2. Hindu Weddings
• The many rituals of a Hindu wedding
• In 2 parts
- the formal event you get INVITED to
- and the super fun ceremony you DON’T
get invited to
• I will also give you clues as to when each
ritual will begin, who to watch and what not
to do.
• We’ll start the presentation with the ONE
shot you must not miss at any Hindu
wedding unless you have a dying need to be
hunted down by 1000 or more relatives and
friends.
3. The tying of the Thaali
• This is the moment they become husband and wife, it’s like missing
the exchanging of the rings in a Christian ceremony.
• So you know what you can’t miss, now let’s go to the rituals.
4. Hindu Wedding – the formal
• It usually takes about 1 and a half hour to finish but get there early as you’ll need to
shoot the bride and grooms separate arrival, the décor and the guests arriving.
• The bride and groom are not allowed to meet until the second half of the rituals.
• There will usually be gals stationed at the front welcoming guests.
6. Hindu Wedding – the formal
• The stage will have a dais, the priest, the musicians, the wedding clothes, gifts,
fruits, the thali on a turmeric streaked coconut, a kumbham – water filled vessel
with coconut on top, the kuthuvillaku (lights), the homam container, an ammikall
or stone grinder, a pot to hold the plant sap, the garlands.
7. Hindu Wedding – the formal
The groom enters
• The groom enters first with the bride’s
brother as his best man. The priest initiates a
few manthras. The one part you shouldn’t
miss here is the tying of a blessed string by
the bestman on the grooms hand.
• Usually when you’re the head of a ceremony
they tie this string or kappu kathuthal to
protect the bearer of negative vibes and to
signify they are the host of the event.
8. Hindu Wedding – the fun
• Now 2 days before the ceremony begins
there’s this ritual called the nalanggu where
the bride and groom are doused with sandal
wood paste, oil, turmeric and herb paste by
guests in their respective houses. Then
they’re given a public bath.
• Would you believe they DON’T invite us
for this??
11. Hindu Wedding – the groom
• The grooms aunts and sisters will now do a set of rituals called the nalungu. This is a tame
version of the fun event you weren’t invited to. They then plant a banyan tree into the pot of
earth already placed on the stage. The banyan tree is planted to symbolize long life, strong
marriage and branches of children.
• Now you know why our grandparents had so many kids last time! The tree is replanted by
the couple three days after the wedding. The groom is then presented with his new set of
clothes to go and change.
12. Hindu Wedding – the bride
• Once he is out of sight, the bride is escorted by the sister of the groom to be seated
at the dais. She then repeats the same rituals minus the planting of the tree. You can
figure them out by watching the priest give out instructions. So remember he is
your friend! So get a nice shot of him!
• The bride is then presented with her new set of clothes to go and change.
16. Hindu Wedding – 2 nd Half
• When the musicians start getting up, that
signals that the groom is about to enter.
When he reaches the doorstep, the best
man will do the paada pooja a sign of
respect. In olden days men and women
wore the toe ring to signify they were
married, hence why everyone walked
looking to the ground, they were actually
checking to see if the other person was
single.
17. Hindu Wedding – 2 nd Half
The grooms feet is washed and anointed
with sandalwood paste and a silver toe
ring is placed on the second toe. The
groom then gifts the best man a gold
ring. For all the work bridesmaids do we
don’t get gold rings! Damn!
The groom will usually be accompanied
by his family. Sometimes little gals
carrying lights accompany them but it’s
not a necessity.
18. Hindu Wedding – 2 nd Half
• Once he’s seated, the bride makes her entrance. She too will be accompanied by her family.
Now take note the bridesmaid/ best man is supposed to lead, so place yourself on the correct
side and don’t tell them to move. You’re just bound to get cursed everytime they watch the
video!
• One thing you can try shooting is the look of awe on the grooms face as she enters but it
depends on how fast the brides maid decides to walk! Photography by Hari - Editing by Visithra
19. Paada Pooja
• The groom will now pay his respects to his parents by washing their feet and
seeking their blessings. The bride will do the same for her parents right after.
21. Nichiyadhartham
• The parents then sit on opposite sides
and exchange respect. They anoint
each other with sandal paste and
kunkumam. The parents and the
couple join hands as the priest
announces the marriage.
• They then exchange trays to
symbolize the agreement of marriage
26. The thali tying
• The thali (a yellow string with a gold
pendant) is usually placed on a yellow
streaked coconut. The yellow is actually
turmeric. Turmeric is used everywhere as
it’s considered auspicious and its supposed
to be antiseptic. This is then taken around
the hall by the family to be blessed by the
guests. Some families have stopped doing
this as they don’t want people to step on the
rice. Rice is thrown on the couple as the
thali is tied so be prepared to get riced!
