The following Hindu wedding vows were recited at Anamika and Atharv’s nuptials and were sent to us by the couple, who mentioned how much the Desh-Videsh wedding-specific issue helped in planning their wedding. This poetry was composed by Anamika. We are publishing here with their consent. Additionally, they have informed us that any newlyweds are welcome to utilize these vows.

In the presence of the divine,
With the blessings of the divine,
We take our wedding vows,
To cherish each other, forever and now.

We vow to love and honor,
To respect and support each other,
In joy and sorrow, in good times and bad,
Our love will only grow, never fade.

We pledge to be each other’s strength,
To be there for each other, at any length,
To share our joys and sorrows,
And face the challenges, for a better tomorrow.

We promise to be loyal and faithful,
To always be truthful and graceful,
To be each other’s best friend,
Till the very end.

We take the seven sacred steps,
To bind our souls, in eternal love,
To nourish and cherish our union,
As we embark on this new journey, as one.

May our love grow stronger,
With every passing day,
May we find happiness and contentment,
In each other’s company, every day.

With these wedding vows, we unite,
In a bond, that will never break or fight,
For we are meant to be, forever,
A union blessed by the divine, together.

The post Hindu Wedding Vows first appeared on Myshadi Bridal Expo.

For a Hindu family, a wedding serves as the fulfillment of one of the nine sanskars of life, in addition to being a festivity and celebration. In other words, marriage is a duty that every Hindu must fulfill since it is a matter of moral and religious obligation, and is required of everyone in all situations.

Here is a lovely poem that Tanvi, a longtime Desh-Videsh reader from Orlando and a recent newlywed, wrote. She composed this poetry, which her cousin Vaidehi recited in the mandap shortly before Tanvi walked seven steps with her soul mate.

In a Hindu wedding, an eternal bond is formed,
A love that is pure and forever adorned,
A union of two souls, meant to be,
Together, in love and harmony.

The vows taken, the rituals performed,
Signify a bond, that will never be harmed,
For the love that blooms in a Hindu wedding,
Is everlasting, and never-ending.

The seven vows, taken with solemnity,
Pledge a lifelong commitment, in perpetuity,
To love, honor and cherish, till the end of time,
In sickness and in health, in every climb.

The sindoor, the mangalsutra, and the ring,
Are symbols of love, eternal and unflinching,
And the sacred fire, that burns bright,
Is a witness to the love, that is true and right.

As the couple walks around the sacred fire,
Their love and devotion, never to tire,
For they are bound, in a bond that will last,
Till eternity, a love that will never be surpassed.

In a Hindu wedding, an eternal bond is sealed,
A love that is pure and forever revealed,
A union of two souls, meant to be,
Together, in love and harmony.

The post Hindu wedding: an eternal bond first appeared on Myshadi Bridal Expo.

The original text of the saptapadi was written in Hindu scripture in Sanskrit language. For many, it can be too complicated to understand practical meaning. One Hindu Scripture and English Scholar (whose name is unknown) put these slokas of saptapadi in a romantic way as follows: Walk with me four steps and three, I seek thy hand; let me not break from thee, nor thou from me. Let us swear in joy and strength, One in thought and deed, one within. Heaven and earth are me and thee, Seed am I for thee to bloom. Word and mind are thee and me Be my friend and make me groom Come my mate and blend with me, For sons and weal, O cheerful girl! What a beautiful message! Addressing the bride as ‘Mate,’ the man describes the nature of the bond that shall grow between him and her and that the journey is exciting. These mantras reveal how the relationship between man and woman should materialize, like heaven and earth, music and hymn, mind and word.

The post Saptapadi first appeared on Myshadi Bridal Expo.

With sacred fire and holy chants,
Two hearts beat as one,
As they make vows of eternal love,
Under the bright, shining sun.

With Saat Phere, they take seven rounds,
Promising to walk hand in hand,
Together they vow to build a life,
That’s filled with love, trust, and stand.

With the Mangal Sutra, they seal their bond,
As they vow to cherish and care,
For each other, forevermore,
Through life’s joys and despair.

