Note:- I have tried to explain the Rituals in this part as much as I can.
The wedding was kept in the farm of Maheshwaris’, and the venue was decorated royally with a huge red carpet at the entrance towards the wedding pavilion which was set up in the theme of Royal Palace. And royal sofas were kept in the garden for the guest to sit and enjoy the wedding proceedings.
The red carpet pathway was decorated with antiqued lanterns hanging on both sides, alongwith small rajasthani classical puppets decorated at the entrance, giving a complete royal and traditional vibes.
Radhika alongwith Virat were standing at the entrance of the palace welcoming Vivaansh, Tejaswi and Anhad who had just reached.
Wearing an off-white floral printed sherwani alongwith a satin pink colored silk shawl draped over his right shoulder towards his left hand wrist, a pink colored silk headdress with a gold brooch attached on it and a beautiful three layered pearl neckpiece around his neck, with a gold watch in his left wrist and a long sword held in his right hand, Vivaansh walked through the aisle between where the sofa were kept, and then stood at the entrance of the palace with Tejaswi and Anhad beside him.
“Vivaansh, you have to hit this toran (decorative arch hanging) with this stick. It will cast away all the negative energies. This rasam is known as ‘Dwar Chakai’.”, Radhika briefed before giving him a neem stick and Vivaansh nodded as he took the stick and then hit it slowly at the decorative arch hanged above the entrance.
Radhika then performed the ritual of ‘Barat Dhukav’, by doing his aarti (sacred welcoming) followed by doing tikka on his forehead with a one rupee coin, before showering some rose petals on him and at last fed him some sweet, before stepping away and gesturing him to enter the palace saying, “Welcome.”
Vivaansh was made to sit in the mandap (wedding pavilion) where the priest tied a sacred thread on his right hand wrist followed by chanting some verses, whereas Radhika asked Anshika to go upstairs and bring Meera for the wedding rituals.
Priest were chanting verses when Vivaansh heard some traditional folk songs and fortuitously his eyes shifted towards from where Meera was descending the stairs alongwith Anshika and other girls beside her, whereas four boys were holding a flower bed above her head from all four sides.
Wearing a bridal satin brown silk lehenga with golden thread embroidery, her heard covered with a veil of her silk brown dupatta, three different lengthen traditional gold necklaces around her slender beautiful neck, long gold chained earrings in her ears, a royal chain nose pin pinned in her nose, and a beautiful gold maangtikka in the partition of her hair, Meera was looking no less than a Rajasthani Royal Princess.
She was wearing the same red and white colored chooda (bangles) from today morning, with ring chain bracelets in both her hands and kaleerein hanged below her chooda (bangles), alongwith few royal gold rings in her fingers which were enhancing the beauty of her heena filled hands. Even her legs were adorned with dark heena alongwith beautiful toe-rings and heavy anklets around her ankles.
If she was looking beautiful in the morning, then right now she was an ethereal beauty straight from the heavens.
As soon as he saw her struggling with her heavy lehenga while climbing the pavilion stairs, Vivaansh got up from his place and came ahead before putting forward his right palm in front of Meera, who slowly raised her eyes and stared in his’, before glancing at his stretched out hand, and atlast she slowly gave her hand into his’, as he lead her up into the pavilion.
Vivaansh and Meera were made to stand in front of each other, as Radhika came forward with a huge gold plate and Meera took suhalis (kind of snacks) from the plate, and then put them into Vivaansh’s hand one by one for seven times in total.
Immediately after this, the priest ask both the mothers to come forward with floral garland. Radhika forwarded the Jaimala to Meera who took it from her mother and glanced at Vivaansh, but did not move forward, worrying everyone around her.
“Meera.”, Anshika nudged Meera from behind, getting her out of trance and Meera finally raised her shivering hands to put the garland around Vivaansh’s neck.
However, the height difference between the couple did not help Meera and she tip-toed but still fail to reach him. Everyone giggle around them and Meera pursed her lips now looking down in embarrassment.
