A Hindu wedding is not a single ceremony — it is a sequence of sacred rites that unfold over hours or days, each one marking a new stage in the union of two souls. The Vivah Samskara is one of the sixteen samskaras described in Vedic tradition, and it is considered among the most profound.
The Structure of a Hindu Vivah
Pre-wedding: Ganesh Puja, Haldi ceremony, Mehendi, Sangeet
Main ceremony: Var Puja, Kanyadaan, Havan/Saptapadi, Sindoor Dan, Mangalsutra, Ashirvad
Post-wedding: Vidaai, Griha Pravesh (bride entering groom’s home)
The central core is the Havan and Saptapadi — the seven steps taken together around the sacred fire, each representing a sacred vow. This is the ritual that legally and spiritually constitutes the marriage in Vedic tradition.
Complete Hindu Wedding Samagri
Ganesh Puja: Ganesh idol, roli, akshat, red flowers, modak, ghee lamp, agarbatti
Havan: Havan kund (large, wedding size), mango wood (5–10 kg), pure cow ghee (2–3 litres), complete havan samagri mix (1 kg), barley, sesame, camphor
Var Puja: Brass Kalash with Gangajal and mango leaves, coconut, arghya vessel, marigold garland, chandan, roli, akshat, aarti thali
Kanyadaan: Copper Kalash with Gangajal, akshat (500g), flowers, turmeric, yellow cloth
Saptapadi: 7 betel nuts or rice piles for the seven stations, additional mango wood, pure sindoor, durva grass
General throughout: Roli · Akshat · Chandan · Moli · Supari · Paan (11–21 leaves) · Panchmeva · Gangajal · Turmeric · Coconuts (5–7) · Marigold garlands (20–50) · Dhoop · Agarbatti · Ghee lamps (10–20)
Our Vivah Puja Kit from Kashi contains the complete ritual samagri assembled by Pt. Prashant Chaturvedi in Varanasi.
The Key Rituals Explained
Var Puja
The groom is received at the entrance with a formal puja — arghya, garland, and tilak. The bride’s mother performs an aarti for the groom, acknowledging him as the divine figure who will care for the bride.
Kanyadaan
The father places his daughter’s right hand in the groom’s hands. The mother pours Gangajal over the joined hands. Akshat and flowers are placed over them. The priest recites the Kanyadaan mantras. This is considered the highest act of charity a parent can perform — greater than any material donation.
Saptapadi — The Seven Steps
Around the sacred fire, the bride and groom take seven steps together, each step representing a vow: nourishment, strength, prosperity, happiness, children, health, and eternal friendship. The Saptapadi is legally binding under the Hindu Marriage Act — the marriage is solemnised at its completion.
Sindoor Dan
After the Saptapadi, the groom applies sindoor (vermilion) in the parting of the bride’s hair — the most visible symbol of her married status. Use only pure, natural sindoor.
Mangalsutra
The groom ties the sacred black-bead necklace around the bride’s neck. The black beads absorb negative energy, protecting the husband’s longevity.
Planning Your Wedding Samagri
For a wedding with 50–200 guests, key quantities to plan: cow ghee (2–5 litres), marigold garlands (20–50), akshat (2–3 kg), Gangajal (5+ litres). Our Vivah Puja Kit contains the ritual samagri. Bulk ghee, garlands, and flowers are best sourced locally.
Shubh Vivah. May Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi bless this union.
See also:
• Hindu Wedding Samagri: The Master Checklist
• Saptapadi: The 7 Pheras
• Vivah Muhurat 2026