Marriage

Author(s): Natubhai Shah
Publisher: UK Jain Academy

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center of their world and also represents that marriage is a journey, and the first steps of the journey are taken together at the wedding).
There are other rituals such as
Food sharing ceremony (sweet foods symbolize the wish for a sweet marriage, special foods such as nuts and rice, as a symbol of fertility and other foods of "four flavours" representing the many different "flavours" of marriage);
The joining of the Hands Ceremony (an enduring symbol of marriage);
The Ring Ceremony (representing the covenant between partners and usually associated with the exchange of the wedding vows);
Exchange of items like white silk scarves (a Buddhist tradition) or leis (A Hawaiian tradition) or garlands of marigolds (Hindu, Sikh and Jain traditions).
Rose Ceremony (as a token of their love)
Handfasting or "Tying the Knot" (symbolic binding of hands or cloth in matrimony to signify the marital union)
Family Union Ceremony (exchange of gifts symbolising the unity of the two families)
The Tea Ceremony (representing the bride honouring her new in-laws)
Honouring the in-laws and close relatives by gifts and taking family photographs (signifying respect to the new enlarged family)
In some traditions there could celebration with fireworks, and showering with rice grains or flower petals.
Reception
In most traditions a reception for family, relations and friends is held to celebrate the wedding. Some receptions could be lavish. At the reception the relatives and friends give gifts to the newlyweds.
The material in this booklet has been arranged under the following 'headings' however the emphasis in each religion varies and not all aspects hold the same degree of importance:
Marriage; Choosing a partner; Engagement ceremony; Pre-marriage rituals; Preparation for the wedding; invitations cards etc; Civil marriage; Wedding rituals promises and a Send off.
Also included in this booklet are individual faith descriptions with an outline of the main beliefs of each religion.
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