10 interesting facts you didn’t know about Indian weddings

India is a vast land of many traditions, with each community having their own rites of passage, some strange and others endearing, but all being part of wedding customs...

Ransom shoes

In Punjab it is customary for young girls related to the bride to play a prank on the groom involving his shoes. During the marriage ceremony the groom’s untended shoes are removed and hidden away. After the ceremony, he is asked to pay a ransom or ‘fee’ for their return. The groom comes prepared for this and offers cash or traditional trinkets, called kalicharis, gold for the bride’s sisters and silver for her cousins.

Ring of control

A light-hearted ritual called aeki beki among Gujurati Hindus follows the arrival of the newly wed couple at their home. A ring and a few coins are put into a silver dish filled with milk and vermilion and the bride and groom are asked to dip their hands into the bowl to search for the ring. The one who finds the ring four out of seven times is predicted most likely to rule the roost!

Groom’s nose

A pre-wedding ritual in Gujurat has the groom arriving at the house of the bride to seek the blessings of his mother-in-law. She blesses him and performs a ritual to ward off the evil eye. She also tries to catch his nose, playfully reminding him of his responsibility as a son-in-law.

Earth bringing

Some tribal communities perform an earth-bringing ceremony before the wedding. Earth from a holy place is carried to the wedding house and a kiln built and anointed. All food for the wedding feast is cooked in this kiln.

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