Food Rituals In Hindu Weddings

Food is an integral part of Hindu weddings before, during and after the ceremony. Hindu weddings that are spread out throughout a week or a few days include several food festivities. Meals that are to be consumed prior to the wedding are free of any foods considered to be an aphrodisiac such as onion or garlic, meals consumed before the wedding are also vegetarian. Throughout the week leading up to the wedding guests feast on traditional Indian foods such as curries, creamy rice, bean dishes, pastas, roasted potatoes and various breads. It is not uncommon for food to be served during the lengthy wedding ceremony to avoid guests becoming famished. After the wedding, meals include non-vegetarian meals as well as alcoholic beverages. In replacement for the traditional ‘wedding cake’ it is customary that the bride and groom feed each other five bites of a sweet food which is usually a mixture of honey and yoghurt. A red dot can then be placed on the bride and grooms forehead to wish them luck in their marriage. 

Prior to this blog I had no knowledge that food played such a large role in Hindu weddings or the fact that Hindu weddings can last up to a week. After further reading on the food rituals in Hindu weddings I haven’t developed an opinion on the subject, I did how ever find it hard to understand why no meat or alcohol can be consumed prior to the marriage ceremony.