Types of Indian Wedding - Parsi Weddings

Like all other Indian Weddings, Parsi Wedding Ceremony is also spread over a couple of days. The wedding celebrations are divided into three parts- Pre-Wedding rituals, wedding day rituals and post wedding rituals. 

The Pre-Wedding Rituals begin with a ceremony called Rupia Peravanu. This is like a engagement between both the families. Ladies from the groom’s household visit the bride’s home and present her with a Silver coins as a token of gift or 'shagun'. After spending some days, the groom’s family return home where they are then visited by the bride’s family. Now they give gifts to groom.

Madhavsaro is another interesting ceremony observed few days before the date of wedding. The bride and groom plant a tree in a pot individually. This pot is kept at the entrance of the houses and watered everyday till the eighth day after marriage. After this the plant is planting somewhere else. 

According to this ritual, groom visits the bride’s place and gives her gifts like clothing and jewelry. Sev, dahi, boiled eggs and bananas are kept for the groom’s family to eat.

Supra nu Murat ritual is performed a day before the wedding. Five married women applies turmeric paste to the bride and groom followed by Nahan, or the purifying bath before the wedding. 

According to the Zorastrians or Parsis the time immediately after sunset or very early in the morning is considered auspicious for marriage. The Parsi lagan is called ‘Achumichu', which takes place either at a Baug or at an Agiary (the fire temple). A stage is build up for the couple and before they step on it, the groom first, a ritual called Achumichu is performed. The bride's mother takes a tray with a raw egg, supari, rice, coconut, dates and water and begins the ceremony with her son-in-law to be. In Ara antar ceremony the couple is made to sit facing each other with a cloth held between them, so they cannot see the other. Among the other main day rituals are Chero bandhvanu and Haath borvanu. 

Chero Bandhvanu is when the couple sits beside each other and the priest circles the couple with a String. The oil lamps are lit on each side and prayers are said. The ceremony ends with bride's sister dipping the groom's hand in a glass of water, and sprinkles little milk on his shoes. The seven strands binding the couple are removed and they are pronounced married.