The bride vows to be her husband’s strength,
To support him in every way,
While the groom vows to be her protector,
Till the end of their days.

They promise to respect each other’s families,
And to uphold each other’s honor,
To be each other’s rock and shelter,
Through every moment, good or bad, forever.

Thus, in this sacred union,
The bride and groom take their vows,
Promising to love and cherish each other,
As they embark on their journey, 
with marriage’s sacred bows.

The post Hindu Weddings first appeared on Myshadi Bridal Expo.

• Class & Comfort meets Affordability!
• Relax, you are at Ritu Selects: Home of Fixed & Fair pricing and No pushy sales!

We often repeat our startup journey in our minds so that we can keep “Our clients front and center of everything we do”! Every product we make must meet our benchmark on “Class, Comfort & Affordability”. We also believe that finally “The product should feel right & fair to the customer”, hence we like to keep our store environment relaxed, pricing fixed & fair and no pushy sales.

How do we keep our quality high while prices low?

Class & Comfort meets Affordability –statements like this are often quoted by most businesses however this is not an empty statement for us. This is the soul of our business; we want to keep working on this for our clients. This has always been challenging and will always be challenging, but that’s the fun, we are in this to manage this challenge every day!

To keep our quality high, we work with like minded partners. We never deal in bulk sourcing/trading or Bollywood replica products that look great in images but lack the detailing needed. Business should feel fun &soulful and not just business for the sake of making a cut, if you understand what I mean.

To keep prices low we understand the art of scale, hence we have two stores across USA (Charlotte, NC and Houston, TX) – this helps us reduce costs and optimize time of our talented craftsmen & designers. Our team is highly focused on creating products that sell which in-turn helps us keep our prices low!

Wear Ritu Selects!
Be inspired, Be You!

Ritu Bhat

Chief Creative Director

India inspired clothing brand

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ethnic outfits

Indian craftsmanship

modern elegant designs

ethnic Indian and fusion wears

national fashion events

Charlotte International Fashion Week

TVAsia

WCCB

WBTV

FOX Charlotte

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The post Ritu Selects – India Inspiered Couture first appeared on Myshadi Bridal Expo.

You are about to get married. No doubt, you have many things on your mind, and expressing endearing words about your soulmate may be hard. Whether for your invitation, wedding programs, or special vows, you might need some inspiration!

Often, a great quote about true love, few lines of dialogue, love poem, or song lyrics can help you express yourself more eloquently. To inspire your next love sonnet about your soulmate we present a collection of love poems from Rabindranath Tagore, Bengali poet, novelist, educator, Nobel Laureate for Literature, and one of the greatest writers in modern Indian literature.

The works of Rabindranath Tagore, captured the breadth and depth of patriotism, devotion, celebration, and the different phases and faces of love – especially his poems.

In his blog, Jayant Menon describes Tagore’s love poems as follows:

Tagore’s poetry achieved a transcendence, an almost ethereal quality without ever being verbose or overly earnest. His verse would meander, but never wander. It is timeless, but it’s permanence comes from the spirituality that his words embodied, and not as a direct consequence of being associated with a name that introduced to the west much that is great about India (and vice versa).

Here are some of my favorite and best love poems by Tagore. For more poems and quotes from the legendary Tagore, please visit www.deshvidesh.com/Love poems by Tagore.

Passing Breeze

YES, I know, this is nothing but thy love,

O beloved of my heart-this golden light

that dances upon the leaves,

these idle clouds sailing across the sky,

this passing breeze leaving its coolness

upon my forehead.

The morning light has flooded my eyes-

this is thy message to my heart.

Thy face is bent from above,

thy eyes look down on my eyes,

and my heart has touched thy feet.

Unending Love

I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times…

In life after life, in age after age, forever.

My spellbound heart has made and remade the necklace of songs,

That you take as a gift, wear round your neck in your many forms,

In life after life, in age after age, forever.

Whenever I hear old chronicles of love, it’s age old pain,

It’s ancient tale of being apart or together.

As I stare on and on into the past, in the end you emerge,

Clad in the light of a pole-star, piercing the darkness of time.

