The Indian Wedding is a complex schedule of many rituals that takes place days – and even weeks – before the wedding! What are these ceremonies, when should the preparations begin, and how should they be celebrated? Here’s an outline of a traditional Indian wedding timeline. Before the Wedding The Tilak Ceremony is one of the most flexible rituals when it comes to your wedding timeline. Traditionally, it takes place a month before the wedding date, but modern day conveniences have made it easier to schedule and perform this ritual. Today, this can be performed according to tra- dition or in the days before the wedding. In this ceremony, the groom and his offer of marriage is officially accepted by the bride’s family. Male members of the family – including father, brothers, uncles, and cousins – present the groom with gifts and adorn his forehead with kumkum powder. The Barni Bandwhana takes place about 15 days before the wedding. During the Barni Bandhwana, a mauli is tied around both the groom and his parents’ wrists for prayer. The Mayara is a common practice for both the bride and the groom to celebrate their arrangement and good fortune. The maternal uncle of both parties makes his way with great fanfare to his sister’s house (the mother of the bride or groom) and presents them with gifts – typically the garments worn on the wedding day. Day One A traditional Indian Wedding lasts at least three days and can be as long as a week! On the first night, the bride and groom, their parents, the bridal party, a pandit (priest), and sometimes close relatives gather at home for a prayer ser- vice and intimate party. Day Two The following day, the women will gather for Mehndi, or henna preparations. Henna is a very sacred part of an Indian wedding. Because it takes about 8 hours to dry, this art is painted onto the women’s skin in the morning and is allowed to set for the rest of the day. Typically, a 1 2 INDIAN A glimpse into TRADITIONAL WEDDINGS 46 | TODAY’S BRIDE READ MORE AT TODAYSBRIDE.COM