KAREN & ANIKET
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Welcome to the wedding of
​Karen and Aniket

 10:30am May 30, 2022 | San Ramon, California

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Baraat | Arrival of the groom
Aniket arrives for his wedding atop his trusted electric steed, accompanied by his ruckus-making family and friends.


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Swagatam | Welcoming of the groom
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Karen’s family welcomes Aniket’s family.  They perform Aarti by lighting an oil lamp and offering it to God.  Aniket demonstrates his mighty strength by breaking the Samput.  Aniket is escorted to the Mandap by both sets of parents.

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Ganesh Pooja | Invocation of Lord Ganesha
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The parents of the bride and groom make offerings to Lord Ganesha, the deity of peace and remover of all obstacles.  Lord Ganesha brings protection, removes obstacles and promotes a peaceful life for the new couple.

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KanyaAgamana | Arrival of the bride
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Karen is escorted to the Mandap by her maternal uncles.  An Anterput is raised in front of Aniket to block his view until she reaches the Mandap.

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Jai Mala | Exchange of garlands
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Karen and Aniket exchange flower garlands signifying their acceptance and love for each other.  The priest and parents then place a Var Mala around Karen and Aniket to unite them (one body, one mind, and one soul).

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Panigrahan Sanskar | Consent for marriage & union of the hands
​Karen’s parents perform vivah sacraments – unity and eternal bond of marriage, and offer their consent for marriage.  Karen’s father holds the couple’s right hands together while her mother pours holy water over their hands to unite them.  They promise to love and respect each other throughout life.  Karen and Aniket willingly accept each other as equal partners in life’s journey.

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Ganth Bandhan | Tying the knot of unity
Aniket’s sister ties Bride’s sari or odhni to Aniket’s scarf.  The scarf symbolizes the unity and un-breakable bond of Karen and Aniket.

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VivahHavan + Mangalphera | Lighting & circling the sacred fire 
The priest invokes God in the form of fire. Karen and Aniket make offerings to the fire as Vedic blessings are chanted.  The couple circles the fire four times, each representing a basic covenant and goal for life.


Dharma | Duty
Artba | Prosperity
Kaama | Love & family
Moksha | Spiritual liberation

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Sapta Padi | The Seven Sacred Steps
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Aniket and Karen take seven sacred steps together as husband and wife according to Vedic law.

1. Nourish each other
2. Grow together in strength
3. Preserve our wealth
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4. Share our joys + sorrows
5. Care for children + parents
6. Be together forever
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7. Remain lifelong friends
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Mangal Sutra | Tying of the marriage necklace
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Aniket gives Karen the Mangal Sutra, a necklace that symbolizes his abiding love, devotion and integrity towards her.  He then places Sindoor on her forehead, signifying that she is now a married woman.

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Kansar | Exchange of sweets
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Karen and Aniket celebrate their new union by exchanging sweets. This is a symbol of their first meal together as a newly married couple, praying that their future life together will be spent as sweetly and display of their love for one another.

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Saubhagyavati Bhava | Blessings from married women 
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Married women from Karen’s family enter the Mandap to offer their blessings to Karen as a newly married woman.

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Aashirvad | Blessings for the bride & groom
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Karen and Aniket are blessed for lifelong happiness and prosperity by the priest, their parents, and elders. The priest also asks friends and family to give Karen and Aniket their blessings.

Please enjoy lunch in the reception hall. Thank you for joining us!

To our family + friends

Thank you for coming to celebrate this special moment in our lives. We are especially grateful to those who have traveled far to be with us today. We know that the last couple of years have been challenging for all, so we are happy to be able to spend time with you today and in the years ahead.
Published from San Francisco, California
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