A Vivaha Mandapa (), also referred to as Kalyana Mandapa () or simply Wedding mandapa is a mandapa (pavilion) temporarily erected for the purpose of a

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

Jain Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle being ...

wedding. The main wedding ceremonies take place under this mandapa. Vivaha Mandapas have historically also been featured adjacent to

Hindu temples A Hindu temple, or ''mandir'' or ''koil'' in Indian languages, is a house, seat and body of divinity for Hindus. It is a structure designed to bring human beings and gods together through worship, sacrifice, and devotion.; Quote: "The Hin ...

to commemorate the wedding of Hindu deities, such as

Rama Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bein ...

and

Sita Sita (; ) also called as Janaki and Vaidehi is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic, ''Ramayana''. She is the consort of Rama, the avatar of the god Vishnu, and is regarded as a form of Vishnu's consort, Lakshmi. She ...

Description

A Vivaha Mandapa is traditionally made of wood, although in the contemporary period, modern materials are sometimes used. It is often set up as an arrangement that includes pillars supporting a frame, royal chairs for the bride and the groom, side chairs for parents, and a pedestal for the sacred fire. It is often rented from businesses that specialise in renting items for an Indian wedding. Its use is common among overseas Indians as well. The use of a mandapa is an ancient custom, and is described in texts like

Ramacharitamanas ''Ramcharitmanas'' ( deva, श्रीरामचरितमानस, Rāmacaritamānasa), is an epic poem in the Awadhi language, based on the ''Ramayana'', and composed by the 16th-century Indian bhakti poet Tulsidas (c. 1532–1623). Thi ...

and various

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

texts. The bride is often escorted to the mandapa by her maternal uncle.A Maharashtrian marriage http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990202/ile02185.html

Decorations

Traditionally, the wedding mandapa is decorated using kalashas (pots filled with water), garlands of mango leaves, coconuts, banana leaves, and other traditional objects. Modern mandapas use fabrics, lights, crystals, flowers, Wrought Iron unique shapes and other materials insuring all religious aspects of a mandapa, which include the four pillars and havana kunda (fire altar) is now completely modernised by design.

References

{{Indian wedding Wedding objects Marriage in Hinduism

Description

Decorations

See also

References