Wedding is a social event in every body’s life. Wedding is bond between bride and groom. This is an important event after that they are going to spend there whole life together. The Parsi marriages are quite different from the Hindu marriages. Parsi marriages are full of jollity and zeal. A sacred fire plays a vital role in Parsi wedding. Parsi wedding well known as ‘lagan’. This wedding is apparent by happiness and vibrant. The rituals of wedding spread over a number of days. Parsi marriages are consisting of many rituals and we can categorize in three parts.
Pre Wedding Rituals Wedding Day Rituals Post wedding Rituals
Pre wedding rituals
Rupai peravanu: Rupai peravanu is an informal reorganization where both the families receive acceptance of the marriage. On this ceremony the groom’s family visits to the bride’s home. The groom’s family presents the gift of silver coins to the bride as usual ‘shagun’. After that bride’s mother adds some more coins and proceeds to the groom’s house and she repeat this ceremony there.
Madhavsaro: Madhavsaro is the ceremony where the families of bride and groom each plant a young tree in a pot, along with the prayer by the priest. After that they place at the entrance of the home. In which the tree is planted that soil is mixed of different types of metals like gold or silver, paan, supari, haldi and dry dates. This young tree watered every morning till the eight day after marriage.
Adarni: This is the third ceremony before wedding. On this ceremony groom’s parent visit to the bride home to present all the gifts of wedding like jewelry and clothes. This ritual is known as Adarni. The relatives, friends and neighbors are invited for the traditional meal of dahi and sev.
Supra nu muhrat: Supra nu muhrat is much similar to the Hindu ceremony likes haldi and Mehendi. This ceremony arranged a day before the wedding. In this custom four married woman gives a supra each include an item of paan, supari, haldi and a piece of coconut. The married ladies sung a ritual song then these supras are exchange seven times among the cross wise. After following this custom married woman applied turmeric to the bride and groom.
Wedding day Rituals
Nahan: Nahan is the ceremony which done before the marriage ceremony. In this ceremony bride and groom take a purify bath before they get ready for the marriage ceremony. This ritual is known as ‘Nahan’. After taking a bath bride wears her dress a wedding saree, ornaments any more which is given by her parents. The groom wears traditional Parsi ‘dagli’ and feta a white ‘kurta’ and a black cap.
Achumichu: Parsi lagan is called ‘Achumichu’. The bride’s mother performs this Achimuchu ritual when groom steps on the stage. She holds a tray of raw egg, supari, rice and coconut. She circles all the items seven times around the groom’s head and through it on the floor. After that bride steps on the stage and the same ritual is followed by her future mother-in-law.
Ara antar: Ara antar is the ritual in which bride and groom are seats together by facing each other with a cloth in between. So they can not see each other. The priest places the bride’s right hand into the groom’s right hand and passes a piece of cloth that put in the couple’s chair in a circle. He ties the knots of the cloth, known as the ‘wedding knot’. The bride and groom encircles around the wedding knot of the cloth seven times. When this ritual ends the servant carrying the fire-vase puts the frankincense on the fire and immediately the cloth held among the couple is dropped down and the couple throws grains of rice kept in their left hands on each other.
Haath borvanu: Haath borvanu is the completion of wedding. In this ritual the sister’s of the bride takes out money from the groom by playing some activity. At the end the newly wedded couple visits to the fire temple for blessing.
Post wedding Rituals
Reception
The wedding ceremony ends with a grand party has known as reception. The reception is whole night event where guest enjoy a lot and perform singing and dancing. The reception is a grand affair conduct with various menu food, drink and music. The traditional dinner is comprise tasty Parsi bhonu like sarya (crisps), achaar - rotli (pickle and rotis), patra ni macchi (steamed fish), salli margi (chicken with potato crisps), lagan nu custard, pulao-dal and ice cream. After this big function ceremony ends with couple accompanied home by the bride’s family and once again ‘achimuchu ‘perform by the groom’s family for the well being of the couple.
