Apr 23, 2011

Hindu Brahmin Caste Wedding Ceremony - India 1946

 Bride & groom wearing garlands of flowers as Sumangali (woman whose husband is still living) pours milk at their feet after carrying it around them three times.

 Bride placing garland of flowers around the neck of her groom as they exchange garlands at the beginning of their marriage.

 Groom holding his nose while holding his breath and repeating the many names of God while doing so as Hindu priest presides over the prayers amidst guests.

Hindu priest passing a bowl of Indian sweets to groom.

 Relative of bride & groom distributing silver coins amongst the Hindu priests who are guests .

 Bride sitting on her father's lap as she adjust the sacred thread around her neck which has just been tied there by her bridegroom during their wedding ceremony.

Hindu priest  is pouring ghi (butter) into a plate of fire, in preparation for his offering prayers to God.

 Bride & groom wearing garlands of flowers as they are given plates of food by Hindu priest.

Bride & groom take seven steps together & recite their marriage vows during their wedding ceremony.

 Bride & groom wearing garlands of flowers as they are greeted by guests.

 Groom sitting with his bride as he offers up prayers to God in the midst of his guests.

Bride & groom wearing garlands of flowers as Sumangalis (women whose husbands are still living) carry fruit & rice around the couple 3 times & then one pours milk at their feet.

 Hindu priests who are guests at a Brahman caste wedding receiving a distribution of silver coins at the end of the wedding ceremony.

 Bridegroom with Hindu priest, offering prayers to God as he sits in the midst of his guests.

 Hindu priest who is stirring plate with holy fire, so that he may offering prayers of oblation to God.

 Bride & groom wearing garlands of roses as they symbolically swing together several times on the porch of her parents home before the start of the wedding ceremony.

 Young Indian boy fanning the guests at a wedding.

 A Sumangali (woman whose husband is still living) decorating Brahman bride's feet with red paste during traditional ritual of her Hindu wedding.

 Groom preparing to sit down as Hindu priest stands by holding plate of food amidst guests.

 Bridegroom clad in orthodox Hindu clothes, with umbrella to protect him from rain & sun, walking with his relatives as he begins his symbolic pilgrimage to the Holy city of Benares, to start the day's Brahman caste wedding celebration.

 Bride sitting on her father's lap as her bridegroom gets ready to tie the Brahman sacred thread around her neck which is being prepared by Hindu priest.

 Hindu priest showing Indian bride how to hold her hands during Brahman wedding ceremony as she sits with her groom.

 Bride & groom wearing garlands of flowers as male relative swings a bowl of coconut around in front of them to drive the evil spirts away during Hindu wedding ceremony.

Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White
Source: Life Archive hosted by Google