Christians play a significant role in Indian culture. Despite the fact that Christians make up a smaller percentage of the population than Hindus and Muslims, the Christian faith has a significant impact on current Indian culture. Christian culture is incredibly basic and elegant, and a Christian wedding is a visual treat while being plain and austere. The Indian Christian Wedding, like other Indian weddings, is a lengthy occasion that includes pre-wedding, wedding, and post-wedding traditions. If you’re interested in a full account of the tradition and ritual of an Indian Christian wedding ceremony, keep reading.
Rituals in the Run-Up to the Wedding
Shower for the Bride
Bridal showers, which are informal hen parties thrown by the bride’s female friends, are among the key pre-wedding ceremonies. It is primarily a female gathering to commemorate the anniversary. It’s a fun-filled event where they play games and sing and dance all night. The bride is showered with gifts from her friends and relatives. A pink cake with a thimble hidden inside is served by the bride. The girl who receives the slice of cake with the thimble will be the next to marry, according to custom.
Stag Night
A bachelor’s party is similar to a bridal shower in that it is an all-girls event, but it is also attended by the groom and his male friends. It’s known as a stag party, and it’s usually held on the eve of the groom’s wedding or a few days beforehand. This is usually a raucous celebration, and the groom is expected to have a good time on his final night as a bachelor. Before the drinking begins in earnest, it is usual to make a toast. It is usually commemorated by having a good time with his friends.
Greeting the bride
The groom sends a car to pick up the bride and waits for her outside the church on the day of the wedding to welcome her. The Best Man greets the bride with a kiss on both cheeks and a bunch of flowers when she arrives.
Wedding customs
The bride and groom walk slowly and beautifully with the wedding procession in tow till they reach where the priest stands for the wedding mass after they arrive at the church and are greeted by the best men. The priest then greets them and wishes them well. Hymns and Bible readings are sung at the start of the wedding mass.
The priest then gives the homily, emphasizing the importance of marriage’s holiness. The blessing and exchange of wedding rings is the following step. The priest’s final benediction brings the ceremony to a close. Towards the end, the visitors bestow their blessings on the newlywed couple. The couple then signs the register and walks down the aisle arm in arm as the final formality.
Post-Wedding Ritual
Christian weddings, like the rest of Indian weddings, are followed by a reception party, which is a lavish affair in which the newlyweds enter the site and are greeted by all with confetti.
They slice the wedding cake and take a bite out of the first slice. The Toastmaster proposes a toast in the couple’s honor. The reception is usually marked by dancing and a supper party. A live band performs at many events, and everyone dances to the band’s music.
