Wedding Traditions

Zoroastrianism

Pre-wedding Customs/Traditions:

Everything begins at the start when the couple wants to get married. If the parents agree, the Traditions begin. First, they do the Rupia Peravanu, or Family Blessing. The Groom’s family visits the soon-to-be-bride’s house. Then, the Groom’s Mother gives the bride a bag of silver coins, also known as Rupees. They also do the achu michu, where the eldest woman in the bride’s family purifies the bride from all evil and the evil eye. Then, the bride’s family visits the Groom’s home with the silver coins. Then, the Groom’s mother performs the achu michu on the whole entire visiting family. Then, what concludes the Rupia Peravanu, is the exchanging of the silver coins as a token to the families agreement

Both family and friends may choose to shower the couple with rice as part of their felicitations. Gifting envelopes of cash is like gift giving. It is placed with the name of the couple, and the person’s best wishes for them. Also couples may choose to visit a fire temple immediately following the marriage ceremony to offer individual prayers. If they do so, they hold the marriage ceremony in a hall adjoining the sanctum containing the fire. Community places of worship are called Darbe Mehar. Also after that, the couple leaves the candle lit until it extinguishes itself, as Zoroastrians are loath to manually extinguishing a flame. If it absolutely necessary to extinguish the flame of a candle, this is sometimes done using the petals of a rose. During the reception, the couple feeds each other meals. After, the receptions is followed by lots of dancing, singing, and pure merriment. When it’s time for the couple to leave, unless they have chosen to leave separately, the couple are escorted or accompanied by both families to their chosen home. There, before they can cross the threshold of their nuptial chambers, the groom's mother performs a final achu michu.