When 'forever' fades away

At the time of a Hindu marriage, the groom is worshipped by the bride's parents as an embodiment of Lord Vishnu.

- Priya S Tandon

At the time of a Hindu marriage, the groom is worshipped by the bride's parents as an embodiment of Lord Vishnu. They anoint his forehead with kumkum and rice, wash his feet and offer him "panchamrit" (mixture of milk, curd, honey, desi ghee and sugar-cane juice). They give their daughter as a "Kanya Daan" to him. The father of the bride says that he gives his daughter to the groom, for him to beget progeny through her, for the prosperity of his clan and for them to do daan-punya (good karma) together.

Later, when the doli enters the groom's house, his mother welcomes the bride at her doorstep by performing an aarti and worshipping her as Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. She places a pot of rice at the doorstep for the bride to topple it with her toe. The spilling of raw rice on to the floor is symbolic of abundance and prosperity.

During wedding rituals, the groom and the bride are said to embody Lakshmi and Vishnu. But do we carry this feeling, as we move forward in life?