Have you ever attended a Buddha wedding or Buddhist wedding? If yes, then you have definitely experienced the difference from other religious marriages. These weddings have their own set of customs and rituals. Besides, you will get to see a whole different environment, be it dressing, food, decoration, or several other things. Besides, Buddhist weddings honor the teachings of Lord Buddha. It encourages the couple and guests to follow the path of truth and compassion shown by Gautam Buddha. If you have never attended a buddha wedding, then this post can take you on a tour of the customs and rituals followed in these weddings. Let’s explore.
Table of Contents
Things You Will Get To Experience In A Buddhist Wedding
1: Wedding Customs
The Buddhist perspective on marriage is highly flexible. Marriage is regarded as a personal and individual affair in Buddhism rather than a religious obligation. A person is not obligated to marry in Buddhism. It does not compel someone to remain single. Nowhere does it say that Buddhists must have children or that they must limit the number of children they have.
Buddhism gives each individual the opportunity to make his or her own decisions about marriage. Given that there are no rules prohibiting Buddhist monks from marrying, one would wonder why they don’t. The reason for this is that the monks have chosen a way of life that includes celibacy in order to be of service to mankind.
2: Wedding Costume In Buddha Weddings
The wedding attire is completely traditional in these weddings and reflects the culture with grace and elegance. Check below:
What Bride Wears?
The bride wears a Bhaku attire, which is composed of brocade. The dress is similar to a sarong; however, it must be full length. Hanju, the bride, wears it with a sleeved blouse. The hanju is usually made of “khichen,” a type of Chinese silk. She also has a unique coat and scarf. She also wears some exotic jewelry (Khau) that can be composed of turquoise, coral, and pearl. Her arms would also be encrusted with massive gold bracelets. The majority of the jewelry is made of pure gold or gold plating. In the past, brides also donned unique shoes and caps, but this is no longer fashionable.
What Groom Wears?
Bhaku is the main attire worn by the groom in most of these weddings. It is the traditional attire in a Buddha wedding. It also includes a brocade cap and a belt around the waist. However, boys are free to choose western suits or any other dress based on their preferences.
3: Date Selection
Buddhists can marry at any time, depending on the register office or temple’s hours of operation. Buddhists are not prohibited from marrying on any certain day. All Buddhists, however, should be aware of the Buddha’s teachings on a husband and wife’s mutual roles and duties. There are also no forms to fill out; these will be handled at the registration office.
4: Venue Of The Wedding
Buddhist weddings, for the most part, do not take place in a temple. They’re usually held in someone’s home or a rented hall. Some rituals, such as the Zen services provided by Kyoto’s Shunko-in, take place partially or wholly inside a temple.
5: Meditations and Readings
A Buddhist ceremony can start with a guided meditation that encourages guests to practice mindfulness and loving-kindness. Following that, a member of the wedding party may read texts by revered people such as Tibet’s Dalai Lama or Soto Zen master Dgen. Readings from the Sigalovada Sutta, which provides the Buddha’s advice on peaceful domestic relations, are frequently included in Buddhist weddings.
6: Vows
Before or after the wedding, some couples legally formalize their relationship. Other couples choose to have a civil ceremony with vows. Some people may recite or write phrases inspired by a Buddhist elder. These vows express their willingness to be patient and kind as the relationship evolves. These vows can be seen in most marriages across cultural and religious boundaries.
7: Unity Rituals
Buddhist marriages include elements from both the couple’s cultures and origins, resulting in a wide range of union rituals. Some couples exchange rings in the Western tradition, while others use garlands or threads in the Thai or Indian tradition. Any unity rite that is meaningful to the couple and their family can easily be added because the celebration is open to the couple and their family to organize. There are not any restrictions on the wedding rituals.
8: Offerings to the Buddha
The partners pay homage to the Buddha by offering an altar or a statue in his likeness. As part of the event, they may also pay a visit to a temple and execute rites there. Most couples light candles or incense and offer the Buddha exquisite food and flower bundles. Then they sit quietly and ponder their palms clasped in front of their hearts.
9: Post-wedding Rituals
The couple decides a date to depart the girl’s place after consulting their kikas. It primarily occurs on the first or tenth day after the accomplishment of the marriage ceremony. The pair can opt to live apart from their respective families. These weddings are not devoid of dance and celebration like most weddings around the world. Folk dance is an important feature of many north-eastern cultures’ festivities. Some are performed completely by men, while others are performed jointly by men and women.
Final Words
Buddha wedding is not based on core religion, but it includes the values of the religion. In Buddhism, weddings are not considered auspicious or foul acts. Besides, there is no hard and fast rule to conduct the wedding ceremony in several ways. However, it has the essence of the Buddist culture, and you can feel it at the wedding venue. If you have never been a part of a Buddha wedding, then this post can give you an idea of what you can expect in these weddings. If you liked this post, visit our blog section to find more.
Comments are closed for this post.