Celebrating love through the power of water: hindu wedding rituals and the sacred symbolism behind it

In Hindu weddings, water is used as an important element to invoke blessings for the newly married couple. It has significant symbolism and meaning attached to it. During the wedding ceremony, there are several rituals where water is used to represent the love and commitment between the bride and groom. One such ritual is "Pani Vivaah" or the "Water Marriage". The ritual involves pouring water over the hands of the bride and the groom to signify their physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and intellectual union. This act is believed to cleanse them from all impurities and make them ready for a new life together. Another ritual called "Ganga Aarti" or the "Offering to Ganges" is performed during which the bride and groom offer prayers to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Water is poured into a pot and lit diyas (earthen lamps) are placed around it. This ritual represents purification and cleansing of the couple's souls before they take their vows. Similarly, in the "Raksha Bandhan", the sister ties a sacred thread made of string and rice grains around her brother's wrist to protect him from evil forces. At this time, the sister also offers water to the brother with her palm facing downwards. She recites mantras that wish good health, prosperity, and happiness for her brother. These rituals reflect the deep-rooted belief in Hinduism about the significance of water in marriage. Water is seen as a natural element that brings purity, fertility, and blessings to the couple. The use of water in Hindu wedding ceremonies is an important part of the rituals that takes place between the bride and groom. It has various meanings attached to it, like purification and blessing of the couple. One such ritual is Pani Vivaah or the Water Marriage where water is used to symbolize the physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and intellectual union between the bride and groom. During this ceremony, water is poured over their hands to cleanse them from all impurities and make them ready for their new life together. Another ritual called Ganga Aarti or the Offering to Ganges involves pouring water into a pot along with lighting earthen lamps dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The purpose of this act is to purify their souls before taking vows. Additionally, in Raksha Bandhan, sisters tie a sacred thread made of string and rice grains around their brothers' wrist while offering them water. They do so by holding their palms upside down which represents protecting their brother from evil forces and praying for his well-being. All these rituals demonstrate how water holds immense importance in Hindu culture when it comes to weddings and marriages.