Unique wedding rituals in India

More often than not, weddings are an amalgamation of different customs, rituals and rites that are unique to a specific state or region.
Given that our country is vast, no wonder that there are innumerable customs that are religiously followed. Here's a list of some of them: The first ritual that is performed in a traditional Maharashtrian wedding is the sakhar puda.What's interesting about this is that along with the sari, the bride is also gifted with a packet of sugar by the groom's family. This is done to welcome the girl into their family and wishing her a sweet beginning.
In the deep interior parts of Assam, many tribes still follow the Gandharva tradition of marriage.The bride and the groom exchange garlands in front of the families and the wedding is done! The traditional Bengali weddings are a lavish affair, and also traditional to the T. Here, the mother of the bride is not allowed to see the wed ding ceremony . However, her task is to get the women in the house wake up early in the morning, prepare an arti thali and go to the bank of Ganges to invite her for the wedding.This is said to bring good luck for the bride and groom.
On the big day in traditional Brahmin weddings in Tamil Nadu, the groom sets off on a pilgrimage to Kashi, and the bride's father stops him from undertaking sanyasa and promises to give his daughter's hand in marriage. He then seats the bride on his lap and the groom ties the mangalsutra. The newlyweds then look at the Arundhati nakshatra in the morning sky , seeking her blessings for a happy life.
The mahurat for traditional Keralaiites is when they set out from their homes to the temple, where the wedding ceremonies are performed.An integral part of the stage is the para -a brass and copper vessel that's filled to the brim with rice grains and husk.