Blessed Beginnings

Every marriage is not just a union of two souls, but a journey best begun with the grace of the divine.

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In our culture, every new beginning is marked with an invocation of grace, or what is known as Shubharambh.

Breaking a coconut before starting a new project, lighting a diya to start an event or, as we do in Bengal, simply saying “Dugga Dugga” when a loved one leaves home. Much like these, marriage deserves to begin with an auspicious touch. And what better way to step into the sacred journey of marriage than with the blessings of the divine?

A wedding is not just a union of two people - it is a sacred bond of two souls, a promise made on the wedding day and fulfilled every day thereafter. It is a journey walked hand-in-hand through time, rooted in love and strengthened by faith. Across India, there are divine places where couples can not only celebrate their union but also seek the spiritual grace that ensures harmony and happiness in their married life. It is not about merely visiting a temple together, but embarking on a shared experience that is woven with faith. A match may or may not be made in heaven, but it can surely be blessed by one.

Kamakshi Amman Temple, Tamil Nadu

The Kamakshi Amman Temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, is one of the most significant shrines dedicated to Goddess Parvati in her form as Kamakshi, the goddess of love, compassion and marriage. According to legend, Goddess Kamakshi performed penance here to marry Lord Shiva, making it a deeply symbolic place for couples beginning their own marital journey. Every year during the months of April-May, the Chithirai festival takes place, celebrating this holy union. The temple's sanctum radiates divine feminine energy, believed to bless devotees with harmony, fertility and everlasting togetherness. Newlyweds often offer Mangal Sutra to the goddess, seeking blessings for a long-lasting and blissful marriage.