His lips tucked up a little In a small hidden smile before Vivaansh ducked his head a little down to help Meera, and the later one stared into his eyes while slowly putting the Jaimala around his neck.
Taking the garland from his mother, Vivaansh was about to put it around Meera, when out of no where, her cousin brothers came and lift her up, to make it difficult for Vivaansh. However, it was not as difficult for him, courtesy to his heights and after a bit of efforts, Vivaansh finally put Jaimala (flower garland) on Meera.
After this, Meera was made to sit beside Vivaansh on his left side, before the priest called for Vivaansh’s sister to came ahead for “Ganthbandhan” or “Granthibandhan”. (ritual of tying the shawl of both bride and groom)
However, since Vivaansh had no sister, Tejaswi came ahead to perform the ritual, and the priest then guide Tejaswi to do “Ganthbandhan”
Tejaswi took one end of Meera’s veil dupatta and tied it into a tight knot with the end of Vivaansh’s shawl, and placed it back on his shoulder.
This rasam of ‘Ganthbandhan’ signifies the union of the couple. This knot between them signifies that their lives are now tied into a knot and now they are one soul.
“Now bride’s father come ahead for Kanyadaan.”, The priest called for Virat who came ahead to perform the ritual of “Kanyadaan.”
Kanyadaan, meaning “giving away the bride” in Sanskrit, is a symbolic marriage ritual for the Bride’s parents and the couple. The Father of the Bride takes his daughters right hand and places it in the Groom’s right hand, requesting for him to accept his daughter as his equal partner.
Virat came ahead and first he explained their family lineage to Vivaansh and then asks, “Do you take the responsibility of my daughter?”
Vivaansh glanced at Meera for a moment before looking back at Virat and nodded in confidence saying, “I do.”
Virat then turn towards Meera and asked with shaking voice, “Do you accept him, his family and his surname as yours?”
Meera contemplated for a moment looking down at her fingers in her lap before nodding meekly into an affirmation as she whispered, “I do.”
“Now bride’s father can give bride’s hand into groom’s hand. This rasam is called ‘Panigrahan’.”, Priest explained, and Virat with shaking hands took Meera’s right hand into his, before giving it in Vivaansh’s right hand.
The priest then came ahead and tied their hand together with a sacred orange thread, tying them forever with each other.
Pani means hand and Grahan mean acceptance. After the Kanyadaan, the bride’s father places his daughter’s hand over the groom’s hand and asks him to accept her as his wife. This particular rasam signifies the union of two souls.
“Now it is time for ‘Phera’ and ‘ashwarohan’.”, The priest declared and Radhika came ahead with a small stone and kept it in front of Meera for ashwarohan.
Vivaansh forward his hand and Meera took it shyly as he helped her getting up from where they were sitting. His small gestures were nothing in the eyes of others, but for Meera they meant much more than some verbal promises.
“The bride will walk ahead for the first three pheras, and then the groom will lead for the next four pheras.”, The priest said before continuing, “After every round of phera, the bride will put her right feet on the grinding stone, pushing it forward for seven times.”
The priest stood aside chanting the mantras, and Meera took the lead to circle the sacred havan kund.
After completion of three rounds around the sacred havan kund, priest now asked Vivaansh to come forward and lead the another four pheras.
Vivaansh came ahead and forward his hand towards Meera who looked at him shocked for a moment, but then looking at him still waiting patiently, Meera slowly gave her hand into his, and felt his grip tighten around her palm.
Holding her hand into his securely, Vivaansh lead Meera for the last four pheras, as everyone showered them with rose petals.
After every phera, Meera would pause for a minute to put her right feet on the grinding stone and lightly push it ahead, before going for another phera.
The ritual of Ashwarohan symbolizes that the bride will face any obstacles in her married life with determination and courage.
“Now, bride’s brother will come ahead for the ritual of ‘Vamang Sthapna’”, The priest said and one of Meera’s cousin brother came ahead with a huge plate filled with puffed rice.
