The traditional stages of a Hindu wedding ceremony are:

Ganesh Poojan

Hindu ceremonies begin with an invocation to Lord Ganesh, the Hindu god of wisdom and salvation. Ganesha is depicted as having an elephant's head. By invoking him, he removes any obstacles from the wedding ceremony. The ceremony may then be performed without hindrances.

Milni

This is the ritual which marks the arrival of the groom with his procession in tow. They are welcomed at the entrance by the family members of the bride. The groom is specially welcomed by the mother of the bride in a traditional Indian welcome which includes aarti, that is worshiping him with a lighted lamp and is led inside. Each of his relative meets and is greeted by the corresponding relative from the side of the bride. This means that the maternal uncle of the groom meets the maternal uncle of the bride, the paternal uncles from both sides converge and so on and so forth. This coming together is observed as milni.

Varmala or Jaimala

After the groom enters the wedding hall, he is led to an elevated stand. At the sacred mahurat, the bride too walks in and gets up on the stand.  The bride and the groom then exchange garlands.

Madhuperk  

After the exchange of the garlands, the bride and the groom sit around the sacred fire. The groom is given a sherbet called madhuperk, made of clarified butter, yoghurt, honey and some essence to drink.

Kanyadaan

This ceremony is symbolic and very touching. The father of the bride hands over the bride to the groom and entreats him to take very good care of her. He tells him that he has brought her up with much love and care and expects the groom to give her equal love and respect and take care of her happiness always. He also advises his daughter to love her new family and take good care of her husband.

Mangal Phere

The couple now has to circle the sacred fire. The bride is considered to be an incarnation of Goddess Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity and the bride is believed to bring the family she would soon become a part of, prosperity and happiness through her measured actions and calm presence of mind. The order changes in the last phera and the groom goes in the front. After the last phera, the couple is declared married by the priest. The Fire God or Agni is believed to solemnize the wedding Himself by being the witness of this act.

Lajahom

 This is a sacrificial ceremony. The younger brother of the bride takes rice flakes in his hands. The bride forms a cup with the palm of her hands and the groom puts his cupped hands beneath her hands. The brother of the bride then puts the rice flakes in the cup and the couple offers it to the Fire God and seek his blessings. Lajahom is repeated a few times.

Sindoor Daan

 The groom anoints the forehead of the bride and fills her hair parting with vermillion. This signifies the end of the marriage ceremony and the beginning of a new relationship between the couple. This bond is believed to last forever.

 Ashirvad

We  all offer  our blessings to the couple for long and happy lives together. After being  declared as Husband and Wife, Groom and leave the mandap as a newly married couple as the guests shower them with flower  petals.

Vidaai

 This is a typical Hindu bridal send-off ceremony. It is a beautiful tradition. It is time for the bride to bid farewell to her family- parents, siblings, and friends. It is a very emotional and touching moment. The bride takes phulian or puffed rice in her hands and without turning back, throws them over her head backwards in the direction of her family. This is how the bride thanks her family for taking care of her hitherto and also throwing of puffed rice signifies the hope that there would be everlasting prosperity at the house. The brothers and male cousins of the bride lead her to the car where her husband is already waiting to take her to his abode.

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