Mehndi, Haldi, Sangeet, Baarat, Vidaai. These are some very important rituals or festivals that we practice during our weddings. And also we know that these rituals happen in all weddings across India.

But India, as we all know is a diverse nation. Different states have different cultures and practices. So apart from these main functions which are common across the country, different states have many different practices, which, again varies from region to region.

So to make your wedding more unique and fun, to let the guests inspired and bring back some old and different cultures, you can add some of these practices to your wedding.

Here are some practices from different regions that you can easily add to your wedding.

1.  Mangala Snanam (Purifying Bath) from Tamil Naadu:

As the name suggests, this is a ritual where the bride and the groom are bathed and then get ready for the wedding. Before the bath, Haldi, Kumkum, and oil are applied to them. Such a great way to start that auspicious day, isn’t it?

2. Subho Drishti (Bengal)

This is a beautiful practice in Bengali marriage where the bride removes Betel leaves in front of her face and looks at the groom in front of the guests and relatives. This exchange of glance is considered to be the beginning of their togetherness. This is Lovely right?

3. Talambralu (Tamil naadu and Kerala)

This is an important ritual in Tamil Naadu and Kerala, where the relatives and guests come and put sacred rice on the bride’s and groom’s heads. This is considered as blessing the couple using sacred rice.

4. Bouquet Toss

This is one of the most famous and common fun practices in a Christian wedding, which now people started doing in every wedding. Here, the bride tosses her bouquet backward at the crowd and it is said that whoever catches that bouquet will be the one to get married next!! Who doesn’t get happy to hear about their marriage, isn’t it?

5. The ring game

This is a fun game performed mostly in Telugu weddings, where the priest drops two rings, in which one is gold and the other is silver, in a pot filled with water or milk. The bride and groom put their right hand into the pot to find the rings three times. Whoever finds the gold ring twice is considered the winner and is said to have an upper hand in the marriage.

6. Sirguthi (Rajasthan)

Sirguthi is an old practice in Maarwari weddings that has less relevance today. In this, the mother or some elderly woman would comb the bride’s hair and apply fresh makeup so that she could get some relief from the day’s stress. Even though this is not required now because of professional stylists and heavy makeup, a little touch of care from a mother can definitely help you to get through the day.

So now that you are aware of different games and rituals, what are you waiting for! Decide which one you want to add to your wedding. Also, you can ask your grandparents or other elders about their wedding day. They may have some great ideas which we, who consider ourselves as ‘new gen’, may have forgotten.

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