Indian weddings are extremely important religious and social occasions, so
it is essential for the bride and groom to look splendid. With great care, female
relatives will spend hours dressing and adorning
the bride, so that she will look her best, thus ensuring her good
luck and future prosperity.
While wedding costumes vary greatly throughout India, regional differences
tend to be blurred amongst Indians in New Zealand,
where personal preference, fashion, and family tradition generally dictate what
is worn.
Indian brides usually wear one of three types of traditional costume –
a sari, lahanga suit, or salwar
kameez. Saris are usually worn by Hindu brides, who may also wear an
odhani (long scarf). A sari is a length of uncut and unsewn cloth that is draped
around the body, and is worn over a choli (tight-fitting blouse) and a chania
(skirt petticoat).
A lahanga suit is a full gathered skirt worn with a choli
and odhani, while a salwar kameez consists of trousers gathered at the ankle,
and a three-quarter-length embroidered tunic with a dupatta shawl of red and gold.
Muslim brides usually wear either a lahanga suit or salwar kameez, while Sikh
brides usually wear the salwar kameez with a dupatta. Muslim brides and brides
from northern India are more likely to cover their head, whereas brides from central
and southern India tend to leave their heads uncovered. Southern Indian brides
often wear flowers in their hair.
Wedding garments are generally made of rich materials such as silk and velvet,
and are often embroidered and trimmed in gold thread, which is believed to bring
good fortune.
Red, pink, and maroon are popular colours for garments, as red is considered
the most auspicious colour for weddings. It symbolises life, joy, energy, abundance,
fertility, and marital bliss. Most colours can be worn at an Indian wedding, and
it is up to the bride and groom to decide. However, both black and white are considered
inappropriate colours for a wedding.
The bride’s parents give wedding clothes and jewellery
to her before the ceremony. After the wedding, the bride changes into clothes
and jewellery given to her by her husband’s family. She wears these at the
reception or during the ‘going away’ ceremony.
In addition to the wedding costumes, both families give the bride as many saris
as they can afford – but they must give an odd number, as these numbers
are considered auspicious.
In Muslim tradition, the number of saris given often end with the digit one.
This is to encourage other givers to make up the total to a round number.
Mr Iqbal, a Muslim New Zealand Indian, explains: ‘It’s usually
11, 21, 31, 51 because the thing is with 50, you have a complete figure. But if
you have 51 – that might lead on to 60. So there is always this providing
you with a beginning, maybe for the next round figure or whatever!’
As the groom arrives for the ceremony, he may wear a sehra
(curtain of flowers or tinsel) over his face. As part of the ceremony, a scarf
is tied between the bride and groom, or the edges of their clothing are tied together,
to symbolise their union.
Fashion and finances determine which wedding outfit is purchased, and styles
can change each season. Fashions are often influenced by ‘Bollywood’
movies that feature wedding scenes. Currently, pastel colours with silver jewellery
are very popular.
In New Zealand, brides generally wear either the lahanga suit or the more traditional
sari or salwar kameez, but in fabrics of lighter weight than in India. The range
in New Zealand is limited, so many families will travel to India or Fiji to purchase
wedding costumes.
Most Indian men have adopted Western attire for weddings, though some still
wear traditional men’s wedding
clothing.
Glossary
‘Bollywood’
a nickname for the Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay) - based Indian popular film
industry – the
largest
in the world
chania
skirt petticoat
choli
tight-fitting blouse
dupatta
shawl
lahanga
a full gathered skirt
odhani
long scarf
salwar kameez
trousers gathered at the ankle, and a three-quarter-length embroidered tunic with
a dupatta of red and gold
sari
a length of uncut and unsewn cloth that is draped around the body
sehra
curtain worn over the face, and made from tinsel or flowers
