Zoroastrian wedding

A Zoroastrian wedding is a religious ceremony within Zoroastrianism where two individuals, a man and a woman, are united. In Zoroastrianism, marriage within the community is encouraged and is greatly favored in religious texts. The following information will outline the procedures and traditional processes of a Zoroastrian wedding.

Prior to ceremony

Age

In the Avesta, manhood and womanhood are attained at the age of 15, indicating that individuals would be ready for marriage. In contrast, the threshold for marriage in India is defined by the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act of 1936, which sets the age at 21 for males and 18 for females. If either party to the marriage is below the age specified in the act, the parents of the underage party must sign the marriage certificate to indicate their approval.

Arranged marriages

Traditionally, marriages are arranged by the parents with the children’s consent. However, in recent times, it is increasingly common for this system to be reversed, with the parents being consulted about decisions made by the marrying parties.

Ceremony

Ceremonies are held before marriage, often spanning several days. While these ceremonies vary, not all the rites described below may be included in a single wedding. Additionally, other customs may be incorporated.

Prior to the marriage

Adrâvvûn

also known by the older name of Nâm pâdvûn

Silver coin gifts are prepared by the ladies from both the bride's and bridegroom's families in the homes of the marrying parties, with each group visiting the other's home. It is during this betrothal that the bride takes her husband’s name, even if the marriage later does not occur. This betrothal is often performed soon after the marriage is arranged.

Madasoro

Divô

Two lamps are lit, one in each of the homes of the marrying parties. Once again, the ladies travel to the home of the other party and place a silver coin on the lamp. It is on this occasion that formal gifts are exchanged, including the exchange of wedding rings.

Âdarni

The third day before the wedding is regarded as the day for exchanging gifts. On this day, the groom's family visits the bride's home to present her with gifts like clothing and jewelry. This ritual is known as Adarni. The bride may also go to the groom's home for this tradition, but the groom cannot do the same. Relatives, neighbors, and friends are treated to a traditional meal of sev and dahi, boiled eggs, and bananas.

The marriage

Parsi groom

Auspicious days such as the new moon day or Hormazd, the first day of the Parsee month, are generally favored for wedding ceremonies, which take place on the fourth day of festivities. The first day, known as mândav-saro, involves planting a twig from a tree, typically a mango tree, near the door as a symbol of fertility. This is followed by two Varadh-patra days when religious ceremonies honor the deceased.

When the marriage ceremony occurs on the evening of the fourth day, the bride and groom will have already taken baths, known as nân. The marriage must be conducted before a gathering of witnesses, as the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act requires at least two witnesses and the priest.

The ceremonial dress of the Parsees is the Jâmâ-pichhoir, of which the bride wears a white variation, while the bridegroom sports a Kunkun mark on his forehead.

A few hours before the ceremony, a procession forms, carrying gifts to the bridegroom's house, usually accompanied by music. It then proceeds to the bride's house, where the marriage typically takes place. Once seated, the assembly awaits the arrival of the groom, who is greeted at the door by the mother of the bride. At this moment, a fresh Kunkun mark is placed upon his head.

During the ceremony, rice is often used as a symbol of good luck, with the bride and groom sprinkling each other with handfuls of rice. To remove any evil destined for the groom, an egg is passed around his head three times and then thrown to the ground and broken, symbolically destroying the evil. A similar ritual is then performed with a coconut, followed by a small tray of water that is also thrown to the ground.

At one point during the evening, the groom will dip his hand into a water pot (var-behendoo), which was part of the dowry. He drops a silver coin into this pot as a sign of appreciation for the gift.

When the bride and groom take their seats, the groom sits to the right of the bride, and they both face east. Rice is placed on trays on either side of the couple to be thrown while they recite their benedictions. Candles, an essential symbol of the Zoroastrian faith, are also placed on either side. The couple is flanked by a pair of witnesses, usually married relatives. A curtain of cloth separates the couple.

Two priests officiate. The couple is asked by the priests whether they consent to the marriage. He then joins their hands in a custom known as Hâthevârô, or "hand-fastening". The senior priest places the couple's right hands into each other. Then, a piece of cloth is passed around the chairs of both and tied together, enclosing them in a circle. The priest then fastens their right hands, grasped by each other, seven times with raw twist. The prayer of Yatha Ahu Vairyo is recited throughout.

The curtain then drops, and the couple throws rice over each other; the first to do so is said to "win."

The senior priest then blesses the couple by saying:

May the Creator, the omniscient Lord, grant you a progeny of sons and grandsons, plenty of means to provide yourselves, heart-ravishing friendship, bodily strength, long life, and an existence of 150 years!

The bride, groom, and witnesses are then asked various questions. Once they have replied, affirming that they have entered into this with a righteous mind, the priest will recite admonitions and benedictions. Then, the couple symbolically eats from the same dish, a rite known as Dahi-Koomro. At the close of the ceremony, as well as at several junctures prior, nuptial songs may be sung.

A wedding feast then occurs at which toasts are made to God, the couple, the sacred fire temples, the guests, and the host. Fish, a symbol of good luck, is served.

External links

More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Zoroastrian_wedding ]

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