Importance of Bindi in Hindu Matrimony

Indian weddings have remained very traditional. The wedding ceremony in India is one of the oldest traditions of Indian culture. The most beautiful thing about the Indian culture is that there is a great value of symbolism. One such example is the usage of Bindi by the Indian women.

Bindi is considered as the symbol of prosperity and define the marital status of a woman in Hindu matrimonial. There are different forms of Bindi, which include a roundabout form, a graceful frozen flame, a small point or larger. It has sometimes the form of a long vertical straight line, an artistic design or other exotic patterns.

Bindi has always been a talked about thing in the Hindu matrimony. The word "bindi" is derived from the Sanskrit word bindu (drop point) and is a symbol of happiness. Earlier Kumkum or sindoor was used as Bindi, which has now been replaced by sticker bindis, which are available in different patterns. Exotic glittering stones are the hot favourite of the women in India. 

The most popular colour in Bindi designs is red, which represents strength. It also symbolizes love - a bindi placed on the forehead of the bride illuminates her face. As a good omen, the 'sindoor' is placed in temples. It is anyways clear that this sign denotes the marital status of women in most Indian communities in the north, but in South India, it is important for girls to wear a bindi.

Women also tend to match their bindi with the colour of their dress. The poets of all time in India have composed the beautiful verses of the beautiful ladies bindi. The bindi is now a fashion accessory, besides being a must have thing in the Hindu matrimony. Apparently beyond the borders of India, bindi has become very popular with the trendy Western style.

Author: Rashmi Karan

Enjoyable Post-Wedding Rituals in Oriya Matrimony

Weddings functions spans over several days. In India, there are many rituals happening before and during the wedding day. Even after the groom and the bride has tied the knot and settled in matrimonial bliss, rituals do follow them. Especially in the Hindu marriage, there are many rituals even after marriage. In the Oriya Matrimony, there are many rituals with the bride’s arrival in the groom house.

Orissa is a beautiful state with distinctive culture and traditions. The state is known for its dance, food and local crafts. Most of the population in Orissa is followers of Hinduism and the people are commonly referred as Oriya. The Hindu communities in Orissa are also divided into various castes and sub-castes. The rituals after wedding are similar for these Hindu communities. One of the common post wedding rituals is the Grihapravesh ceremony of the bride. The bride is welcomed in her new home and is given a warm ceremonial welcome. The newly wedded couple arrives and the mother-in-law welcomes them. One important thing to mention here is that groom’s mother does not attend the wedding of her son. This is a distinct custom of Oriya Matrimony

Another important post wedding ritual is the Astha Mangala Custom. In this ritual, the newly wedded couple visits the bride’s home. This visit is usually done on the 8th day after marriage. The mother-in-law of the groom and various other female members of the family welcome the couple. A feast is organized and mouthwatering Orissa delicacies is prepared and served. Food items of the groom choice is prepared and served. This visit is a short stay, as sometimes the bride and groom returns in the evening. In some cases, the couple stays for about two-three days. In the Astha Mangala custom in Oriya Matrimony, the groom and the bride receives gifts and jewelry from the bride’s parents.