Hindu wedding (Shaadi in Hindi) ceremonies are traditionally conducted in Sanskrit, the language in which most holy Hindu ceremonies are conducted. They have many rituals that have evolved since traditional times and differ in many ways from the modern western wedding ceremony and also among the regions and caste.

Modern Hindu weddings are often much shorter and do not involve all of the rituals of the traditional ceremony which sometimes were for 5 days. Instead certain ceremonies are picked by the families of the bride and the groom, depending on their family tradition, caste, jati etc. Hence the ceremonies vary among the various ethnic groups that practice Hinduism. The wedding is normally conducted under a mandap, a canopy traditionally with four pillars, and an important component of the ceremony is the sacred fire (Agni) that is witness to the ceremony.

Some important ceremonies:

• Invoking Lord Ganesh (Ganesh Puja)
• Evoking the holy fire (Agni Puja)
• Kanyadhan - Giving away the bride to the groom
• Tying of holy necklace (Mangalsutra)
• The Seven Holy Steps ("Saptapadi"), circling the fire
• Bride steps on the stone (Shilarohana)

Many of the ceremonies involve the pandit (priest) chanting mantras of various

Though Mangalya dharanam (tying of the holy mangalsutra) is considered to be the important part of the marriage, the wedding is considered complete only after Saptapadhi.

Sapthapadhi:

The bridegroom gets up from the seat holding the right hand of the bride. He then goes round the Holy Fire (Agni) from the right side, by lifting the right feet of bride step by step. This is done for seven steps. With each step, he recites a mantra addressed to bride with the following meaning.

"Let Lord Maha Vishnu follow each one of your steps for the following specific purposes.

Step 1: To give you unlimited food.

Step 2. To give you excellent health and energy.

Step 3. To make you perform your vrithas (rituals) as ordained in Vedas, during your life time.

Step 4. To give you happiness in life.

Step 5. To make your cows and good animals to grow in strength and in numbers.

Step 6. To make all the seasons be beneficial to you.

Step 7. To make the homams (sacrifices to be done in Holy Fire) to be performed by you in your life as ordained in Vedas, successful and free from hindrances."

Obviously, the idea behind this is to pray to Lord Vishnu, the protector of life, for his blessings in marital life.

The groom

"After crossing seven steps with me thus, you should become my friend. I too have become your friend now. I will never discord this friendship and you should not also do that. Let us be together always. Let us resolve to do things in life in the same manner and tread the same path. Let us lead a life by liking and loving each other, having good heart and thoughts, and enjoying the food and our strong points together. Let us have undivided opinions. We will perform the vrithas united. Let us have same and joint desires. I will be Sama (one of the vedas); you will be Rig (another Veda). Let me be the Heaven; you be the Earth. Let me be the Shukla (Moon) and you be its wearer. Let me be the mind and you its spokesman (Vak). With these qualities, you be my follower. You the sweet tongued, come to me to get good male children and wealth."

This is the short version of the sapdhapadhi, though "Yalgnavakya Smrithi" gives a much longer version of actual exchange of vows between the groom and the bride.

The Hindus attach a lot of importance to weddings and the ceremonies are very colourful and extend for several days.