1. Baaraats
There was a time when people needed to travel long distances on horseback to get to the place for your weddingwhich was normally the bride's house or a temple near by and sometimes they traveled even to cities far away. The individuals accompanying the dress would observe and play audio as they traveled. Now we have cars and airplanes but this travel a.k.a'Baaraat' still is the most fun-filled part of the event. Nowadays people reach a location that's, at maximum, a mile away from the place and employ a horse to get the groom while everyone else walks and dances on foot until they reach the venue. This might not seem so cool but the wedding ring accompanies them too and occasionally they have an entire an total DJ games on wheels. There are always a few cars which accompany this Baaraat that carry booze so that people can stop more than time to time to make themselves a beverage. Many people take this up a notch by having a mobile bar with bartenders pulling off fancy tricks and serving snacks and cocktails, so think of it as a moving club in the street with one guy sitting on a horse. But do not even consider making fun of the groom for being on a horse since his attire includes a sword and its terms dictate that once withdrawn from the sheath, it cannot go back in without being stained by blood. Simply speaking the groom's entrance is too big a deal as the bride.
2. Kashi Yatra
Unlike most of the weddings in the northern part of India, down weddings south take place at torturous time, and right around sunrise. It seems a bit weird because everyone is overly sober and a small sleepy but they have the funniest role play called'Kashi Yatra' before the wedding begins and it's totally worth forfeiting your sleeping for.
Thousands of years ago, men who wished to lead their lives for intellectual pursuits didn't require a spouse or father children, so at some point or another, someone probably had cold feet prior to marriage and was perplexed if he ought to leave for Kaashi/Varanasi in the pursuit of inner peace and knowledge or get married and settle for a domestic life. This role play is still carried out when the groom has to make a sudden declaration he wishes to depart for this journey in pursuit of knowledge and it's the bride's brother that wants to convince him to get over his cold feel and go through with the wedding. Now depending on how comfortable they both are with each other and how mean the buddies are, this can take a very hilarious turn. Sometimes the brother in law will offer bribes, occasionally he will ask him to stop throwing fits and the bashing goes , once the groom might not have cold toes. Then sometimes you will find grooms who frankly make a rush to scare people. I just love the notion of letting the guy openly explore his cold feet situation for the entertainment of others.
3. The absolutely synchronized Bollywood dance numbers
It is not fictional -- in Indian weddings, a massive part of the crowd or particular groups begin with a totally synchronized dancing number. We do hire choreographers and practice for months unlike in the films where the whole thing is believable, but what do I saywe Indians love dance and it's spectacular to watch.
4. The meals
If you attend an Indian wedding, then you'll probably get to taste everything amazing that the Indian cuisine offers and there is so much variety that you likely won't have enough space in your gut even if you're only tasting small quantities of everything accessible. If you're one of those weird people who don't like Indian food, even then there are several cuisines from all around the world. If there's anything Indians love more than dancing, it's excellent food and you may wind up gaining a couple of pounds during the course of the wedding. South Indian weddings have an even more amazing concept of serving food on banana leaves instead of dishes which is by far the most fascinating way in which I have eaten.
5. The vows
The bride and the groom are supposed to welcome each other with garlands until they take their vows and it is thought that the person who bows down during this ceremony is going to likely be dominated by the other for the remainder of their lives, so there is a lot of playing around and lifting both of them before one of them gives up. In addition, the altar is in the form of four poles with blossoms hanging all around along with the sacred fire burning at the center. The bride and the groom are assumed to hold hands and circle the fire with each vow they take while people about them shower flower petals on them. The vows are recited by a priest that asks if the bride and groom agree to all of them together with each revolution they create around the flame. These vows are still recited in an ancient language, Sanskrit, so that individuals from all across the nation or foreigners can comprehend, they are translated in Hindi and English, which leads to some moments of great laughter since lots of those vows were written ages ago and some of them seem odd to get a union in the 21st century,'' But that in no manner shadows the attractiveness of the words, the emotions behind them and some of these make people well up.
6. The place
The most intriguing weddings are destination weddings which take place either in the palaces in desert regions, by the shore, or at the hills. The weddings at which individuals book palaces and possess an early royal wedding motif are totally magnificent and if you are ever invited to these, RSVP like your life is dependent upon it.
It's difficult to comprehend the motives behind all the ceremonies, games and role plays that occur in this week long period or to follow all these customs originated but it is something really amazing and fun filled which everybody should experience it once in their lifetimes. Also keep in mind that if you are invited to a proper extravagant Indian wedding, don't pack light! There are so many events which you will literally will need to buy an Indian apparel to be properly attired.