Silent Hindu Wedding Ceremony
In recent years, a new trend in weddings has emerged. The traditional format, where ceremonies were primarily for the immediate family while guests mingled and sometimes ate, is becoming a thing of the past. Historically, Indian weddings typically invited between 700 to 1000 guests. The main families would observe a 2-3 hour ceremony in which the priest primarily addressed the couple and their parents. With so many attendees and a long ceremony, most guests remained uninvolved, leading to lots of socialising and lunch wass announced while the ceremony continued in the background.
As weddings evolved, the shift to English-speaking Hindu priests initiated the concept of “silent weddings” in the UK. In these ceremonies, all family members and guests are seated quietly throughout the Hindu rituals, free from the interruptions of food or drink services. Guests remain attentive, witnessing the marriage in the mandap.
In the silent wedding format, the role of the Hindu priest has expanded beyond conducting rituals and chanting Vedic mantras. The priest also engages guests, adding significance to the moment while ensuring that all rituals are performed as agreed upon by the families.
Guest involvement during the approximately 90-minute ceremony has progressed further, with a careful combination of coordinated music that captures guests’ attention. Music has become an essential element of the ceremony, as couples seek a mix of spirituality and traditional songs during rituals, complemented by Hindi film music for the romantic aspects of the ceremony.
Fr Hindu ceremonies, I focus primarily on this silent wedding format and conduct such weddings here in the UK and abroad.