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Saptapadi(Marriage)
Under a beautifully decorated canopy, havan is performed
and the bridegroom takes the hand of the bride and the oath of marriage
in the name of God. Then the bride and bridegroom go round the fire seven
times (Saptapadi). During the first three rounds, the bride leads the
bridegroom and in the last four rounds, the bridegroom leads the bride.
During these marriage rounds the priest recites mantras from the Vedas.
During the first three rounds, the bride belongs to her own family but
with the fourth round, she becomes the wife of the groom. A song commonly
sung on this occasion relates this transfer. |
