Sammy! I also know that much of ritual only...!!
For information, i go to Google baba...and see what i got...here it is...!!
While various regional steps are followed by
different sects of Hindus across India, the
following 13 steps form the core of a Vedic
wedding ceremony:
1. Vara Satkaarah - Reception of the
bridegroom and his kinsmen at the
entrance gate of the wedding hall
where the officiating priest chants a
few mantras and the bride's mother
blesses the groom with rice and trefoil
and applies tilak of vermilion and
turmeric powder.
2. Madhuparka Ceremony - Reception of
the bridegroom at the altar and
bestowing of presents by the bride's
father.
3. Kanya Dan - The bride's father gives
away his daughter to the groom
amidst the chanting of sacred mantras.
4. Vivah-Homa - The sacred fire ceremony
ascertaining that all auspicious
undertakings are begun in an
atmosphere of purity and spirituality.
5. Pani-Grahan - The groom takes the
right hand of the bride in his left hand
and accepts her as his lawfully wedded
wife.
6. Pratigna-Karan - The couple walk
round the fire, the bride leading, and
take solemn vows of loyalty, steadfast
love and life-long fidelity to each other.
7. Shila Arohan - The mother of the bride
assists her to step onto a stone slab
and counsels her to prepare herself for
a new life.
8. Laja-Homah - Puffed rice offered as
oblations into the sacred fire by the
bride while keeping the palms of her
hands over those of the groom.
9. Parikrama or Pradakshina or Mangal
Fera - The couple circles the sacred fire
seven times. This aspect of the
ceremony legalizes the marriage
according to the Hindu Marriage Act as
well custom.
10. Saptapadi - Marriage knot symbolized
by tying one end of the groom's scarf
with the bride's dress. Then they take
seven steps representing nourishment,
strength, prosperity, happiness,
progeny, long life and harmony and
understanding, respectively.
11. Abhishek - Sprinkling of water,
meditating on the sun and the pole
star.
12. Anna Praashan - The couple make food
offerings into the fire then feed a
morsel of food to each other
expressing mutual love and affection.
13. Aashirvadah - Benediction by the
elders.
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
