Pheras – The culmination of an Indian wedding

The Hindu wedding culminates with the pheras (literally translated as circles or rounds) around the sacred wedding fire. The completion of the pheras is an announcement of the solemnization of the wedding and that the couple are now husband and wife.

Pheras assume different proportions within each community, as do most wedding rituals in India due to the diversity of languages ​​and cultures. While the Gujratis and Sindhis in western India complete 4 pheras, most other Indian communities complete seven. Before the beginning of the pheras, the bride sits to the right of the groom. Upon completing the pheras, she sits to the left of her. This symbolizes that they are husband and wife and that she is close to her heart. In Indian mythology, the goddess always sits to the left of the god, be it Shiv and Parvathi or later Ram and Sita. During the pheras, the bride and groom are joined by a dupatta or later by a piece of cloth.

Talking about the various variations of Pheras, during the Arya Samaj wedding, the groom leads for the first 4 pheras and the bride takes the lead role for the rest of the three. It is believed that the wife will be the creator of the fate of the couple. In a Sindhi wedding there are only 4 pheras with the husband walking in front for the first 3 rounds and then the bride for the last round. There are no weddings with less than 4 pheras. The pheras portrays the 4 stages of married life: dharma, artha, kama and moksha.

After the pheras, the couple seeks the blessing of the elders before the vidaai occurs.

The pheras signifies seven promises which are listed below:

1. Bellboys: you will prepare the food, you will take care of the house and you will help me. I will love you and take care of you and our children. Girlfriend – I will take care of the home and its responsibilities and I will do everything possible for you and our children.

2. Boyfriend: you and I will protect our house and our children together. Girlfriend: I will support you at all times and my happiness is in your well-being. You will love me and no one else.

3. Groom – We will take care of our children who will live a long time. Girlfriend – I will only love you and no one else.

4. Boyfriend – I will respect you as a holy symbol, I will treat you as my second half. Girlfriend – I will give you happiness and give you pleasure and satisfaction always.

5. Boyfriend – You are my best friend and you will always think of my interest. Bride – I will be happy in your joy and sad in your sadness. I will perform all tasks and make sure that all your wishes come true.

6. Boyfriend – May you have joy, peace and luck – Girlfriend – I will always be by your side.

7. Groom: now we are united as husband and wife, we are for each other forever Bride: I am yours forever and I promise this before God now.