I remember planning my wedding, and going through with the priest the ceremony so I could translate the meaning of the rituals into English, so friends and family could understand the rich symbolism of our wedding. We had our wedding 18 years ago at a suite in Manchester Airport. During the planning we told them we have a ceremonial fire. The manager looked at me as if I was bonkers!! He said can you walk around a T-light??? My hear jumped was he crazy!!! Ever since being a little girl walking around the firs was what I dreamed of when marrying my prince! The manager proceeded to tell me it’s an airport… we have quite strict fire regulations!!!...On the big day we had two fire engines outside lol!! To get past the health and safety when they disabled the alarm so I could have my dream wedding!!!
Its so lovely to couples getting married we had out first family wedding after 2 years and it was such a fun occasion. Walking around the fire is a traditional part of Hindu wedding, my understanding was always that Agni the god of fire comes to bless the couple and bare witness to the wedding. Let’s find out more The Jai Jais Way!
Fire is a focal point of Hindu wedding ceremonies, as well as the religion as a whole. Hindus believe that, through flame, they can obtain purity of heart and mind. In Hindu weddings, fire is regarded as a purifier that sustains life. During a wedding ritual called “Mangalfera”, the bride and groom walk around the fire four times, while praying and exchanging their vows. Then their family make offerings into the fire to honour the marriage. Following this, the couple complete their vows and seal their marriage forever.
The Hindu god of fire, Agni, is regarded as the friend and protector of humanity. This shows how central fire is to Hindus. He is believed to be the second-ranking God in the Vedic texts, placing him right beneath Indra.
Homa is a Sanskrit word that defines any ritual that involves making offerings into fire. Material offerings, such as edible and drinkable things, as well as things of value, are offered to the gods with the aid of fire priests.
These items are cast into a flame and burned to ashes. This tradition is rooted in the Vedic religion but has been adopted by other ancient religions like Buddhism and Jainism. Today, Homa rituals have remained as an important aspect of many Hindu ceremonies.
Hindu homa rituals frequently involve combinations of fire and water. The fire represents masculinity and earth, while water is an aspect of the feminine. The fire pit used in Hindu homa rituals are usually symmetrical squares, and the ritual itself is structured around the principles of symmetry. The purpose of this ritual is to create a symmetrical exchange with the gods. The humans offer something of value to the gods using fire as their medium, and in return, they expect the gods to provide them with strength and other blessings.
(Ref: Planning a Hindu Wedding)
