There is always a lot of talk about the great Indian wedding. Karan Johar's films showcase lavish pre-wedding, wedding, and post-wedding ceremonies, emphasizing stunning outfits that celebrate grandeur and elegance. Each religion and its various denominations celebrate weddings in unique and distinctive ways. Catholics, led by Pope Francis, are one of the Christian denominations present in India, alongside others like Protestants.
An Indian Catholic wedding is a beautiful blend of traditional Catholic rituals and Indian cultural elements. Typically, a Catholic wedding is solemnized in church, and depending on which diocese, there would be a marriage preparation course. The couple's marriage bands will be read in their respective parishes to seek any objections to the marriage. Marriage is a solemn event that can occur as part of a church service or independently.
Here's a general overview of what you might expect at such a wedding:
Pre-Wedding Rituals:
Roce Ceremony: A pre-wedding ritual common among the Goan and Mangalorean Catholic communities. It involves applying coconut milk or paste to the bride and groom as a purification and blessing ceremony. There are stories about how the parents will miss them, etc. In the East Indian community, there's a Pani ceremony where the bride-to-be carries a water vessel on her head and walks through the village, announcing her upcoming marriage and departure.
Bachelor and bachelorette parties are celebrated separately by the bride and groom, organized by their friends and family and are not even close to what you see in Western films.
The Wedding Ceremony
Venue: Typically held in a church, with the décor often featuring flowers, candles, and other traditional elements.
Bridal Attire: The bride usually wears a white gown, symbolizing purity, while the groom dresses in a formal suit or tuxedo. However, some brides may incorporate Indian elements like a sari or lehenga.
Procession: The ceremony often begins with a procession, with the bride walking down the aisle accompanied by her father or another close relative.
Mass: A full Catholic Mass is often part of the ceremony, including readings from the Bible, hymns, and prayers.
Exchange of Vows: The couple exchanges vows and rings, pledging their love and commitment to each other in front of family and friends.
Nuptial Blessing: The priest offers a nuptial blessing to the couple, asking for God's grace on their marriage.
Signing of the Register: The signing of the marriage register is typically part of the ceremony, making the marriage legally binding.
Post-Wedding Celebrations
Reception: A grand reception follows the church ceremony, featuring food, music, dancing, and speeches. Indian cuisine is typically served, alongside Western dishes. The guest list features a mix of family, close friends, and a handful of seldom-seen relatives.
Cake Cutting: The couple will often cut a wedding cake as part of the celebration. There is a toast given by a toastmaster who introduces the couple. There's a response to the toast by the groom and the bride, as the case may be. There will be a prayer before the meal, usually by a priest, and the meal with dessert.
First Dance: The couple's first dance is a highlight, followed by more dancing with guests.
Tossing of the Bouquet: The bride may toss her bouquet to the single women present, a tradition believed to bring good luck to whoever catches it.
Music is an integral part of Indian Catholic weddings, with a mix of Western and Indian songs played. The dance repertoire features a captivating array of styles, including the lively Jive, the rhythmic Cha Cha, and the elegant Waltz, among many others. There is usually a Birdie dance and a ceremonial kissing of each other by the couple via elevated chairs.
These weddings are often joyful occasions that bring together both religious solemnity and cultural celebration, reflecting the diverse heritage of Indian Catholics. Weddings and funerals are two places where families get together.
The Goan community used to excel at dancing, but now the Mangalorean Catholics have caught up. In the past, giving gifts was common, either as cash or items. However, this practice is declining. Back then, receiving a gift meant you had to give one in return when invited. Keeping track could be a hassle, and also lead to the couple having too many items, like 15 pressure cookers. So that practice is going away.
In some communities, brides switch from a traditional white dress to an Indian dress adorned with flowers. This is particularly common in the Mangalorean community, which has incorporated some Hindu rituals into their ceremonies. Following the Catholic wedding ceremony, the families come together to exchange invitations for a gathering prior to the couple's honeymoon.
A similar but not as detailed ceremony happens at milestone anniversaries.
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