Indian weddings are grand, multi-day celebrations that blend sacred religious rituals with exuberant social festivities. Traditionally, these events are divided into three phases: pre-wedding, main ceremony, and post-wedding. Pre-Wedding Rituals

• Ganesh Puja: A prayer to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, seeking his blessings for the couple.
• Baraat: The groom's procession to the wedding venue, accompanied by music, dancing, and festivities.
• Milni: The meeting of the bride and groom's families, often marked by a ceremonial hug or exchange of gifts.

While customs vary significantly across India’s diverse regions, several core traditions define the "Big Fat Indian Wedding." The Pre-Wedding Rituals

Critique: While these rituals foster community bonding, they can be physically exhausting. In modern metropolitan weddings, there is a growing trend to consolidate these events into shorter timelines to avoid "wedding fatigue."

Haldi Ceremony: Family members apply a turmeric, sandalwood, and rosewater paste to the couple to purify and beautify their skin. The Wedding Day Indian Wedding Traditions and Customs to Know - The Knot

The festivities usually begin days before the actual "I do’s." These events are designed to bond the families and prepare the couple for their new life. The Ganesh Puja

While the rituals above are common in North India, the country’s regional diversity adds unique flavours: