Vidaai
Vidaai is an emotional event that marks the completion of the wedding. It is an integral part of the wedding, where the bride with teary eyes steps out of the doors and throws back five handfuls of rice over her head reflecting wealth and prosperity. In a way, this ritual signifies that the bride has paid back whatever her parents have given her all these years. As she leaves in a car/vehicle, the bride's brothers and cousins push the car, which symbolizes that the brothers are helping her start a new life with her husband. After the car starts, money is thrown on the road to discard or ward off the evil spirits. This post-wedding event has different names in different parts of the state but everywhere it is an important ceremony.
Reception
This post-wedding ceremony is basically a way of introducing the bride to the groom's community. This event has no mandatory rituals to be followed, in fact, the ceremony comes packed with dancing, music, and a grand feast.
Blessing Ceremony
Mostly referred to as an Aashirvaad Ceremony, this very soulful event is celebrated to seek the blessings of the elderly members of the family and other well-wishers. For this ceremony, the bride's family along with relatives and friends visit the groom's residence and present the newlywed couple sweets or fruits along with gold/silver/diamond jewelry, the couples then touch their feet. In some parts of the country, like Bengal, the Ashirwad ceremony is held two or three prior to the wedding event. It signifies, the confirmation of the bride and groom's new relationship. The door of bride's residence is decorated with a string of mango leaves that are to stay for one year after the wedding event. The groom's family present to the bride some sarees, and in return, the bride's parents gift various groom a ring or a watch.
Dwar Rokai Ceremony
This fun ceremony can mostly be seen in North Indian weddings. Dwar Rokai ceremony is held when the newlywed couple arrives at the groom's residence and his sister/s confronts the couple by not allowing them to enter the house. The brother is asked to present her with cash or a precious gift in order to get the entry inside the house. Often this is a fun ceremony to witness with a very light-hearted argument between the brother and sister.
Griha Pravesh Ceremony
Dwar Rokai Ceremony is followed by the Griha Pravesh Ceremony. In this significant ceremony, a traditional Indian welcome is given to the new bride. She is asked to first push a jar/kalash filled with rice with her right toe to make her entry into the house. This ceremony signifies that the family of the groom has not only welcomed the bride into their house but has also accepted her as one of the integral members of their family. In some places in India, the bride is asked to tell the name of her husband at the entrance and then enters the home.
Mooh Dikhai Ceremony
Mooh Dikhai is an important Hindu post-wedding ceremony. It is basically held to introduce the new bride to the groom's family. The ladies unveil the face of the bride and also shower her with gifts. The mother-in-law, in particular, offers presents to the bride as a gesture of welcome.
Pag Phera Ceremony
Pag Phera is also observed as an important Hindu post-wedding ceremony. In this ceremony, the bride is taken back to her home from the in-laws' house by her brothers, where she stays for almost three days. When the ceremony ends, the groom comes to her house and seeks blessings from her parents and then takes his bride back to his house. The family of the bride offers gifts to their daughter and son-in-law. It is believed that girls are the form of Goddess Lakshmi, and thus the bride comes back to her home to ensure the prosperity of her parents.
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