Delicious food, beautiful clothes, boisterous, beautiful, and cheerful family, and unlimited pleasure are those who define the best Indian wedding. Here is the explanation by the best wedding planners in Jaipur; they explain the importance of garlands Indian wedding rituals. As wedding planners meet people with different cultures and customs so they know each story behind the rituals.
Small and important rituals make marriages more meaningful. One of the most important rituals is to exchange Varmala or bouquets in simple English. Garlands in Indian wedding rituals have a remarkable history behind it. Read the following posts to find out more.
There is no Indian marriage, which is considered complete until the groom with very weaving Jaimala flowers together. There are many stories in Hindu mythology that explains the significance behind the entire ritual. Here are some stories that accidentally behind the garland exchange ritual.
What is Varmala?
The word Varmala means bouquets for the groom. It’s ancient times; it’s considered a receipt of a wedding proposal by the bride. Rituals find their roots in various scriptures and ancient texts. Even in Gandharva Vivah, the marriage of heavenly creatures, marriage was sealed by the exchange of bouquets.
Jaimala is colorful made of flowers that smell fragrant, just bloom. They are made of bright flowers so that the visual impact of them is eternal on the mind of people. Although it is very difficult to unite bouquets, people still prefer appearance and aroma.
Usually, it goes up or jasmine used to make it along with small and shiny jewelry. The aroma of roses and the beauty of Jasmine made Garland at the Indian wedding intact and beautiful – it looked even after being stored for several hours. At present, people also choose artificial Varmala s. They are usually made of cloth, clean, foil, small ornaments, and decorative pieces. They get popularity lately because they are easily handled, don’t be destroyed or pampered easily, and are a more feasible choice than native bouquets.
Use of Varmala in the Past
In the past, a girl usually chose the groom placing a bouquet of flowers in her neck in a ceremony called Swayamwar. This mention was made in many scriptures and old epics, which were recorded as Ramayana. In Ramayana, Sita had put a bouquet of flowers on Lord Ram’s neck after he violated the arc which was a symbol of him who accepted him as her husband.
Like Ramayana, in Mahabharata also Swayamwar Draupadi explained in detail. Like with Sita, Drapakuadi must choose a husband for himself from a large number of grooms who gather together. In the end, he chose Arjun to be his husband with his garlanding. Another interesting story is Samyukta, Putri Jaichandra, King Kanaj, and Prithvi Raj where the Swayamvar ceremony was held with a lot of splendor and pleasure.
Varmala – Present Day Use and Practices
Varmala, to this day, still has this kind of importance in Indian weddings. In every part of the country, in every religion, the ritual exists; although it can be followed in a different order or in a different way. Usually, the couple, first the bride, then the groom, exchange the garland once they meet for the first time, and then the other wedding rituals continue. The ceremony continues with a lot of teasing and fun from family and friends. The ceremony is not just about exchanging garlands of flowers but symbolizes their love and mutual respect. A common joke is that whoever gives in first and garlands the other person will always listen to the other person throughout their married life.
These garlands can simply burn a big hole in your pockets. They can be good to look at, but they come at a huge price point and are also difficult to transport. Sometimes people prefer to do it on their own by following the readily available online tutorial videos. It takes a lot of patience and skill to sit down and continue to thread the flowers together. The other option available nowadays is artificial garlands. These are made of all man-made materials and are much easier to work with than natural garlands. They are more viable to craft as there is no chance that they will spoil and can even be easily crafted at home.
Indian weddings are acknowledged for their traditions and ethnicity. With certain rituals set, this is what makes them so fun and beautiful. Each ceremony has its own meaning. The same goes for garlands for Indian weddings or JAIMALAS. They hold a special place and importance in Hindu weddings. Everything that happens is celebrated with flowers. The same goes for the practice of wedding rituals.
