How are Indian Weddings Different from American Weddings? |
Posted: May 18, 2018 |
The world is shrinking and people are now keen to learn more about cultural diversity. This makes them encounter such wedding traditions which were alien to them before. Most of the weddings taking place in the US are based on Christian and European traditions. However, with increasing diversity in the country, we see that Indian weddings have also become a big thing here. In an Indian wedding, all the rituals followed belong to the Hindu tradition and they are drastically different from the American culture. Here are some of the major differences being highlighted between an Indian and an American wedding: The Duration As there are so many different events which take place, an Indian wedding can easily last for an entire week. There are a number of functions including Sangeet, Mehndi, etc. The actual event lasts for an entire day and including processions going from the bride’s home to the wedding location and then the reception. In contrast to this, even the lengthiest American wedding will last for a day and it can even be as short as 15 mins. Rituals Most of the American weddings are based on Christian traditions in which the wedding is officiated by a pastor or a government official. He leads the couple through the vows and as soon as the marriage certificate is signed, the couple along with the guests go to the reception. In a typical Indian wedding in New Jersey or anywhere else in the world, there are a number of religious rituals including the couple walking in seven circles around the fire, the groom tying a necklace around the bride’s neck, etc. Clothing The American bride wears white and the groom goes for a tuxedo or a suit. On the other hand, an Indian bride wears red because it symbolizes beauty and fertility. There are elaborate beading and embroidery on the bridal dress and even the groom wears embellished Sherwani, a traditional Indian clothing item for men. Since the wedding lasts for several days, the couple and the guests keep changing clothes to celebrate their happy moments and the auspicious occasion. Guest List The most noticeable difference is the number of people attending an Indian and an American wedding. While the Americans usually reserve the invitation for close family and friends, Indians are keen to invite even those who are remotely related to them. American weddings usually have 75 or so guests whereas the guest list in an Indian wedding may go up to 200 or 1000 people. This is the reason that they are held in huge banquet halls instead of a religious place or their own houses. Apart from a number of other differences, one thing which is astonishingly distinct between the two is that the Indian weddings in New Jersey or anywhere else can be arranged. The way the families interact with each other and their involvement in the entire marriage event is also something which is not found in American weddings.
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