You become an image of what is remembered forever.

You and I have floated here on the stream that brings from the fount.

At the heart of time, love of one for another.

We have played along side millions of lovers,

Shared in the same shy sweetness of meeting,

the distressful tears of farewell,

Old love but in shapes that renew and renew forever.

Today it is heaped at your feet, it has found its end in you

The love of all man’s days both past and forever:

Universal joy, universal sorrow, universal life.

The memories of all loves merging with this one love of ours –

And the songs of every poet past and forever.”

The Kiss

Lips’ language to lips’ ears.

Two drinking each other’s heart, it seems.

Two roving loves who have left home,

pilgrims to the confluence of lips.

Two waves rise by the law of love

to break and die on two sets of lips.

Two wild desires craving each other

meet at last at the body’s limits.

Love’s writing a song in dainty letters,

layers of kiss-calligraphy on lips.

Plucking flowers from two sets of lips

perhaps to thread them into a chain later.

This sweet union of lips

is the red marriage-bed of a pair of smiles.

She Is Near to My Heart

She is near to my heart as the meadow-flower to the earth;

she is sweet to me as sleep is to tired limbs.

My love for her is my life flowing in its fullness,

like a river in autumn flood, running with serene abandonment.

My songs are one with my love, like the murmur

of a stream, that sings with all its waves and current.

Love Poems by Rabindranath Tagore Compiled by Raj Shah

wedding programs

song lyrics

Rabindranath Tagore

Bengali poet

novelist

educator

Nobel Laureate

modern Indian literature

patriotism

faces of love

legendary Tagore

Passing Breeze

Unending Love

The Kiss
She Is Near to My Heart

 Tagore’s poetry

celebration

The post Love Poems by Rabindranath Tagore Compiled by Raj Shah first appeared on Myshadi Bridal Expo.

In earlier wedding special issues of Desh-Videsh, I have discussed the importance of wedding rituals in Hindu weddings. A wedding for a Hindu family is not just a party and celebration, but it also fulfills one of the nine sanskars of life. In other words, Marriage, for every Hindu, is not merely pleasure, or romantic love, but an act of duty, a matter of moral and religious obligation, incumbent on everyone in all normal circumstances. Vedic rites or rituals for the performance of a wedding ceremony are many, and may take anywhere between one hour to four hours. According to the Hindu Marriage Act, the two most important rituals in Hindu weddings are the Mangal Pheras and Saptapadi. These rituals are essential for the marriage to be deemed complete.

Each Hindu wedding ritual has religious, spiritual, and most importantly, practical message or meaning. When a Hindu Pandit recites the Vedic Mantra during wedding rituals, many of us do not understand the actual meaning or significance. When you break down the meaning or significance of each ritual, one finds they are words to live by in your married life. The first essential ritual in Hindu weddings is the Mangal Pheras (Agni-pari?ayana) or the walk around the sacred agni God or fire. Some people call this ritual Sapta phera (Seven rounds), but there is no mention in the Hindu Scriptures of the seven rounds (sapta phera). It has become popular in North Indian marriages due to the influence of Bollywood! There seems to have been some confusion between the seven steps and seven rounds. Some people believe Mangal Pheras and Saptapadi to be the same but they are not. Mangal Pheras involve taking four rounds around fire. Each Phera represents one of four promises. The first one represents Dharma, to pursue life’s religious and moral duty, the second represents Artha, to pursue prosperity, the third represents Kama, to pursue earthly pleasures, and the fourth represents Moksha, to pursue spiritual salvation. The groom leads the first three Pheras around the fire, and the bride leads the groom the final round to show her devotion and love towards her husband. The second most important ritual in Hindu weddings is the saptapadi. These are the seven steps taken together by the bride and groom to signify their togetherness for each step in their journey of life.

The original text of the saptapadi was written in our Hindu scripture. For many of us, it can be too complicated to understand practical meaning. One Hindu Scripture and English Scholar (whose name is unknown) put these slokas of saptapadi in a romantic way as follows:

Walk with me four steps and three, I seek thy hand;
let me not break from thee, nor thou from me.
Let us swear in joy and strength,
One in thought and deed, one within.
Heaven and earth are me and thee,
Seed am I for thee to bloom.
Word and mind are thee and me
Be my friend and make me groom
Come my mate and blend with me,
For sons and weal, O cheerful girl!

