Indian Wedding - The Mandap

This post is the continuation of my previous post, the Baraat at my nephew's wedding.

Mandap:

The majority of a Hindu wedding ceremony takes place in a Mandap which is the four-pole canopy on an elevated platform (at center stage), decorated with flower garlands.The ceremony itself is a collection of rituals performed by the bride, bridegroom and their respective parents.


The following are rituals in Hindu wedding ceremonies:

1. Fresh flowers - to signify beauty and innocence
2. Rice, brown sugar and other grains - to signify the food necessary for sustenance of human life
3. Ghee (purified butter) - to feed the sacred fire
4. Kumkum (vermilion) - red powder used for marking the forehead to signify good luck and to show you that your soul (husband) is with you everywhere you go.

Mandap:  Hanging torans of mango leaves and garlands of marigold flowers around the mandap is unique to Andhra weddings

Beautiful flowers everywhere. The bride chose the traditional Indian colors (gold, red and orange) for the wedding.

The stage is set for the groom to enter along with his parents

Notice the garlands of flowers draping the backdrop, typical of any Indian wedding

The groom takes the stage along with his parents and takes part in the ritual prayer.

Attending guests, eagerly waiting for the bride's procession 

Tomorrow's post is about the actual wedding ceremony.

For more memorable centerpieces, tablescapes, and recipes (including vegetarian, gluten free and vegan recipes), please check out my book, Entertaining From an Ethnic Indian Kitchen, at my website komalinunna.com.

I am joining Tablescape Thursday.