Indian Wedding Games

Marriage And Beyond

oi-Staff

By Super

Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 16:30

The stepping stone of a healthy relationship is intimacy and a sense of awe for the partner. Today most of the Indian couples at least have some information of their would be spouse. However the situation was not the same in old days. Indian arranged marriage system did not allow the bride and groom to meet prior to their wedding. The system made the path to intimacy rather an unexplored zone for years. Hence, many Indian wedding games evolved to help break the ice between the newly weds and especially between the bride and her new family. These traditional games are practiced till date in many of the marriages to create a sense of unity and understanding between the couples and the members of two families. Here are some of the most common traditional Indian wedding games.

Hide wedding shoes
The bride and the groom are directed to remove their footwear before stepping into the mandap for the holy rituals. This opportune moment is grabbed by the the bridesmaids. They seize the shoes of the groom and hide them. After the marriage ceremony the girls demand a ransom amount to give the shoes back. Only when the demands have been met the shoes are returned. With this game the family get together to watch the fun. They unite, tease and pack in a sweet memory treasured for life. Though initially practiced in north India it is a welcome game by many irrespective of religion and state today. Many grooms have also started making gifts like gold earrings or anklets for their sister in laws prior to the event and some have started carrying an extra pair of shoes.

Fish the ring
This is unique game that states with the banner "who will rule the roost in the home front."it can be played in two different method. In the first one the the couples are asked to take off their rings and put them in a pot of clear water. As the rings settle to the bottom, the couples are asked to churn the water vigorously. After the churning people look anxiously at the water, as the water and the ring are going to the answer the question. If the bride's ring lags behind in the swirling water she will be an obedient wife. If it is the opposite, the groom will be wrapped around his highness.

The second method is simple, a ring is placed in a pot filled with rose petals or shallow plate of milk. Then the couples are asked to fish for it. The person who finds the fish first will always have a upper hand in the relationship.