Marriage is the beginning of new life both for a man and a woman. Hindu marriage rituals are not only the following of series of rituals but it is celebrated as a grand festival to make it memorable and colorful. A number of rituals take place as per the custom of Hinduism in the Hindu marriages and each ritual is considered important. The marriage rituals include the participation of the bride and bridegroom along with their relatives and families and these marriages are considered as important part of marriage.

The Hindu marriage rituals includes exchange of garlands, `Pidi Sutrudhal` or throwing colorful rice balls after taking them around the couple so that no evil force acts on the beautiful bride-groom and the `Nalangu` in which bride-groom and other invitees make joke at each other. As per the Vedas there should be mutual trust, give and take attitude and loyalty between the married couple, which are the essentials for a happy marriage life. According to Rig Veda there are eight types of marriages namely Braahmam marriage, Praajaapathyam marriage, Aarusham marriage, Daiveekam marriage, Asuram marriage, Gaandharvam marriage, Raakshasam marriage and Paisaasam marriage.

The modern day marriages use many mantras and chantings from Rig Veda. The 85th Sooktham of tenth mandalam of Rig Veda describes the marriage of Soman with Suryai, which is thought to be the basis of marriage rituals those are followed today. The rituals vary widely depending on family, caste and geographic locations.

Some pre-marriage rituals are performed in Hindu marriages. Sangeet Sandhya is the musical entertainment arranged in the evening by the groom`s family where the members of the two families are introduced to each other.

In Mehendi ceremony the bride`s hands and feet are decorated with Mehendi which is thought to be very auspicious. It is said that the darker the color of the Mehendi, the bride will be happier.

Tilak Ceremony is said to be the auspicious marking on the forehead made with kumkum or vermilion powder and turmeric powder. The male members of the bride`s family make Tilak on the groom`s forehead and offer him many gifts.

Barat Nikashi is the ritual when the groom leaves for wedding riding on a beautifully decorated horse or elephant. He wears beautiful dresses and the elders from his family make Tilak on his forehead. The groom`s sister feeds the horse or elephant with sweetened grain. The Barat is headed with music and dancing participants. At the venue of wedding the procession is welcomed with a song called `Talota`. Finally the groom knocks on the door with the sword and enters.

Mayara is common to both the bride and groom`s side where maternal uncle along with his wife and family arrives with much ostentation and bride/groom`s mother receive them with a traditional welcome. The clothes brought by uncle are worn by the family during the wedding.

A number of rituals take place during the pre and post Hindu marriages. Vara Satkaarah is the reception of the groom and his relatives and friends in the gate of the marriage hall, where the priest enchants few mantras and the bride`s mother welcomes the groom with rice and trefoil and applies `Tilak` of vermilion and turmeric powder on his forehead. Madhuparka Ceremony talks about bestowing of presents offered to the bridegroom by the bride`s father.

During the marriage, Kanya Dan is the ritual which is performed by giving the hand of the bride by her father to the hand of the groom amidst the chanting of sacred mantra. Maalai Matral or Exchanging Garlands is another important ritual. In the wedding man and woman exchange their garlands which signify that they have two bodies with one life from now on. Homa is the sacred fire ceremony which ensures that all auspicious things replace the negative forces in an atmosphere filled with purity and serenity. Pani Grahan is the ritual in which the groom has to take the right hand of the bride in his left hand to accept her as her better half and legal wife. In Pratigna-Karan, the couple were tied the knot and they walks around the sacred fire and take solemn vows of loyalty, steadfast love and life-long faithfulness to each other. Moreover, in Shila Arohan, the mother of the bride assists her to step onto a stone slab which symbolizes the entry to a new life. Late on Laja Homah is performed in which puffed rice is offered as oblations to the sacred fire where bride`s palm rests on the palms of the groom. Then the couple are said to take Parikrama or Pradakshina or Mangal Fera in which the couple circles the sacred fire seven times, which is granted as the legal ceremony by Hindu Marriage Act as well as most important among all customs. Then during Saptapadi, marriage knot is tied one end of the groom`s scarf with the bride`s dress. The couple then takes seven holy steps together representing nourishment, strength, prosperity, happiness, progeny, long life and harmony and understanding respectively.

Later on, Aashirvadah is given by the elders of the family of the bride and bridegroom. Then comes the Jaana Vaasam which is the celebration on the evening of the day before the marriage, which is the formal reception of the groom to the bride`s place.

Another ritual, Kaasi Yaathrai is symbolic movement of the groom to the Brahmacharya aashrama to the Grahasthaasrama. The groom is allowed to use foot wares, using umbrella and cosmetics like eye-liners fragrances etc, which is named as Samaavarthanam.

In Oonjal or Swing, the couple is seated on the swing which signifies that they have to be strong though there will be upward and downward motions of life. Then the couple is to look at the Dhruva and Arundhati. The Dhruva or the Pole star remains stationary irrespective of earth`s motion. Similarly arundhati is a subtle star who is named after a Rishi`s wife who was most loyal to her husband. Looking at Dhruva and Arundhati indicates that the bride will be chaste and loyal to the groom. Apart from these main rituals there are many other local rituals, some of which are as follows-

The groom`s family`s eldest members go to the bride`s house, where Lord Krishna`s Deity is decorated and aarti is performed, which ends by uttering some hymns. This ritual is termed as Biradh Morcha.