What a beautiful message! Addressing the bride as ‘Mate,’ the man describes the nature of the bond that shall grow between him and her and that the journey is exciting. These mantras reveal how the relationship between man and woman should materialize, like heaven and earth, music and hymn, mind and word.

In the next Wedding Resources issue, I will talk about the next two important rituals in the Hindu Weddings.

About Raj Shah

A software engineer by profession, Indian culture enthusiast, ardent promoter of Hinduism, and a cancer survivor, Raj Shah is a managing editor of Desh-Videsh Magazine and co-founder of Desh Videsh Media Group. Promoting the rich culture and heritage of India and Hinduism has been his motto ever since he arrived in the US. He has been instrumental in starting and promoting several community organizations such as the Indian Religious and Cultural Center and Hindu University of America South Florida Chapter. He serves as a chairman of Board of International Hindu University. Raj has written two books titled Chronology of Hinduism and Understanding Hinduism. He has also written six children books, We love Diwali, Holi Hai, The Complete Ramayan in 100 Tweets, The Mahabharat in 100 Tweets, Coloring and Understanding Hindu Symbols and Welcome to my beautiful Mandir.

wedding rituals in Hindu weddings

Hindu family

nine sanskars of life

religious obligation

Hindu Marriage Act

Hindu weddings

Mangal Pheras and Saptapadi

Hindu wedding ritual

Mangal Pheras

Sapta phera

saptapadi

Pheras around the fire

Hindu scripture

slokas of saptapadi

Agni-pari?ayana

The post Two Most Important, Essential Rituals in Hindu Weddings By Raj Shah first appeared on Myshadi Bridal Expo.

Factors to Consider

Selecting an entertainment provider for your wedding or events is much like choosing a venue or caterer. Price is certainly a factor, but so are the firm’s reputation, work ethics, and music selection. Firoz Dudha, owner/DJ of Dudha Productions also stresses the need for compatibility with his clients. “I will be the first to tell my clients that I may not be the best fit DJ for their event. It’s important for me to pass that client to a DJ who would be a better match.”

Many entertainment vendors now offer a range of services from dance floors, lighting, live entertainers, and emcee services, so carefully consider your specific needs when narrowing your list.

Budget: This is something to consider for all your vendors, and the entertainment provider is no different. Consider the number of events for which you need a DJ and Emcee. Do you need special lighting for any events? A dance floor? Want special effects like monograms? Be sure to sure to consider all details when reaching out to potential vendors for a quote.

Reputation: Experience is a key factor when selecting your DJ. There is nothing worse than an empty dance floor! Dudha explains that experience “should be the most important factor, not how long they have been DJing, but their experience with handling a crowd, and experience with the style of music required for each event.” Word of mouth referrals, references, and personally witnessing the DJ in action will give you a sense of their style and personality.

Professionalism: Of all your vendors, the DJ is one that needs to be in tune with event schedules and timing of entrances and performances. Khan stresses that “organization is a key factor – your dj will not only organize your event with you, but also keep in touch with your vendors to ensure a smooth, timely event. [And] your DJ needs to maintain a professional presence at all times from volume, language and proper decorum.”

Music: Check with your DJ on the available music collection. If you have a specific playlist in mind, the DJ will need to be sure all tracks are available. Also, ask that the music collection is current and includes wedding favorites. If you have a preference on whether guests can make song requests, check with the DJ on how he/she will handle the requests.

Prepare for Your First Meeting

As with all vendor meetings, be prepared to share your thoughts on what entertainment needs you have for your wedding events. On mehndi night, simply playing background music may suffice, while your reception needs may be more involved. Whether you have specific playlists or programming in mind or just a general idea of the type of music you like, be sure to ask questions and get ideas from your entertainment vendor. Khan advises couples to “ … make sure to have all details ready about your event to share. And never be afraid to ask questions.”

