How To: Attend a Hindu Wedding

Attending weddings has always required some sort of protocol regarding customs. While we are familiar with Western wedding traditions, attending a wedding from another culture can be both exciting and intimidating. Here’s our guide for making sure the next Hindu wedding you attend is a blast.

Keep to the schedule

Hindu weddings can last up to several days, with a variety of rituals and ceremonies depending on the family’s regional customs. Some, like the Ganesh Pooja or Mehndi ceremony are reserved for close family or just the bridal party, whereas others like the Sangeet will have everyone invited to the main reception. Guests will most likely have an itinerary, but keep in mind it will probably follow the notorious phenomenon of “Indian standard time,” where functions start an hour or two later than scheduled, similar to the Western “fashionably late” rule.

Bring out the swag

When choosing your outfit, go with bright, bold colors. As with Western weddings, stay away from white, though in Hindu culture this is because white is worn during funerals. Also avoid black, the mourning color as well as bright red, which is usually worn by the bride. Keep in mind you should dress modestly and might have to sit cross-legged on the floor depending on the ceremony you’re attending and the way it’s set up. As far as accessories, weddings are what Indian women buy jewelry for, with tradition dictating you wear more gold chains and diamonds (or zircs) than your favorite rapper.

Enjoy the festivities

Hindu weddings typically feature a variety of rituals and traditions that date back thousands of years. The main ceremony is usually kicked off with a blessing of the groom followed by a raucous baraat, which is a wedding procession for the groom and his family, dancing through the streets on the way to the wedding venue with dhols beating and bhangra music playing in the background. This custom originated from North India, and has become a common fixture at Indian weddings. The baarat culminates at the wedding venue when the couple exchanges floral garlands and proceed to the main ceremony, where a priest performs several rituals signifying their new life together.

Mind your manners

Unlike Western weddings, the main ceremony can last more than an hour, and it is usually not required that guests sit quietly and watch. Typically, guests will mingle and talk while the priest does his work. For taking pictures, best to check with someone who is familiar with the ceremony, as sometimes the priest will ask for no flash during certain rituals. Depending on the venue, you might be required to remove your shoes, though socks and stockings are usually acceptable. Some ceremonies will offer prashad, which is usually a sweet given to guests as a blessed offering. It is polite to accept this treat, receiving it in your right hand with your index finger holding your thumb.

Try new food

Unless the reception is being held in a Western venue, you’re probably going to be eating a lot of Indian food, which could be daunting if you’re not familiar with the cuisine. A common misconception is it is very spicy, where in reality there are a variety of flavors and spices used for Indian cuisine. Food will most likely involve a spread of meat and vegetarian curries, flatbreads (naan and roti), rice (white and spiced), maybe some grilled meats (tandoori and kebabs) and fried appetizers (samosas and pakoras), but definitely plenty of sweets.

Dance like it’s a Bollywood film

Indian culture might have a reputation of being a bit more reserved, but you wouldn’t know it attending an Indian wedding. If there’s a DJ, the music will probably be a mix of old-school Indian music, modern Bollywood tracks and some Western pop. Slow dances are usually eschewed in favor of upbeat bhangra dancing. There’s even a growing trend of the wedding party organizing elaborate, Bollywood-style dance routines, truly a spectacle that encapsulates the color and festive spirit of Indian weddings.