The Indian Wedding is an elaborate ceremony that consists of many rituals. The bride and the groom perform all these customs to get bound merrily in marriage. Among the various rituals, the Saat Phere finds a special mention. Like the Jaimala or Varmala ritual, the Saat Phere too has been glorified in movies and TV. As the wedding season in India begins, know more about the rituals to understand what they symbolise.
Know the meaning of the Saath Phere here:
During the Saath Phere, the bride and the groom, circumambulate (walk around) the sacred fire seven times as they exchange their marital vows. The fire here becomes the witness (Agni Sakshi) as they make promises to each other.
Phera 1
The first promise is made by the man as he pledges to take care of the basic needs of the family. The bride also promises to walk hand in hand and extend her support in his endeavour to fulfill his duties by looking after the home.
Phera 2
The second vow focuses on home and family. The groom promises that he will look after the house and the family, and the bride pledges to be his side as his strength and support.
Phera 3
The third vow focuses on togetherness. The groom promises to take all that it would take to look after the financial, educational and other fundamental needs, and the bride pledges to treat him as her priority.
Phera 4
The fourth vow focuses on making each other happy and being thankful to each other. The groom thanks the bride for completing him and making his life beautiful. He wishes to expand his family, while the latter promises that she will keep him happy forever.
Phera 5
The fifth vow focuses on staying together through ecstasies and agonies. The man thanks his wife for enriching his life and being his well-wisher. He also prays that she always remains blessed by God. The bride, in turn, promises that she will stand by his side and be there for him in his moments of joy as well as sorrow.
Phera 6
The sixth vow focuses on strengthening the marital bond by becoming a cohesive unit. The groom thanks the bride for taking the sixth step with him and asks her if she would support and love him all her life. The bride promises that she will always stand by his side.
Phera 7
The seventh phera focuses on accepting each other as life partners. The man says, “we are man and wife now. I am yours, and you are mine forever.” The bride says that God has witnessed their union and that she will cherish and honour their relationship.
Thus, by exchanging the seven vows, the groom and the bride become husband and wife.
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