Attention to detail goes beyond just the first meeting. Ask your entertainment vendor how they will communicate with you throughout the process. Will the DJ surprise you on your big day or will they reach out closer to your event to set a timeline and narrow selections? Dudha likes to reach out to clients one and half months before their event. “I help them with music selection, itinerary timeline, and understand their playlist. [This gives me time to] mash up a custom mix for the Bride and Groom’s reception entry.” Getting to know your entertainment vendor has advantages so they truly understand your style and needs for your events leaving you more time to enjoy your wedding day … and dance your feet off!

Favorite Wedding Moments

The experts share the latest in music trends and what they’re listening to now (when they’re not catering to the requests of brides and grooms!).

Dudha: There have been so many events with special moments, but it’s always amazing when you see the bride walk down the aisle. I realize that one day I will walk my own daughter down!

Khan: My favorite weddings are mixed culture weddings … I must say nothing is more beautiful when two cultures mix. Every single moment of weddings are my favorite, but one in particular is when I get my bride and groom behind the booth and they DJ with me. Also, feeling a sense of togetherness from my crowd is the most uplifting feeling!

Featured Experts Special thanks to the experts who contributed their advice for planning wedding entertainment.
Dudha Productions Firoz Dudha, Owner/DJ www.dudhaproductions.com Tel: (727) 418-8498	DJ Sumi Services Sumaira Khan, Owner/DJ www.djsumiservices.com Tel: (407) 952-5903

About the Author
Rina Shah is the CEO and founder of The Arpan Group, a boutique ad agency and public relations firm that specializes in capturing untouched ethnic markets. From press releases and media kits to marketing materials and by-line articles, The Arpan Group customizes solutions based on the client’s needs. Based in the Bay area, The Arpan Group works with clients across the US. For more information, visit www.thearpangroup.com or call (703) 651-6670.

The post DJ Play That Song: Choosing an Entertainment Vendor for Your Wedding first appeared on Myshadi Bridal Expo.

2018 Wedding

Color Trends

Whether your style is bold and vibrant or subdued and classic, weddings are a time to let personality shine. From invitations and flowers to bridesmaids outfits and table settings, there are ample opportunities to use color to shape your wedding theme.

Need some color inspiration? These color trends are sure to shine all year long.

The post 2018 Wedding Color Trends first appeared on Myshadi Bridal Expo.

Glowing Skin

Make appointments to see your dermatologist and discuss a personal cleansing and moisturizing routine. Facials don’t come cheap, so visit your beauty expert at regularly and don’t miss appointments. Don’t overdo your skin treatments, as your skin needs time to take in the nourishment. Follow the instructions of your dermatologist with your skincare routine at home.

It is not just your facial skin that needs to be glowing, but your feet and hands play a major role in your wedding functions. Go for regular pedicures and manicures.

Haircuts and Color

If you want to go in for a new haircut or a color, this is the right time. With six months on hand, there is still time for a new haircut and color to settle. You will know exactly how it will look with your wedding outfit and you will avoid any major damage.

Exfoliate and Protect Your Skin

To get rid of dead skin, exfoliate. Your exfoliation routine has to be done twice/three times a week, don’t overdo it as it may lead to dry skin. Do not go out without a sunscreen and reapply every two/three hours to keep the skin free from damage – a must for all brides-to-be.

Keep Stress at Bay

You need to relax and keep stress away though it is easier said than done! Stress can take a toll on your skin so practice some mindfulness techniques.

Deep Condition and Use Good Hair Spray

Hair is an important part of your entire wedding look. To ensure your hair looks best for your events, use a deep conditioning hair mask twice/three times a month before the wedding. For dry hair, apply homemade hair packs to make it glossy and healthy. A good hairspray will keep your hair in place and take care of the frizz.

Drinking lots of water coupled with sleep; exfoliating daily two weeks prior to the wedding, having all your appointments in place and indulging in regular manicures and pedicures will make all the difference!

The post Pre-Wedding Beauty Timeline for Brides-To-Be first appeared on Myshadi Bridal Expo.