Hindu wedding gifts

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The traditional Hindu wedding practiced by many Indian families is a lavish affair. The betrothed and members of the wedding party participate in a dozen or more individual rites and ceremonies. Most weddings embody ancient and modern traditions, with part of the service usually spoken in Sanskrit. Guests, who often number in the hundreds, are expected to present a small gift to the married couple. The bride's family and the groom's family exchange gifts before and after the wedding.

1. Money

   • The traditional gift given at a Hindu wedding is money. The amount of money is usually a number Hindus consider auspicious, such as those ending in 1, such as $21, $51 or $101. The gift does not need to be given in cash: check or money order is not frowned upon. To add some personalization to the gift, many givers select a personalized envelope. A number of Indian gift stores, such as those listed Resources section below, sell envelopes specially designed to enclose money.

   Religious Art

   • Because many Indian families understand that giving money as gift is considered taboo in many Western traditions, the presenting of other objects will probably be accepted as well. If you would like to remain within the Hindu tradition, one can select a traditional Indian handicraft, such as a small piece of religious art. These can include statues of the Indian god Ganesh, a brass incense stick holder or a traditional Batik painting.

   Mukhwas Box

   • Another traditional Hindu gift is the Mukhwas, or dried-fruit box. Mukhwas boxes are compartmentalized boxes wrapped in colorful, intricately designed foil. Made to stand on the center of a dining room table and carry dried fruit, Mukhwas boxes, like most housewares, range in price and style from the expensive and ornate to the cheap and functional.

   Traditional Centerpiece

   • Most celebratory Indian functions, including weddings, make use of a decorative centerpiece on the dining table. These centerpieces can take many forms, such as carefully arranged fruits and vegetables, candles, dried flowers and crystal vases. A gift of a centerpiece is a pragmatic expression and commemorative of the wedding.

   What Not To Give

   • Unless the family is especially traditionalist, most gifts, whether following in Western or Hindu wedding traditions, will be accepted and appreciated. However, there are certain gifts that are considered absolutely inappropriate to give at Hindu weddings. These include any items that include leather, as many Hindus consider the skin of a dead animal, especially that of a cow, to be uncouth and sacrilegious. Also, do not bring anything overtly Christian-themed or a gift that can be interpreted as proselytizing. Hindu weddings forbid the marrying of Hindus to non-Hindus.

Source: www.ehow.com

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