Why Do Indians Have Elephants At Weddings?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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In Hindu culture,

are a symbol of good luck

, which is why grooms traditionally ride on them in Indian wedding processions.

What do elephants symbolize in marriage?

Elephants represent

loyalty, wisdom, and longevity

—qualities of a good marriage. Elephants are symbols of good luck and excellent fortune—something every bride and groom need.

Why do Indians use elephants?

Elephants: A

traditional symbol of divinity and royalty

The highly revered Hindu God, Lord Ganesha, is said to be a remover of obstacles and a provider of fortune and good luck. … Elephants were also used in religious ceremonies and rituals in temples.

Why are horses used in Indian weddings?

This came ahead of the wedding season in the country. Horses are traditionally used in Indian weddings, mostly in Hindu and Sikh communities

for the arrival of the groom's procession, called a ‘baraat

. ‘

Why do Indian grooms ride horses?

Though the tradition of war no longer exists, but the historical convention of grooms riding

horses to fetch the bride is still rampant

. This also advocates the groom's position among other males who would desire the same position. This apart, horses are even considered as the symbol of power and virtue.

Do Indian weddings have elephants?

In Hindu culture,

elephants are a symbol of good luck

, which is why grooms traditionally ride on them in Indian wedding processions. … Many couples book the first, then pick a venue. Winter weddings are tricky, as elephants can't be outside long in cold weather.

Why should elephants face the door?

Elephant figurines placed inside the front door, near the home's entrance, have two meanings. An elephant statue in the foyer facing away from the door brings luck into the home.

An elephant facing toward protects the house

. It guards your home against all sorts of negative energy.

What does the elephant symbolizes?

What do elephants symbolise? Elephants represent

strength and good fortune

. They also symbolise health and happiness and are thought to promote spiritual wellbeing in our daily lives. Elephants are strong and nurturing, they are loyal to their family and are determined and protective.

Do elephants believe in God?


They don't worship, pray or believe in gods of any kind

, but they do perform ritualistic behaviours, prompting some to speculate that animals could have a spiritual side. Elephants, famously, ‘mourn' their dead. Family members visit the bodies of deceased relatives, and smell and touch them.

What do elephants mean to Indian people?

Elephants in Hinduism and the Indian Culture are

a symbol of intellectual strength

, and sturdy earthy mental strength. It is a sacred animal and is considered the representation or the living incarnation of Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity riding a mouse.

Why do Indian groom carry a sword?

For traditional Sikhs, the wearing of a ‘kirpan' or ceremonial sword is mandatory as the groom takes on the role of protector of his wife and family. … Sometimes they would try to attack the whole family to steal the gold and jewellery. For

the groom to protect himself and his wife, he would

, therefore, carry a sword.

What is Sikh marriage?

A Sikh marriage is known as

Anand Karaj

which means a ‘Ceremony of Bliss'. Features of the wedding ceremony include: The couple and their guests then enter the prayer room of the gurdwara and the marital ceremony is performed by the granthi . This takes place in front of a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Is Polo cruel?


Horse polo is not considered to be a cruel sport

, and the horses are well cared for. Many polo ponies are retrained former racehorses that are still in exceptionally fit condition and can do polo for a few years with a little additional training.

What does a white woman wear to an Indian wedding?

Much like Americans tend to avoid wearing white to a wedding,

Indians avoid wearing red

. That's the bride's color. Also stay away from white and black, as those are colors associated with mourning. I was told that the closer you are to the bride, the bigger a deal it is to wear black.

What is Barat marriage?

Baraat (Hindi: बरात) is

a groom's wedding procession in India and Pakistan

. In Indian communities, it is customary for the bridegroom to travel to the wedding venue (often the bride's house) on a mare, accompanied by his family members.

What is a Baratt?

A baraat is

a celebratory wedding procession for the groom involving live music and dancing

.

What is a Milni?

Milni literally means

“introductions”

. In a Sikh marriage, Ardas is performed by the person in charge of looking after the Sikh scriptures, followed by the formal introductions of senior men in the families. For example, both eldest chachas (father's younger brother) will come together and exchange garlands of flowers.

What does it mean when an elephant's trunk is down?

Downward Pointed Elephant Trunk

An elephant with the trunk pointed

downwards stores luck and energy

. It is a symbol of wisdom and knowledge allowing you to easily overcome various tasks and obstacles. To stay grounded at work or to reserve strength and vitality at home, the downward trunk elephant might be for you!

What should I wear to an Indian wedding If Im not Indian?

“The Indian community absolutely loves when non-Indian guests embrace the culture and wear Indian clothes,” she says. “Older women will be over to moon to help you

tie a sari or fix your blouse

. No matter what you choose to wear, make sure you can enjoy the food and dance the night away.

What happens after baraat?

The wedding day kicks off with the Baraat, the all-singing all-dancing wedding procession of the groom and his family. … Once at the venue, the precession will commence will

dhol players

, a band or both to announce the arrival of the groom, his family and his friends.

Which elephant is Goodluck?


White elephants

are considered very auspicious. It is said that the Buddha's mother dreamt of a white elephant, before she gave birth to him. Elephants are a particularly powerful image of prosperity and royalty. Elephants are also connected to grey rain clouds, to bring bountiful harvests.

What does elephant tattoo mean?


A universal symbol of strength, loyalty, divinity and good luck

, an elephant makes an unforgettable tattoo design when carefully planned and properly placed on your body's temple.