Meera stood on the left side of Vivaansh with her hand into his’, as Meera’s cousin gave puffed rice into their hands for three times and everytime, the couple offered this rice into the holy fire for three times.
Meera then was made to sit beside Vivaansh on his left side and Tejaswi came ahead with a small decorated round box of vermillion.
Taking the coin full of vermillion, Vivaansh turned towards Meera and their eyes met for a brief moment, and Meera felt as if he is asking for her permission through his eyes.
“May I?”, Vivaansh asked staring into her orbs, confirming Meera’s speculations and she felt her heart growing warm towards him… unknowingly.
Meera instead closed her eyes and ducked her head a little towards him, answering him without words. Smiling a little at her composed countenance, Vivaansh with his left hand lift her maangtikka, and with his right hand, slide the coin in the partition of her hair, filling her maang with sindoor (vermillion).
A little vermilion even fall on the tip of her nose, and her eyes let out few tears before they glide down on her cheeks. And in the reflex, His thumb caressed her left cheek followed by right one, as Vivaansh slowly wiped the traces of her tears. And Meera could not help but open her eyes and stare into his’ with lots of emotions behind them.
“It is said that if the vermillion falls on bride’s nose, then her husband will love her to moon and back and will be loyal to her forever.”, Their trance was broken when some lady from the crowd commented and Meera immediately averted her gaze looking down with red hue spreading on her face.
Vivaansh then inched towards Meera with Mangalsutra (nuptial chain) in his hands. Tying it securely around her neck, Vivaansh smiled the moment his hand touch her bare skin on her nape and he felt her shiver with his touches.
After this, Radhika asked Tejaswi to come ahead and perform the ritual of ‘Aanjhala Bharai”.
As guided by Radhika, Tejaswi drop a silk bag full of money in Meera’s lap saying, “I am now giving you the financial responsibility of our family.”
Meera took the bag and smiled lightly at Tejaswi while nodding affirmatively and Tejaswi bend down a little to peck Meera’s forehead lovingly and said, “Welcome to our family, beta.”
“Hereby, I announce them as Husband and wife.”, Priest declared and everyone clapped while Meera and Vivaansh looked at each other with so much to say deep into their heart.
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After taking blessings from all the elders, Meera and Vivaansh were taken to the huge dining hall which was decorated royally for the guest as well as the bride and groom to have a lavish dinner.
Meera and Vivaansh were made to sit beside each other with a big plate of food kept in front of them on a huge table which was decorated with rose petals.
Virat as well as Meera’s few male cousin came ahead to serve the food to the groom as per the ritual “Sajjan Goth”. In this ritual, the groom is served with a complete royal Rajasthani food like Dal bati churma, Mawa kachori, Rabdi jalebi, gatta ki sabji, panchmel sabji, ker sangri- papdi ki sabji, kadi-khuchdi, roti, etc. (names of rajasthani delicacies).
Virat took Jalebis from the plate and fed it to Vivaansh, signifying the sweet bond between the two families for lifetime. Radhika then came ahead and fed some sweets to Vivaansh and then Tejaswi.
“Meera, now you feed some sweets to Vivaansh”, Radhika instructed and Meera nodded meekly while taking some sweets from the plate, before forwarding her hand in front of Vivaansh and fed him, however not for once she looked up at him.
But then the moment, she felt Vivaansh licking her finger, accidentally or intentionally…she looked at him wide eyes only to have him already staring back at her.
Even Vivaansh fed her sweets and Meera had it shyly without looking at him, as her heart felt as if it will explode the moment she will look at him once more.
The exchange of sweets between the bride and groom signifies the sweetness to be filled in their marriage life.
Post dinner, Meera and Vivaansh were made to sit in front of each other with a bowl full of milk and rose petals in it.
“Radhika, this ritual is generally done after the bride enters her in-laws house.”, Tejaswi said frowning and Radhika smiled before saying, “But in our culture, this is played before the farewell of the bride. And this ritual is called Jau-khilai.”
