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A Hindu wedding is ''vivaha'' (Sanskrit: विवाह〔(Vivaha ) Sanskrit English Dictionary, University of Koeln, Germany〕) and the wedding ceremony is called ''vivaah sanskar''.〔(BBC News article on Hinduism & Weddings ), Nawal Prinja (August 24, 2009)〕〔Hindu Saṁskāras: Socio-religious Study of the Hindu Sacraments, Rajbali Pandey (1969), see Chapter VIII, ISBN 978-8120803961, pages 153-233〕 Hindus attach a great deal of importance to marriages. The ceremonies are very colourful, and celebrations may extend for several days. The bride's and groom's home - entrance, doors, wall, floor, roof - are sometimes decorated with colors, balloons,and other decorations.〔(Sari nights and henna parties ), Amy Yee, The Financial Times, May 17, 2008〕 The rituals and process in a Hindu wedding vary widely. Nevertheless, there are a few key rituals common in Hindu weddings - ''Kanyadaan'', ''Panigrahana'', and ''Saptapadi'', which are respectively, giving away of daughter by the father, voluntarily holding hand near the fire to signify union, and taking seven steps with each step includes a promise to each other before fire.〔 The Hindu wedding ceremony at its core is essentially a Vedic yajna ritual. The primary witness of a Hindu marriage is the fire-deity (or the Sacred Fire) ''Agni'', in the presence of family and friends.〔Bajpai, Shiva (2011). ''(The History of India - From Ancient to Modern Times )'', Himalayan Academy Publications (Hawaii, USA), ISBN 978-1-934145-38-8; see pages 4, 73-74〕 The ceremony is traditionally conducted entirely, or at least partially in Sanskrit, considered by Hindus as the language of holy ceremonies. The local language of the bride and groom is also used. The pre-wedding and post-wedding rituals and celebrations vary by region, preferences or the resources of the groom, bride and their families. They can range from one day to multi-day events. Pre-wedding ceremonies include engagement (involving ''vagdana'' or betrothal and ''lagna-patra'' written declaration),〔 and arrival of the groom's party at the bride's residence, often in the form of a formal procession with dancing and music. The post-wedding ceremonies may include ''Abhishek'', ''Anna Prashashan'', ''Aashirvadah'', and ''Grihapravesa'' - the welcoming of the bride to her new home. The wedding marks the start of Grihastha (householder) stage of life for the new couple. In India, by law and tradition, no Hindu marriage is binding and complete unless the ritual of seven steps and vows in presence of fire (''Saptapadi'') is completed by the bride and the groom together.〔 This requirement is under debate.〔 A Hindu wedding is regionally called ''vivaha'' (Hindi: विवाह), (Bengali : বিবাহ), (Kannada: ಮದುವೆ (Maduve)), (Telugu: పెళ్లి (pelli), మనువు (manuvu). ==Eight types of marriage== Ancient Hindu literature, such as ''Asvalayana Grhyasutra'' and ''Atharvaveda'', identify eight forms of marriages.〔 These are:〔The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M, James G. Lochtefeld (2001), ISBN 978-0823931798, Page 427〕〔Eight forms of Hindu Marriage and its custom, India Tribune (September 2011)〕 * ''Brahma'' marriage - considered the religiously most appropriate marriage, where the father finds an educated man, proposes the marriage of his daughter to him. The groom, bride and families willingly concur with the proposal. The two families and relatives meet, the girl is ceremoniously decorated, the father gifts away his daughter in betrothal, and a vedic marriage ceremony is conducted. This type of wedding is now most prevalent among Hindus in modern India.〔 * ''Daiva'' marriage - in this type of marriage, the father gives away his daughter along with ornaments to a priest as a sacrificial fee. This form of marriage occurred in ancient times when yajna sacrifices were prevalent. * ''Arsha'' marriage - in this type of marriage, the groom gives a cow and a bull to the father of the bride and the father exchanges his daughter in marriage. The groom took a vow to fulfill his obligations to the bride and family life (Grihasthashram). * ''Prajapatya'' marriage - in this type of marriage, a couple agree to get married by exchanging some Sanskrit mantras (vows to each other). This form of marriage was akin to a civil ceremony. The above four types of marriages were considered ''prashasta'' marriages (proper, religiously appropriate under Hinduism), since they contains vows from Vedic scriptures, where both bride and groom commit to each other and share responsibilities to their families. The other four were considered ''aprashasta'' (inappropriate), since they do not follow any Vedic rituals and vows.〔〔 Among inappropriate weddings, two acceptable forms of marriages were: * ''Gandharva'' marriage - in this type of marriage, the couple simply live together out of love, by mutual consent, consensually consummating their relationship. This marriage is entered into without religious ceremonies, and was akin to the Western concept of Common-law marriage. Kama Sutra, as well as Rishi Kanva - the foster-father of Shakuntala - in the Mahabharata, claimed this kind of marriage to be an ideal one.〔〔 * ''Asura'' marriage - in this type of marriage, the groom offered a dowry to the father of the bride and the bride, both accepted the dowry out of free will, and he received the bride in exchange. This was akin to marrying off a daughter for money. This marriage was considered inappropriate by Hindu Smriti-writers because greed, not what is best for the girl, can corrupt the selection process.〔 The last two marriages were not only inappropriate, but religiously forbidden (the children, if any, from these forbidden types of consummation were considered legitimate, nevertheless). * ''Rakshasa'' marriage - where the groom forcibly abducted the girl against her and her family's will. The word ''Rakshasa'' means devil. * ''Paishacha'' marriage - where the man forces himself on a woman when she is insentient, that is drugged or drunken or unconscious. James Lochtefeld finds that the last two forms of marriage were forbidden yet recognized in ancient Hindu societies, not to encourage these acts, but to provide the woman and any children with legal protection in the society.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Hindu wedding」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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