After the announcement of Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas’s engagement, half of us went absolutely gaga for the news while the other half went into mourning upon learning that the last Jonas Brother was off the market. It’s been a brisk and enchanting courtship, culminating in this weekend’s vibrant ceremony that joined Chopra and Jonas forever (we hope).
The public’s peek into the nuptials have so far been of the Mehendi and Sangeet celebrations, during which Chopra smiled larger than life.
I’ve been hard pressed to find a reference to the couple that doesn’t make me melt into a hopeless romantic puddle, like when brother of the groom Joe Jonas told Vogue of Nick, “I think she kind of knocked him off his feet. He was just this little puppy dog.” What’s fascinated me even more, though, are the Indian traditions that Jonas, the son of a former minister, happily engaged in with his new bride.
Chopra was born and raised in India and catapulted her way to fame through Bollywood and the Miss India competition. It’s only right, then, that the newlyweds took part in a traditional, albeit extravagant (Chopra herself said that “people will need vacations”), Indian wedding in her native country. There are a lot of moving parts to these things, though, and I don’t just mean the many, many dancing family members during the Sangeet.
It’s long, and it’s vivid.
There are a lot of Hindu ceremonies and rituals to fit into an Indian wedding. As a result, the whole event will likely take place over two to three days, the dates of which are usually decided not arbitrarily or according to a venue’s availability, like in Western weddings, but in line with zodiac predictions aligned with the bride and groom’s birthdays.
During each rite, the wedding party, friends and family will be wearing saris or lenghas, traditional garb that come in the brightest colors, adorned with stunning jewelry. Only the bride will be wearing red, though, as black or white typically carry negative connotations.
The Ganesh Pooja
Before any of the bigger ceremonies, the Ganesh Pooja brings the families of the couple together in the home to revere the god Ganesha, who represents fortunate beginnings and removing obstacles.
The Mehendi
One day before the official ceremony, the bride and her female friends and family will sit for hours to receive intricate henna designs on their hands and feet. Some brides even have their groom’s initials weaved into the patterns for him to find.
The Sangeet
Before the official ceremony but after the Mehendi, the Sangeet, which translates to “sung together,” is the party of all parties. Family members plan performances and everyone gets together to eat and dance the night away. It acts as an introduction of the couple’s families and to welcome the groom into the bride’s family -- the bride’s relatives will even sing a folk song of greeting to represent their acceptance of the groom.
Of course, a musical family like Jonas’s was up to the challenge.
The ceremony
On the morning that the bride and groom are set to say “I do,” so to speak, the couple will first be commissioned by their family to take part in the Haldi. They get turmeric applied to their faces, hands and feet to ward off evil spirits during their impending nuptials.
When sundown rolls around, the typical timeframe for the exchanging of vows, the groom will enter on a decorated white horse (which Jonas said he “can’t wait” to do), dressed like royalty, and process in what’s called the Baraat. Guests will dance around him banging a dhol drum.
When the groom arrives under the mandap, or decorated gazebo, the bride’s parents will give her away. During the Kanya Daan, her father may pour water over her hands as he places them in the groom’s.
Among other vows, like the Jai Mala where the couple exchanges floral garlands to wear around their necks to symbolize their acceptance of each other, the holy fire, agni, is lit and the couple takes part in the Mangal Phera. Taking seven steps or seven rounds around the agni represents seven sacred vows the bride and groom make to each other to support and be happy with each other forever. During this Saptapadi, their clothes are usually tied together.
Before the ceremony is over, the groom applies sindoor, a red powder, to the bride's forehead and ties the Mangal Sutra, a black, beaded necklace, around her neck. The adornment symbolizes a couple's devotion to one another.
When all vows have been made and rituals are complete, the bride throws five handfuls of rice behind and over her head to reflect wealth and prosperity before the couple gets into a car. During this Vidaai, the male relatives of the bride will push the car while the newlyweds toss money onto the street. They are officially starting their new life together.
The reception
No gifts, please! Boxed gifts typically aren’t asked for at an Indian wedding, asking instead for any presents to be shipped to their home. Among food, dancing and other party elements, there will be traditional dances like bhangra along with contemporary Western music (I hope they played the Jonas Brothers!).