• While its making its rounds, the bridesmaid
will take a light and head to the back of the
couple, she is usually visible from the front
but you might want to get a shot. Light
symbolizes new beginnings and purity.
• This is usually my favourite moment as the
couple will be anticipating the minutes
before they officially become husband and
wife.
28. The thali tying
• The tray with the thali is returned to the priest who will hand it over to the groom as he recites the
manthras. So make sure you position yourself somewhere and you’re allowed to tell people to move. But
you’re not allowed to tell the one women standing next to the bride to move, she will be holding the thali
while it’s being tied so don’t go chasing her away.
• The groom will be tying 3 knots. Hey they’re married!
30. The thali tying
• Now the groom will take the kunkumam and officially hug his wife while anointing her forehead
and the thali. The kunkumam is the mark of a married women so now you know! Don’t go
hitting on a women wearing the red mark!
32. Agni Pravesham
• Or the walk around the fire.
• The five elements play a huge part in
Hindu rituals, they must all be present.
Water is in the vessel, earth is in the
pot, fire is offered as offerings, air is
ever present and later stars are shown
in the sky.
• The ends of the grooms and brides
clothes are tied together as the bestman
leads the couple around the fire three
times.
• After the first round, the couple make
offerings into the fire from their heart,
seeking the blessings of god and all the
devas for prosperity, good fortune, and
fidelity.
33. Sapthapadi (Seven Steps)
• On the 2nd round, the bride stops and the
groom is made to lift her feet 7 times until
he places it on the ammikall or grinding
stone. The stone symbolizes the hope that
their union is firm and steadfast as the
grinding stone. He then purifies and anoints
each of her feet before placing the metti or
toe ring on her feet. It is also a promise to
all guest that he will look after and respect
her. According to Indian traditions this is
the only time the husband touches the feet
of his wife.
• The meaning of the seven steps
• the first step to nourish each other
• the second step to grow together in strength
• the third step to preserve our wealth
• the fourth step to share our joys and
sorrows
• the fifth step to care for our children
• the sixth step to be together forever
• the seventh step to remain lifelong friends
35. A little Game
• On the third circle, the couple play a
game where they must fish out a ring or
shell. The one who gets the ring the
most times is said to rule the house.
• Ladies from both sides of the family
will welcome the newly married couple
with fire and also ward of negative
vibes.
36. Blessings
• The couple will now seek the blessings of their parents. Make sure you get shots of
the parents from both sides and not just the side that hired you. I love shooting the
brides fathers as they’re always the most emotional.
37. Blessings
• Remember the strings from earlier, both
bridesmaid and bestman will remove the
strings as the rituals are now over.
38. Blessings
• The grooms family will now gift the brides parents
with a new set of clothes.
• Guests are now free to come on stage to bless and wish
the couple. So here’s the time you shoot moments, it
may not seem important but on the long run people
love seeing their loved ones there to share their
happiness. You’ll score brownie points shooting these
moments.
39. Blessings
• Temple blessings
• The couple may venture to a temple right after
to do prayers depending on distance.
• Welcoming
• Depending on the couples requirement, you
may be required to follow them home for the
welcoming session. There the couple will be
welcomed again with the arathi (fire). At home
they will take turns feeding each other sweets.
40. Extra Moments
• Indian weddings are super packed so you might want to tell them you want time to shoot them
earlier itself so they can inform their elders as they are very time conscious. They can only arrive
at the venue at a certain time, leave at a certain time, so time management is key.
47. Things NOT to do
• Ask the bride and groom to pose during
the rituals, they’re moving on specific
times so it’s your work to shoot as fast!
• Don’t ask the bridesmaid/ best man to
walk behind, they’re supposed to lead.
• Don’t falter or delay the rituals or ask
them to be repeated just coz you missed
a photo!
• Do not cross over any of the items
placed on the podium.
• Do no wear shoes on the podium
• Do not flirt or give out business cards
while shooting, the couple will notice.
48.
49. • SWAM is inviting photographers based in Malaysia (Malaysians and foreigners) to
submit their photos for the inaugural photography exhibition themed BEAUTIFUL
IMPERFECTIONS in collaboration with KLPAC. Submissions can only be made
on Flickr. So check the link and read the rules before submitting.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/swam/
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=98254915844
50. Visithra Manikam
visithra@gmail.com
http://v-eyez.blogspot.com
THANK YOU
