The Hindu wedding is known as the Vedic marriage, named after the Vedas (holy book). However, there are regional variations with their different traditions. Sindhis are a dialect from the Indian race. The Sindhi wedding, which I will be describing, is a Sindhi Hindu one.

They are a rich community and are predominantly the business class, engaged in manufacturing and trading business. Sindhi weddings are very lavish and grand.

There are a number of ceremonies that are required to be performed for a Sindhi wedding. A Hindu Wedding is not simply an exchange of vows and rings. It includes a number of religious rites before and during the nuptials, which are performed in the presence of family deities. These represent the importance of the bond between a husband and wife. A Hindu marriage is incomplete without the blessings of a spiritual or divine element.

According to Hindu laws, marriage is viewed as a sacrament. In the religious books, there are four stages in a person’s life. Grahastha Ashram (the householder stage), the second of the four stages of life begins when a man and a woman marry and start a household. For it is understood that a Hindu marriage is the only way to continue the family and thereby repay his debt to his/her ancestors. The couple, husband and wife are regarded as soul mates that, through the institution of marriage, can direct the energy associated with their individual instincts and passion into the progress of their souls.

Misri (Ring Ceremony)

The engagement is a celebrated affair. This ring ceremony, which takes place before the wedding, is very important. The couple exchanges Garlands in order to welcome each other into their lives. This part of the ceremony is known as the Varmala.

As gold lasts forever, the couple exchanges rings made of gold in order to represent a long married life. It is believed that the fourth finger of the hand has a vein leading directly to the heart. Hence the groom wears the ring on the fourth finger of his right hand and the bride wears hers on the fourth finger of her left hand in order to form a complete heart. 

The groom’s family gives a verbal promise of marriage and feeds misri (crystalline sugar) to the girl’s family to confirm the engagement. The eating of sweet is considered auspicious by the Hindus and thus is eaten on all happy occasions.

Mehndi (Henna - Painting of Hands & Feet)

This is primarily a ladies tea party; however the male relatives are allowed to be present. On the "mehndi", the future bride has her hands and feet intricately patterned with a paste, which is a recipe of henna, oil, lemon juice, and some water tinted with tea. The application of mehndi or henna takes about four hours to complete. Ideally, the bride-to-be should not wash her hands until the paste has completely dried. Invitees at the party also design each other’s hands with mehndi. Mehndi signifies the strength of love in a marriage.

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