Is elephant mentioned in the Bible?


We do not read

, however, of elephants in the Bible until the Maccabean times. True, III Kings speaks of ivory, or “[elephants'] teeth”, as the Hebrew text puts it, yet not as indigenous, but as imported from Ophir.

What does dreaming of a baby elephant mean?

Dreaming Of a Baby Elephant

If the baby elephant is happy or is in water, it is

a sign of good luck and prosperity in your future

. If the baby elephant is angry or hurt, it is a sign that the decision you are making may not lead to success.

Do elephants worship the moon?

Siegel has studied the precursors of religious faith in African elephants and concludes that “elephants are aware of natural cycles, as

they practice “moon worship

,” waving branches at the waxing moon and engaging in ritual bathing when the moon is full.” Observations by Pliny the Elder also note supposed elephant … …

Do elephants have funerals?


Honestly, elephants do it all

. … Of all animal grieving and funeral rituals, there is none as well documented or well known as the elephant's. Upon seeing the bones or carcass of another elephant, a family will stop and investigate them, even if the elephant was unrelated to the group.

Why are cows sacred in India?

For many Hindus, who make up nearly 80 percent of India's 1.3 billion strong population, the cow is a sacred animal. … Its

horns symbolize the gods

, its four legs, the ancient Hindu scriptures or the “Vedas” and its udder, the four objectives of life, including material wealth, desire, righteousness and salvation.

Did Prince Harry abuse his horses?

Prince Harry has been cleared of any wrongdoing or cruelty to his polo pony after tabloid reports that

the prince over-spurred his mount during a match

. The Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) has reviewed claims that the prince drew blood with his spurs during a match at Guards on 11 July and carried on playing.

What happens to retired polo ponies?


When they get too old to play

, they are retired to pasture or stud, he said. “A polo horse is treated quite well,” Wash said.

Can elephants bury their dead?

Dr Evans has observed mourning among wild elephants that she knew well. … According to Charlie Mayhew, of the Tusk Trust,

elephants will ‘bury' their dead

, covering carcasses with branches and even taking the tusks to be placed at a different spot.

Why do elephants worship the moon?

The elephants themselves are cool enough to worship and claim the moon. They actually show

some signs of “mourning” their dead

, meeting the dead person repeatedly as they decay, and making voices around the dead elephant, showing signs of a strong bond between the animals.

What breed are most polo ponies?

In the United States,

Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses

are often crossed to produce polo ponies, while in recent years crosses of Thoroughbreds and Criollo horses from Argentina have become popular. In Australia, Australian Stock Horses are the most common breed used in polo.

What do the 7 steps in a Hindu wedding mean?


Saptapadi

(English: seven steps, saptapadī) is the most important rite (Sanskrit: rītī) of a Hindu marriage ceremony. The word, Saptapadi means “Seven steps”. After tying the Mangalsutra, the newlywed couple take seven steps, that is called Saptapadi. After the seventh step, the couple legally become husband and wife.

Why do grooms hold swords?


Even the groom carries a sword on the day of the wedding

. … They usually attacked the wedding processions in order to loot them for their money. Hence both the bride and groom carried these weapons for self-defense and protecting each other. These days, however, it is practices to ward off “evil spirits.”

Why do Sikh carry a sword?

A kirpan is a small replica sword worn around the waist under the clothes. It represents one of the five articles of faith that devout Sikhs must always wear, and which distinguish them as Sikhs. It is regarded as a ceremonial item, not a weapon of aggression, and

symbolises readiness to fight oppression

.

How many wives can Sikh have?

The most devotee Sikh women wanted to marry the Gurus and polygamy was legal and common. Not even Gurus, anybody could marry more than one wife.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh has 33 certified wives

and Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala State has 300 queens. Muslims are allowed to have 4 wives by Islamic law.

Why do Sikh brides wear Chura?

Popular especially among Punjabi brides-to-be, the wedding Chura

signifies the beginning of their wedded life ahead

. Although now the Chura has become quite a fashion statement among women, it is traditionally considered to be an important and auspicious Shringar of a newly married bride.

What is the biggest sin in Sikhism?

In Sikhism, Five Thieves are the five major weaknesses of the human personality at variance with its spiritual essence, and are known as “thieves” because they steal a person's inherent common sense. These five thieves are

kaam (lust)

, krodh (wrath), lobh (greed), moh (attachment) and ahankar (ego or excessive pride).

Why do Indian brides wear red?

“In our culture, it means

new beginnings, passion, and prosperity

. Red also represents the Hindu goddess Durga, who symbolizes new beginnings and feminine power.” … With astrology so closely connected to the Hindu religion, red is also a symbol of Mars—the planet that rules marriage.

What color should you not wear to an Indian wedding?

Just like you wouldn't wear white to a Western Wedding, at an Indian Wedding, you should avoid wearing the

colors black and white

. These colors can be seen as disrespectful since they are common colors when attending a funeral. Also, it's polite to avoid wearing shades of red because the bride typically wears red.

What does a Westerner wear to an Indian wedding?

We recommend finding a contemporary pastel shade such as a

nude tone

, mint green, or timeless ivory to keep you looking chic and refined on the wedding day itself, and go for a more colourful tone for a mehendi night, or sangeet night for example Lehengas and saris with two or more colours are a great idea here.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.