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The Parsi wedding starts with the procedure of match making.
The first ceremony is called Rupia peravanu. On this day few ladies from the groom’s house visit the girl’s house carrying the ses (a silver tray carrying traditional items, required for all important occasions). The bride’s mother greets them at the door, performing a simple aarti before they enter. This is called achoo-meccho. The bride is blessed and given some silver coins. This ceremony is repeated similarly at the groom’s place where the arti is performed by the bride’s mother.
Similar to the rupia-peravanu, a betrothal ceremony takes place, wherein the groom’s family visit the bride’s house and is later visited by the latter for a similar ceremony called Adravann. In this rings are exchanged and gifts are given. The bride is given a sari and red bangles. Sagan is done to the bride and the groom.
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The next ceremony called Mandav Saro takes place three to four days before the wedding. It is performed independently by both the sides. During this ceremony, prayers are offered to see that the wedding is successful and proceeds without hindrance.
After the mandav saro, a ceremony called Aderni is performed on the same evening. The bride is given red glass bangles which have to be worn till the wedding day. The bride is given jewellery and gifts are exchanged. The same is repeated in the groom’s house. After the ceremony is over, the bride and the groom cannot meet till the day of the wedding. |
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Before the wedding ceremony, a sacred bath called nahn is taken after which the bride and the groom wear their wedding clothes. The bridegroom wears a white dugli (coat) and white trousers with a pagri on his head. The bride wears a white sari. Both of them hold the coconut preserved from the mandav saro ceremony. They have marks of kumkum on their foreheads. The mothers of both perform the achoo meehu(an aarti).
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The groom comes to the venue before the bride. When the bride arrives, the couple then sit opposite each other seperated by a white cloth, as a curtain between them. Two witnesses from each side stand on either side. Then the priest asks the couple if they have consented to the marriage - this is the last chance of refusal. If consent is granted, their hands are tied together with a white dhaga. This is called Haathevaro. Another loop of dhaga is tied around the couple to enclose them in a circle. This symbolizes unity and the tying of the marriage knot. The priest blesses the couple and asks for the witness’ consent. Ashirvad (blessings) is granted to the newly wed and the ceremony ends with the recital of the Tan-dorosti prayer (for good health). |
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Rice and rose petals are sprinkled over the couple. Then there is an exchange of rings and the bride signs the marriage certificate. After this, the bride’s unmarried sister symbolically washes the groom’s feet by sprinkling milk and dropping coins.
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On this day a traditional food called Parsi Bhonu is served on banana leaves.
Varona is a ceremony performed on the 8th day after the wedding. In this, the garlands along with the food ingredients and other items used in mandav saro, are collected and put into a river or sea. The bride then visits her parents house for the first time after wedding.
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