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The
sapta-padi is the most important ritual of the wedding ceremony. The
bride and groom walk around the nuptial fire seven times, each time
making a promise to each other.
The priest recites the following hymns detailing their vows:
With God as a guide, let us take,
the first step
to provide nourishment and pure food for our household,
the second step
to develop our physical, mental and spiritual powers,
the third step to increase our wealth by righteous means and
diligence,
the fourth step
to acquire knowledge, happiness and harmony by mutual love and trust,
the fifth step
so that we are blessed with strong, virtuous and heroic children,
the sixth step
for self restraint and longevity,
the seventh step
to become true companions and remain lifelong partners by this wedlock. |
Having
taken these steps together, I assure you that I will not swerve from the
path of my love and friend-ship with you. So should you also not swerve.
Let our thoughts, decisions, and actions be one and in unison. Let us be
kind, loving, considerate, good and open-hearted to each other. Let us
share our food, possessions, strengths, and advantages together. Let us
be complementary to each other as thought and speech are to each other.
The sapta-padi ceremony concludes with a hymn signifying that the union
is eternal. The bride and groom are pronounced man and wife.
Sindhur Dharan
(Placing Red Powder
on the Bride’s Head)
In
this ceremony, the groom places sindhur (red powder) on the crown of the
bride’s head. The sindhur is indicative of a blood union, and it is the
unmistakable mark of a married woman.
Mangal Sutra
The
groom puts Kali-poth (a black beaded necklace) around the neck of the
bride (called Mangal-sutra) and a Varamala (garland of mouli) is tied
around both the bride and the groom.
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