Wedding Blog

I ended part 1 of our Buddhist/Hindu ceremony with the Ganesh Puja. Since it’s been a little while since the last post, let me set the scene.

Mr. Margarita will be standing at the front of the Mandap/Poruwa (platform) on the left side (from the audience’s perspective). Mr. Margarita’s immediate family and the Hindu priest will be seated on the left side of the Mandap/Poruwa. Mr. Margarita’s four groomsmen will be standing to the left of the platform facing the guests. My immediate family (minus my parents) and the Sri Lankan officiant will be on the right side of the platform. 400-500 of our family and friends will be seated facing the Mandap/Poruwa and waiting for the ceremony to begin.

The Procession
My four lovely bridesmaids will then make their way down the aisle and stand to the right of the Mandap/Poruwa. Following them are our four adorable flowergirls (ages 1 1/2 - 4 1/2) who will hopefully make it all the way down the aisle without crying or fleeing at the sight of 400-500 faces.

Then it’s finally my turn! My parents and I will be led in by Sri Lankan dancers and drummers playing the Magul Bera drums. The Magul Bera drums have traditional significance in Sri Lankan culture as they mark special occasions and celebrations. It’s not quite an elephant, but I think it will do quite nicely.

Dancers (Courtesy of Bisson Photography):

Magul Bera (Courtesy of my cousin)

When I reach the front of the Poruwa with my parents, I will kiss and hug my parents and they will enter the Mandap/Poruwa from the right side. Then I will step onto the Mandap/Poruwa platform also from the right side leading with my right foot.

Namaste/Auybowan:
Once I step onto the platform, Mr. Margarita and I will greet each other in the traditional Singhalese way by placing our palms together and bowing toward each other. We will then exchange floral garlands known as the Jaimala (also known as Varmala). The Jaimala represents the acceptance of each other as husband and wife.

Bride garlanding the groom (courtesy of flickr)

Poruwa Ceremony:
After the Jaimala, we will begin the Buddhist ceremony called the Poruwa Siritha. The Poruwa Siritha appears to have existed in Sri Lanka before the introduction of Buddhism in the 3rd Century B.C. Poruwa means dais or platform. It is believed that the early Indo-European (Aryan) marriage ceremony consisted of the bride and the groom standing together on a platform in the presence of the community. The Poruwa ceremony is a social rather than a religious function. Since Buddhism was introduced, a religious element has been added in that the elder relative or friend (not a priest) who officiates also recites blessings using benedictory texts of Buddhist origin.

To begin the Poruwa ceremony, the Jayamangala Gatha, or Stanzas of Victory are recited to invoke blessings on the couple for success and prosperity in life. Mr. Margarita and I accept betel leaves from the Sri Lankan officiant and place them on a high place on the Poruwa platform as an offering to god. Mr. Margarita and I will then drop seven bundles of betel leaves one at a time onto the Poruwa. This is a custom carried out to remember seven generations of relatives on each side. Mr. Margarita and I will then offer betel leaves to the elders of our families as a gesture of respect and honor.

Bundle of Betel leaves (courtesy of flickr)

My Mama (maternal uncle) will then enter the Poruwa and tie our fingers together with a golden thread symbolizing the unity of marriage. Pirith Pang or blessed water is then poured over the two united fingers as a blessing by my father to signify “Kan Yaadaana”  (handing over the girl). After this the couple slip out their fingers from the thread.

Literally tied together

Mr. Margarita will place a gold necklace around my neck. (The ring ceremony would normally take place here but we will be exchanging rings in the Hindu ceremony instead.) Our families will exchange gifts including a sari for me to wear upon departure from the wedding.

Mr. Margarita and I will then feed each other traditional Sri Lankan kiri bath (milk rice). The Sri Lankan officiant then breaks a coconut in half to bless the couple and the wedding.

Kiri bath and more betel leaves (courtesy of my cousin):

The bride and groom then traditionally descend the poruwa and light a ceremonial oil lamp. Mr. Margarita and I will instead begin the Hindu Ceremony.

Up next, the Hindu ceremony…

*Please note that the components and order of the Poruwa ceremony can differ