Kudos offer a wide range of Mandaps for the perfect wedding day.

The mandap or wedding canopy is the focal point of every Hindu wedding ceremony, a sacred structure supported by four pillars under which the bride and groom are seated and exchange their wedding vows. It is within this sanctified edifice that the auspicious ceremony takes place witnessed by the sacred fire.

The four-pillared structure is said to represents the four Vedas as well as the four goals of a fulfilled Hindu life (Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha). The symbolism of the mandap goes further with each pillar being understood to represent the four parents of the couple, without whose support, love and blessings, the marriage would not have come to take place. Such is the sanctity of the mandap that a special ritual is held the day before the wedding to bless the inauguration of the mandap, known as Mandap Mahurat or Mandap Ropan.

The last few years have witnessed several changes in the design and style of mandaps. But the basic religious and cultural sanctity attached to them by Hindus remains the same: Mandaps are also becoming popular amongst those of other religions such as Sikhs & Muslims, obviously more for aesthetic effect than religious significance – but nonetheless they go a long way to enhancing the wedding décor and provide a scenic focus for the couple to take their vows.

Selecting a mandap has always been an important decision in planning a Hindu wedding, but in recent times, couples have been taking the selection process a stage further. Gone are the days when the mandap was an “off the shelf element” of the wedding décor.
Today, the sacred wedding canopy is a fashion statement in itself – a reflection of the couple’s taste and discerning style and should thus come up high on the list of priorities when planning your big day.

Tradional Mandap Design to Modern Day

The structure and style of mandaps has evolved from traditional designs that typically included sankheda (traditional coloured paintwork), bandhani (tie and dye) fabrics and mirror work, to more sleek, contemporary and chic designs. With British Asian weddings taking on a more westernized style Mandaps have evolved to reflect this trend, combining western design concepts with an eastern look and feel.

Recent popular designs have been the round top mandap, mandaps with iron domes, roman pillar mandaps, wooden carved mandaps and mandaps festooned with fresh flowers and ornate drapes. Other imaginative concepts have included water feature mandaps, chandelier mandaps and even mandaps that emulate the grandeur of period films like Devdas.

From chic and slender to grandiose and majestic, a mandap is guaranteed to be found that has every couple’s name written all over it. If you do your homework well, you will really start to tell the difference between companies that purchase their mandaps off the shelf and those that have a key input into creating the latest bespoke designs.

Perhaps the best thing about contemporary mandap styles is their adaptability and scope for customisation. One no longer needs to think along conventional lines. A mandap that expresses your individuality is just a thought away and mandap companies will do all they can to customize their creations to your individual requirements and wedding theme.

Each year sees the emergence of stunning and innovative mandap designs on the market with coordinated accessories, backdrops, statues, candles, lighting, water features and foyer displays, all used to complement the mandap and build an all-encompassing theme. Most mandap decorators will now go out of their way to source accessories that match their clients chosen wedding theme and which coordinate together to transform a mundane venue into a setting of ethereal fantasy.

Many couples will search out a mandap that compliments the chosen theme and style of their wedding, whereas for others the theme of their wedding is created around the mandap they have picked out. Whichever approach you take, you should have a fair idea of how much of your wedding budget you will be allocating to the mandap and wedding décor and what style of mandap compliments your personality and style before you begin your search.

Armed with this information, many mandaps tend to get booked up a year in advance so its best not to leave your plans too late.

Contact Kudos today and see our Mandaps available for your wedding >>

Kudos offer theming and events for Indian weddings and corporate occasions

Indian weddings are very bright events, filled with ritual and celebration, that continue for several days. They are generally not small affairs, with anywhere between 100 to 10,000 people attending. Oftentimes it is possible that many of the attendees are unknown to the bride and groom themselves. Though most Indian marriages are arranged, some couples in urban areas have what are known as “love marriages”, where the partners decide to marry each other without family involvement or assistance. The traditional Indian wedding is more about two families being brought together socially, with there being as much emphasis being on the families concerned coming closer, as the individuals involved.

Many of the wedding customs are common among Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and even Muslims. They are a combination of local, religious and family traditions.

Asian weddings are a mainstay in the social calendar of the whole community. Many wedding traditions which have originated in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have carried over to second and third generation immigrant populations in western countries such as the UK and United States. Increasingly younger Asian couples are starting to incorporate Western features into their weddings such as speeches the first dance as well as the traditional wedding cake.

Kanyadaan

During kanyadaan, the bride’s parents give their daughter away in marriage. The groom makes three promises – to be just (dharma), earn sufficiently to support his family, (artha) and love his wife (kama). He repeats these vows thrice in the presence of Agni (the sacred fire) and all who are gathered there.

Bariksha

Bariksha is when the bride’s parents have informally shown intentions that they want a particular groom, and the groom and his family have agreed. Retracting at the end of this stage is frowned upon but is acceptable. Once the wedding has been decided on by both sides, the bride’s family goes and does Badcheka/ Bariksha of the groom. This is when the bride’s father and brothers go to the groom’s side with sweets (including a coconut) and some pooja items like rice and turmeric. This ceremony is a token gesture to confirm the alliance and signifies that the groom is now “taken” and can no longer look for other prospective brides.

Tilak

Tilak involves the bride’s parents traveling to the groom’s family home to formalise the relationship. A large feast is organised by the groom’s family to celebrate this occasion. Only a nominal number of members of the bride’s family are present (usually only very close relatives, often in tens of numbers). Typically, the female marriage proposal is very rare.

Byaha Haath

Byaha Haath: This ceremony signifies the purifying of the mind, body and soul of bride and groom. This daytime ceremony prepares both of them for the nuptials. ‘Uptan’ is a mixed paste of sandalwood, turmeric and rose water which is applied by seven unmarried female members of the families to the faces, hands and feet of the bride and groom. After this ceremony the bride and the groom are not allowed to step outside the house before the actual wedding.

Flower bed ceremony

In the flower bed ceremony, the bride wears a lot of floral ornaments and the marriage bed is decorated with flowers by the groom’s family. This is the night of consummation. In Muslim marriages, this takes place on the night of the wedding. In Hindu marriages, this takes place on the night of the reception.