What is the Varmala and Why is it Significant in Indian Wedding Tradition?
It is no secret that some wedding rituals can be traced to family traditions in ancient times. Varmala (aka Jaimala) is one of them. Historically, princesses in ancient India used to choose their husbands during their Swayamvar, and it depicts similarly in today’s rituals. Varmala is a flower/floral exchanged by couples to signify acceptance of each other as husband and wife.
Indian weddings in Washington DC exude the beautiful aroma of fresh flowers and most also prefer Varmalas made of fresh flowers. The best combination for the same is that of roses, jasmine and marigold. Some people also opt for garlands made of artificial flowers. Artificial flowers have a longer shelf life and may not stain the clothes during the ceremony.
The groom is first worshipped (symbolically) upon his arrival, after which the ceremony of Varmala takes place. Normally the bride puts the Varmala around her husband-to-be first, after which the groom adorns her with hers. It denotes the beginning of the wedding ceremony.
The fun part is seen when the groom tilts his head backwards to make it slightly difficult for the bride to put the garland around his neck first since it is believed that whoever lowers their head first to accept the garland remains the dominated one in the relationship. It begins with the groom dodging the bride’s attempts at placing the Varmala.
Sometimes, groomsmen take the challenge up a notch by picking the groom up on their shoulders. Of course, the men on the bride’s side do the same for the bride (hahaha). They pick her up, almost as a reflex, to bring them both to the same eye level again. The bride then keeps trying to place the Varmala on his neck, sometimes as if she is throwing it to score a basket!
As you can see, the Varmala ceremony is a great depiction of the love, respect, and acceptance that the couple share with each other. The Varmala can also be the first icebreaker between husband & wife. They accept each other by illustrating their ‘I do’ through the ceremony!
At Mimi Ebichi Events, we believe that we are at our best in giving you a wedding that’s as smooth as how you wanted it to be. We understand that this is a significant chapter of your life that you are about to enter and we want your celebrations to be nothing but blissful.
One of the most emotional and vivid moments of a Hindu ceremony at an Indian wedding is the “Vidaai.” This ritual means “goodbye,” also known as the official farewell or send forth of daughter to from her parents. It is basically the Indian bride farewell ritual.
How can the thought of being separated from their child not swell up the parents’ eyes? We cry too as we witness this teary moment between father and daughter, daughter and mom, siblings, family members and well-wishers.
All the previous ceremonies are only a build-up to this ceremony. Everybody loses control during the Vidaai because it is the moment of truth.
Traditionally, it marks the beginning of the bride’s life as a wife. It also signifies the end of her role as a daughter. Before leaving for her in-laws’ house, the bride performs a ritual which involves throwing rice and coins backwards over her head into her maternal home before crossing the doorstep. It ensures that her home always remains prosperous.
The ritual also depicts that she is repaying her parents for bringing her up with so much love. It is a symbol of the bride wishing for her parents’ home to always remain healthy, wealthy, and prosperous.
No matter how less the distance between her in-laws’ house and her maternal house is, almost every bride cries during Vidaai. During this ceremony, the idea of being separated from her parents takes a real form in the bride’s mind. It is certainly unbearable.
The flip side of Vidaai is a happy fact: It is the beginning of something new. It marks the beginning of the couple’s life together as husband and wife.
The transition phase is now over. They embark on the beautiful and exhilarating journey of marriage – sharing each little happy, sad, frustrating, and hilarious moment together – as man & wife.
At Mimi Ebichi Events, we believe that we are at our best in giving you a wedding that’s as smooth as how you wanted it to be. We understand that this is a significant chapter of your life that you are about to enter and we want your celebrations to be nothing but blissful.
Indian weddings are one of the most colorful, rich and celebrated cultural events in any Indian family. The myriad of traditions unique to different regions makes each celebration a uniquely South Asian wedding. To carry on this tradition, Indian couples in the Washington DC metro area are usually on the lookout for bespoke and luxury Indian wedding venues in Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC.
But first, what are the things to consider when choosing a venue that’s perfectly right for your Indian wedding?
1) Capacity (size) – Just like with any event, the venue capacity is important. Indian weddings usually last multiple(2-3) days. The number of invited guests and the rooms needed for different ceremonies/rituals at each wedding event can vary, so choosing a venue with the right capacity to accommodate guests is extremely important.
2) Catering – Cultural and multicultural groups love the option to get catering service from their favorite or preferred restaurants or chefs. For this reason, selecting a venue that allows for outside catering or has Indian chefs is highly recommended.
3) Flexibility on load-in and load-out times – It’s important that there is leeway in terms of this because larger Indian weddings with intricate designs may need more days than just the typical 3-4 hours to set up.
4) Easy and accessible doors and elevators for vendors to load in– It’s important to choose a venue with ease of access because lavish Indian weddings usually require assembly of heavy equipment on site. In some cases, the need for a horse or elephant to make an entrance during the Baraat calls for such access.
5) Parking for guests – If you have lots of guests driving in as well as staying at the hotel venue, then ample parking space is a non- negotiable.
6) Accommodations – Pick a wedding venue that is near the hotel/s of your choice ( if the venue is not a hotel). Much better if the venue already offers accommodation. Be ready to give room for guests’ preferences.
7) Proximity to airports– This is also a way of showing that you care about your guests and the quality of their time. If you are unable to secure your dream venue near an airport, consider providing transportation services to your guests.
8) Time – Cultural weddings tend to start either earlier than normal and end later than usual too. Having a wedding venue that can be flexible with start and end times is ideal.
9) Bar/Beverage – Check if the venue has the option to bring liquor.
Venues for large Indian weddings and other big cultural wedding events
If your dream Indian wedding is a large, luxurious one, the DC area has a lot of options to offer. Depending on the size of your guest list, and your personal taste for the venue’s interiors, check out these highly recommended top Indian wedding venues in DC.
The Bellevue Conference & Event Center
Intercontinental DC – The Wharf
Couples can invite up to 400 guests to share in their big day and experience their ballroom and rooftop locations.
MGM National Harbor
They offer multi-cultural menus, flexible indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception spaces, rehearsal dinner venues, on-site jewelers, and more. Check out their South Asian wedding menu.
Sheraton Tysons Hotel
Their largest space can accommodate up to 1,750 guests. They have customizable reception menus and available cultural wedding options.
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
Offering an array of catering options, their culinary team is uniquely adept at preparing multi-ethnic cuisines and menus with a modern-day twist.
Andrew W Mellon Auditorium
The building is designed by San Francisco architect Arthur Brown, Jr., and erected between 1932- 1934. The grandeur of the building’s exterior is matched by its interior. Limestone-finished walls and piers define the space and frame views of the east and west staircases, the lobby, and the breathtaking auditorium beyond. Due to this historic nature of the building, the capacity of the AWMA is limited to 1000 guests.
Hyatt Regency Reston
Expert setup of dance floors, risers, seating arrangements, ceremony room, and cultural wedding events. They allow you to create your own reception menu, as well.
Mayflower Hotel DC
Has a maximum space capacity of up to 1,100 guests. They offer a variety of special menus to help craft your perfect package. They can also customize a special wedding package that features all of the food, beverage, and unique details you will want for your magical day.
Mimi Ebichi – The Expert Indian Wedding Planner in DC and Virginia
