HINDU MARRIAGE PUJA SAMAGRI

A Hindu wedding is Vivaha (Sanskrit: विवाह[1]) and the wedding ceremony is called Vivaah Sanskar in North India and Kalyanam (generally) in South India.[2][3] Hindus attach a great deal of importance to marriage. The wedding ceremonies are very colourful, and celebrations may extend for several days.

The rituals and process in a Hindu wedding vary widely. Nevertheless, the Hindu wedding ceremony at its core is essentially a Vedic yajna ritual and three key rituals are almost universal: Kanyadaan, Panigrahana, and Saptapadi—which are respectively, giving away of his daughter by the father, voluntarily holding hands near the fire to signify union, and taking seven ‘steps before fire’.

At each step promises are made by each to the other. The primary witness of a Hindu marriage is the fire-deity or Agni, in the presence of family and friends. The ceremony is traditionally conducted entirely or at least partially in Sanskrit, considered by Hindus as the language of holy ceremonies. The local language of the bride and groom may also be used. The rituals are prescribed in the Gruhya sutra composed by various rishis such as Baudhayana and Ashvalayana.