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.
