Monday, May 28, 2012

Brahmin matrimony


Alike other Hindu communities in India, the Brahmin community also follow the same customs and traditions that are being carry forwarded from the forefathers to their offspring. A wedding ceremony includes various practices that form the big celebration. The weddings are the true reflection of a community’s beliefs and traditions. Though the weddings are celebrated in a similar fashion, but the effect of one’s caste and region can be evident from the way they celebrate the weddings. 

Brahmin community is given the highest status according to the age old caste system and social system. The Brahmins are the priestly family who are given the authorization of conducting weddings and other rituals, and thus the customs are performed in the purest forms. The Brahmin matrimony starts with the pre-wedding rituals which are conducted in the homes of the boy and girl, and include involvement of the family members as well as the close friends. The elders gather to bless the prospective bride and groom.
The ceremonial celebrations in the Brahmin matrimony are no different from other communities. You can find some drastic variations in the wedding customs of the southern India as compared to those in the north India. The weddings in Northern India follow the Vedic methodology to conduct marriages, where fire is believed to be the most sacred element and the main wedding rituals are performed in front of fire, which is believed to be the main witness of wedding. The bride and groom take seven rounds of the fire and seek blessings from the almighty god and the elders. 

The Brahmins are strict followers of their legacy and generally do not allow inter caste marriages. They have their strong belief in matching the horoscope as they believe that the movement and positioning of the planets have their impact over the lives of the individuals. Although horoscope matching is no more compulsory now, and many families do not consider matching horoscopes of the boy and girl.
Gone are those days when mediators were contacted for finding the best matches for the boys and girls in Brahmin matrimony. The families of the boy and girl these days search the suitable matches over the internet.  Here are some of the tips that can help the parents to find the life partner for the children over matrimony sites.

1- Find and check the good number of profiles.
2- Check for the authenticity of the websites as well as the profiles.
3- One needs to be careful while contacting a stranger, as there are people who take undue advantage of innocent people, be it a girl or a boy.
4- After finding the suitable match, it will be beneficial to conduct a background check of the candidate.
5- Check the educational and professional qualifications of a candidate to ensure that he /she had not lied to you.
6- Do not forget to visit the profile's work place as well as home.
7- You can also contact their neighbors to get a rough idea of the person and the family.

Author: Rashmi Karan

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Weddings in Hindu Community All Over India

Hinduism is not about a single belief or teaching, but it includes so many aspects of different cultures and communities, which are residing together in India with harmony. The religion is very flexible and the interpretation of one thing may vary if you begin to travel from one destination to another. So it’s all about the regional and personal beliefs. Although the customs followed by the Hindus of the country may sound similar, but you will find some variations win the ways they are performed. There is no founder of the religion and if you are a Hindu then you can choose your god the way you wish.

The term Hinduism is a united term for so many religious practices that are being practiced all over the country. One of the main aspects is the wedding. Attend a Hindi matrimony and you will come to know almost all the important aspects of the culture of the particular community or the religion. In different regions, the set of rituals vary and that does not depend on the caste to which a person belongs as the impact is purely regional. The customs followed in Hindi matrimony will be different for different communities. Travel from northern to southern part, you will find clear differences in the ways weddings are celebrated.

Similarly there are numerous rituals that are performed in different manner in different places, which is the unique feature of the Hindu weddings. One common aspect of the Hindu weddings is that nowadays the life partners are searched online on Internet with the help of online matrimonial websites. These sites have been helpful for every community as there are profiles from different states and communities of India, which have eased the process of searching and finalizing an alliance.

Author: Rashmi Karan

Monday, May 7, 2012

Pre-Wedding Rituals in Bengali Matrimony


A bengali wedding is undoubtdly a right mix of traditions, dignity and togetherness. Every hindu weddding in the Bengali community includes some pre wedding rituals which are followed by every family. Most of the time, the weddings are fixed by the parents or the elders of the family. However, these days matrimonial websites are also among the most popular and preferred ways to find the perfect life partner. After finding the suitable match, a formal meeting is organized between the two families and after agreeing over all the points a formal meeting is arranged between the boy and the girl. 

Generally, Bengalis do not believe in matching the horoscopes of the boy and girl. A Bengali matrimony is said to be fixed with a ceremony known as Ashirbad and the term stands for blessings. In Bengalis, most of the rituals are conducted at the bride’s place. During Ashirbad, the close family members and friends of the groom visit the bride’s home. The elders of the family shower the bride with gifts and blessings. 

In the similar fashion, the bride’s family goes to the groom’s house and the elders gift the groom with gifts and bless him. There is another ritual which holds importance in the Bengali matrimony is the Gaye Holud, which is celebrated in the morning of wedding day. Thick turmeric paste is applied on the face, hands, legs and other body parts of the bride and groom, of course in their respective homes only!

For the ritual, the turmeric is brought from the groom's home. In the evening, the groom along with his family members and friends goes to the bride’s place for the Bengali matrimony rituals. The wedding is performed among the sacred sound of conch shells and ululation of the women, symbolizing rejoicing and happiness of the couple.

Author: Rashmi

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Major Cities in Maharashtra


Want to experience Marathi Matrimony function. Then head straight to the famous cities of Maharashtra, which are deeply rooted in tradition. The cities of Maharashtra like Pune, Nashik, Solapur, and Nagpur have kept the traditions alive. Visit these places to witness the culture of state. And experience the colorful Marathi matrimony functions.

Pune:
One of the popular cities in Maharashtra, Pune is historically and culturally vibrant place to live and witness the popular Marathi culture. It has a glorious past, being the seat of erstwhile Maratha rulers. The city enjoys a number of sobriquets like cultural capital of Maharashtra, Queen of Deccan and the most famous Oxford of the East. Cultural events are held from time to time in the city. You can attend theatre and arts exhibitions highlighting distinctive Maharashtra’s customs. With the changing times, Pune is growing into a major metropolis.

Nagpur:
Located in the central part of the country, this is another important city in Maharashtra. Visit the city to find true Maharashtra’s culture. Nagpur reflects the culture and tradition of Marathi people. Be it the food or their way of celebrating functions like Marathi Matrimony, the people of Nagpur follow according to the original rituals.

Nashik:
The city of Nashik is a beautiful little town, close to Mumbai. Nashik is a city and offers a beautiful mélange of past and present. It is also known as the wine capital of India due to large vineries in the area. The city natural beauty and pleasant climate attracts many to spend time in this city. It is also considered one of the holiest cities according to Hindu religious belief.

Solapur:
Solapur is another important destination in Maharashtra where you can feel the true Maharashtra’s culture. Here you can shop for cotton handloom products. There are many shops selling handloom products from the state.

Author: Shipra Sinha