhand Saubhagavati is a term for blessings.  Married women from the bride's family and the groom's family come and bless the bride by whispering "Akhand Saubhagyavati" in her ear, which means "Good luck, prosperity and a long happy life."
• Kanyadan, performed by the priest with the bride's parents, symbolising offering of the Kanya (bride) to the Ver (groom)
• Milni is the meeting of all the men from each family.
• Baraat is the groom's wedding procession.  It is customary for the groom to travel to the wedding venue on a mare, accompanied by his family members.
• Var Puja is a prayer that the groom performs before the ceremony for blessings from the lord Ganesh