A wedding is a special occasion filled with happiness and celebration, not only for the bride and groom but also for their families and close relatives. Different communities have their own customs and traditions for weddings. Here is a description of a typical Hindu wedding ceremony.

The bride wears a beautiful sari and a good amount of jewellery. The groom arrives with the wedding party, which includes his parents, relatives and friends. In earlier times, the groom often came on horseback. Today, he usually arrives in a decorated car. He wears a ‘sehra’ (a garland of flowers) on his head and over his face. The arrival of the wedding party is often marked by music, dancing and much excitement. The bride’s family warmly welcomes the groom and his relatives. A number of wedding rituals then take place and the celebrations usually end with a grand feast for all the guests. Finally, the bride leaves for her new home with the groom and his family.

The scale of a wedding depends on the financial and social position of both families. At times, even middle-class families spend more than they can afford on wedding arrangements. As a result, they may fall into debt and face difficulties in repaying it later.

In some places, the practice of demanding dowry from the bride’s family still exists. This is a harmful custom that causes great stress and unhappiness to the girl and her parents. Such a practice should be completely discouraged so that weddings remain occasions of joy and goodwill for everyone.