Anshika came ahead dropped the gold ring in the bowl and mixed it with the milk water before saying, “You both have to find the ring in this milk and whoever will find it first will rule over the other person’s heart.”
Meera slowly dipped her hand into the milk followed by Vivaansh as they both tried to find the ring inside, while the others were cheering and waiting curiously for one of them to find the ring.
Vivaansh felt something in his hand and realised it to be ring and then he glanced at Meera who was frowning while trying to find the ring. Secretly pushing the ring towards her, Vivaansh smiled loudly when he saw Meera excitedly taking out the ring and then grinning at Anshika widely.
“Iska matlab hai hamari Meera aapke dil pein raaj karegi jamai sa.”, Radhika said humourously and Meera suddenly got conscious before she glanced at Vivaansh who was already smiling looking at her, and then saw him shifting his focus towards Radhika as he nod at her curtly.
Taking the ring from Meera, Vivaansh asked for her hand and Meera hesitating gave in, as Vivaansh slide the ring in her left hand ring finger, because her right hand already had an engagement ring in it.
Few other games were played until it was an auspicious time for ‘Vidaai’ (farewell) and now everyone were at the entrance with tears in their eyes.
Radhika came ahead and did Aarti of the couple before giving a dried coconut filled with coins and sugar in Meera’s hands instructing her to give it later to Tejaswi after reaching her in-laws home.
Meera took the coconut and looked at her mother with teary eyes and taking a cue, Radhika immediately hug her daughter as they cried loudly in each other’s embrace.
“Please forgive her if she does any mistakes in future.”, Virat joint his hands in front of Vivaansh with his head down, and Vivaansh immediately hold his hands nodding in no saying, “You are elder than me. Please don’t embarrass by joining your hands in front of me and asking for forgiveness.”
Virat nodded before turning towards his daughter and took her in his embrace and Meera cried more in her father’s arms.
Anshika came and stood beside Meera with a plate full of puffed rice while Radhika stood behind Meera with her dupatta open wide and asked Meera to throw the puffed rice back while walking ahead.
Meera with every step took some puffed rice and threw them behind her while Radhika collected them into her dupatta with misty eyes, until they reach Vivaansh’s car.
Meera stood aside crying in her mother’s embrace, whereas Virat came ahead with some servants carrying many gift wrapped boxes in their hands.
“This are some small gifts from our side.”, Virat said gesturing towards the gifts and Tejaswi said hesitatingly, “We cannot accept these gifts.”,
“But this are our rituals.”, Radhika said and Tejaswi now did not know what to say.
Since it was a ritual, Tejaswi did not find it right to argue and she immediately looked at her son who looked troubled for a moment before he said, “We want nothing, but if you still insist, you can give one rupee coin to Meera so that she can bring prosperity with her in our house.”
Everyone smiled looking at how prudently Vivaansh handled the situation. Neither he accepted the gifts, nor he disrespected their rituals.
While Meera stared at the man in front of her, trying to understand his true demeanor. He seems to be hard to her from outside yet always makes her feel warm with his words and actions.
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Anhad and Tejaswi had already left ahead for preparation of the rituals of Grihpravesh (rituals where the bride enters her in-laws house for first time), while the newly wed were coming in another car.
Vivaansh glanced at her crying self, as they were sitting on the rear seat with driver driving them towards Malhotra Mansion.
Meera looked at tissue papers in his hands before looking up at him and Vivaansh gestured her to take the tissues. Meera took the tissues from him and wiped her tears and Vivaansh smiled but did not say anything.
Minutes passed and Vivaansh felt her cry turning into sobs before he looked at her and said, “You can always come and meet your family whenever you feel like.”
Looking up at him for brief seconds, Meera said, “I miss them.”
“You can cry if you want. No one will judge you.”, Vivaansh said and taking it as a cue, Few tears rolled down her eyes again and Vivaansh immediately raised his hand and slowly wiped the tears on her cheeks staring deep in her eyes.
