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 ...
or
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.
See also
*
Chuppah
A ''chuppah'' ( he, חוּפָּה, pl. חוּפּוֹת, ''chuppot'', literally, "canopy" or "covering"), also huppah, chipe, chupah, or chuppa, is a canopy under which a Jewish couple stand during their wedding ceremony. It consists of a c ...
References
{{Indian wedding
Wedding objects
Marriage in Hinduism