Jory and Ritu

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The ceremony will be a combination of American and Indian traditions, and possibly some Scottish and Jewish thrown in for good measure.  The description of the Indian ceremony is below, which will also be included in the program.  The American part of the ceremony will include the vows and the best part, kissing the bride. The ceremony will start at 3:00 pm. 

Marriage (Vivaha Samskara)
Marriage, known in Sanskrit as vivaha, is a sacred and spiritual partnership meant to unite two souls so firmly that they merge and become one harmonious whole. One completes the other.

Arrival of Groom, Arrival of Bride (Kanya Agaman)
Jory arrives at the mandap (wedding altar). Then Ritu is escorted to the mandap by her cousins.

Exchanging of Garlands (Jayamala)
Once on the mandap together, Ritu and Jory exchange floral garlands as an expression of their love, affection, and acceptance of each other.

Lighting of Sacred Fire (Havan)
Agni (fire) is one of the five elements and manifestations of God in the Hindu religion. Prayers are recited and ghee (clarified butter), rice, and sesame seeds are jointly offered to the fire to signify the spirit of sacrifice and equal partnership in Ritu and Jory's lives.

Giving Away of Bride (Kanyadaan)
Ritu's parents place her right hand in Jory's hands, formally giving their daughter away. Ritu and Jory are now entrusted to one another to be life partners.

Tying of Knots (Gath Bandhan)
The ends of Ritu and Jory's clothes are tied together, symbolizing the unity and eternal bond of marriage.

Circling of Sacred Fire (Mangal Phera)
Ritu and Jory circle the fire four times for the attainment of:
Dharma to remain true to ones beliefs
Artha to provide for ones family
Kama to love unconditionally
Moksha to attain enlightenment
The first three rounds are led by Jory, and the last one by Ritu.

Seven Steps (Saptapadi)
Ritu and Jory take seven steps together to evoke the seven guiding principles of married life:
We will respect each other.
We will care for each other.
We will be patient with each other.
We will be honest and faithful to each other.
We will be together in sorrow and in happiness.
We will travel the journey of life with love and harmony.
We will do everything to keep our family happy, healthy, and strong.

Sacred Necklace and Vermillion Powder (Mangalsutra and Sindoor)
Jory places a gold necklace around Ritu's neck, symbolizing love, integrity, and devotion to her. Jory then applies sindoor to Ritu's forehead, signifying her status as a married woman. Finally, Jory and Ritu exchange their wedding rings.

Blessings (Ashirwaad)
The priest blesses Ritu and Jory on behalf of the gods, and wishes them everlasting happiness. At this time, the couple also receives blessings from their families.