One of initial wedding ceremonies in India is the Tilak ceremony. It was initially held one month before the actual wedding day, but with changing times people have become quite flexible. The date and time of the Tilak ceremony is decided according to the convenience of both the parties. In other words, it can be said that the commencement of the wedding alliance begins from this ceremony itself. Indian Hindu weddings are very traditional and particular with regard to respective customs and traditions.
In India, the bridegroom and his family is placed in high regard. Therefore, after they get ready for the wedding the first ceremony which locks the seal is Tilak ceremony. It is usually attended by the male members of both the families. The father of the bride along with other associates visits the house of the groom. There he applies the auspicious tilak on the forehead of the groom to ensure that the he is finally ready for marriage and also that the bride's family has accepted him as their would-be son in law.
A small hawan and pooja also takes place, wherein the priest chants mantra to seek blessings of the Lord. After this the brother of the bride applies tilak to the groom as a mark of respect and acceptance. He then endows him with gifts such as clothes, sweets, fruits, flowers, garlands and token money. All the other male members of the bride's family such as uncles, cousins etc also perform the same ritual to state their loving approval of the groom. The ceremony is followed by refreshments to celebrate the new accord between the duo families. After this, the family of the groom also sends gifts for the bride.
