A Marriage Procession

"Religion's love put out religions eyes".

Or "Marriages are arranged in heaven but celebrated on the earth."

Marriage is a very beautiful and clever word. One is thrilled when one hears this word. It is a ceremony where the lifelong partners meet and are tied together in a religious ceremony for a long. They perform their social obligations. It is the turning point in one's life. Life gets totally changed.

Sometimes back I got an invitation. I was to attend a marriage ceremony locally. Marriage in our country is celebrated with great pomp and show. The relatives of the bridegroom's side go to the house of the bride in a procession and after a ceremony return along with the bride and some gifts. Over the years many things have been modified. Some ceremonies are good some others are bad and some are not at all required. The gifts are a form of dowry and it is prohibited by the law. But still, people follow it.

I went to the house of the bridegroom in the morning. Similarly, his other relatives and friends also came. After certain ceremonies associated with marriage, the procession started from the house of the bridegroom. It was grand and colorful. The bridegroom was wearing a silken robe. They rode a horse (mare) which was also a beautiful ornament. The relatives and friends also wore dresses accordingly. There was a band locally arranged. The procession in which there was a band playing different tunes followed by the bridegroom riding a mare and then followed by his relatives formed a great majestic show.

The people say that marriages are settled in heaven and celebrated on earth. It really looked like that. The 'Barat reached the bride's place everyone was there from the bride's side to receive and welcome the groom and the guests. The ceremony of milni took place. Then breakfast was served. After that actual marriage ceremony took place as per vedic rituals. Then followed the departure after a very heavy lunch. At lunch some took drinks.

The departure scene was a touching scene. Some dowry items were also offered by the bride's parents. Though the parents of the groom's side were not interested yet bride's side insisted. The groom and the bride form a separate identity from this day.

All these customs beautifully depict our social culture and our way to do them. As times change these customs also change. The marriage which used to take place in days has been reduced to a few hours. The dowry system needs a healthy change in the marriage.