Indian Christian Marriage Ceremonies

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"What God has joined together, let man not separate." - Mark 10:9

"Where you go, I will go and where you stay I will stay... May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me. - Ruth 1:16, 17 (Wedding bible verses)

Indian Christian marriage ceremonies with holistic rituals and aesthetics traditions make it a wonderful experience treasured for life. They vary from place to place and one denomination to another. Though the rituals differ, the subject line remains the same, love each other till your last breath with the guidance and blessings from God.

A month before marriage:
The marriage is continuously announced in every church service prior to three weeks of the big day. The announcement is done, so that the church members are updated with the celebration in case anyone knows of a reason why the couple should not marry.

The Day before wedding:
The Indian wedding ceremony starts from the day before marriage ceremonies. The bride and the groom in their respective houses are coated with turmeric paste from head to toe. The bride and all the relatives from both the sides are made to wear green glass bangles too. Many village Christians practices this tradition. It is adopted by the Hindu custom and traditions. However it may seem alien to many metropolitan Christians.

In the Church

The groom is usually in the best suit of clothes, with a red rose stuck in his blazer pocket. He walks in the church while a faded music is played or sung by the congregation to welcome him. The bride walks in after a while with the white gown, (or white Saris) and her father by her side. The flowing veil of bride is clasped by the flower girls of 5-8 years of age. Some flower girls hold a basket of coloured thermocols, rose petals or sparkling papers and throw at the congregation or on the floor as the bride walks in.

The church is made to stand (including the groom) with the hymn being played or sung by the congregation. They are made to sit together in front of the podium. Best man and the best girl are made to sit behind the bridegroom and the bride respectively for any help at the tick of the time.

The church service proceeds with the bible reading and a sermon by the priest. The sermon for the day emphasizes on leading a better family life with reverence to the Holy Scriptures.

After the sermons the parents of the bride are asked to come forward to submit their daughters hand on the groom's hand for the oath. The vows exchanged, between the bride and the groom asked by the priest is,

(Groom ) ___________________, do you take ________________ to he your Wife? ("I do") Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her? ("I do")

(Bride _____________________, do you take __________________ to be your Husband? ("I do") Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him? ("I do")

The groom ties 'Mangal Sutra' to the bride, after the promise. Wedding rings are also exchanged as the signs of marriage later. After the exchange of symbolic signs the Bride and the Groom take these vows.

(Groom) I _____________, take thee , ________________ to be my Wife- To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you forevermore.

(Bride) I _________________ , take thee _______________, to be my Husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise My love to you forevermore.

After the vows the priest declares them as the husband and wife to the church and give benediction.

After the marriage the newly married couples are taken outside the church. People are given, rice or a mixture of rice and jawar to be thrown on the married couples as a symbolic reference of 'showers of blessings'. After the marriage ceremony a reception is held where people join in to congratulate and wish them.

Indian Christian marriage is a blend of biblical, western and traditional practices. Though the customs are mostly adopted and differ from place to place, they bind two hearts together to lead an inseparable life and be an equal part of joys and sorrow till the last breath.