Sangeet
Nov 26
2021
The Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States
Wedding
Nov 27
2021
The Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States
A pre-wedding celebration event with henna, dinner, dance, music, and vibrant colors. In the olden days, women of all ages gathered around and took turns singing songs and dancing. This represented well wishes to the bride for the life she was about to start.
At this event, the bride’s guests can have mehndi, or henna, applied to their hands. Mehndi is an herbal paste associated with positive spirits and good luck. The bride typically gets her elaborate and intricate mehndi drawn on her hands, arms, and feet, prior to the Sangeet. The deeper the color of the bride's mehndi, the stronger the love between the couple.
10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Baraat is the celebratory wedding procession for the groom involving his entrance on a horse with live music and dancing!
11:00-12:30 PM
The ceremony starts off with the bride’s parents giving away the bride in a ritual called Kanya Daan. The bride and groom then join hands and circle around the enclosed fire for the ritual Mangalphera. The priest ties together the scarves the bride and groom are wearing before walking them around the fire. They are given a mix of flowers, rice, and herbs to offer to the holy fire to complete the prayers. This practice is called Havan. Seven steps are taken as they vow to support each other and live happily together. This is the Saptapadi. The groom applies a red powder to the center of the bride’s forehead and ties a necklace made of gold and black beads, and sometimes diamonds as well, around her neck, symbolizing their marriage and commitment to one another. This is called the Mangalsutra.