Yin & yang energies
Yin and yang represent two fundamental opposite forces that tend to create and harmonize the Universe by their interaction. They symbolize the two polar energies by whose interactions all things are brought about and come into being in the dynamic universe.
While the sun/fire is the male principle (yang) with its assertive, energetic qualities, and the water/moon is the female principle (yin) with its emotional, intuitive traits and the perfect balance can bring peace and beauty to the marriage. Even in rituals of marriage, happiness, fertility, these energies are at work.
Origin of the Yin-Yang Concept
It has often been seen that even if family and friends on both sides of the marriage are supportive, there will always be naysayers predicting early demise of the relationship.
Give yourself lots of time to see if it can last. Many flings seem rosy at first but turn out to be impractical. Do mull over the circumstances in which you met and fell in love.
The Issue Is Really of
The concept yin-yang has its origins in the Book of Change (I-ching), a Chinese book of wisdom and oracles. The interaction of yin and yang produces change. Derived from the creative, primeval essence, the ‘Brahma’, ‘Buddha’, ‘Tao’ in the various schools of philosophy and belief, the divine masculine and feminine archetypes are defined as wisdom and understanding.
The Void, or Heaven, caused the interaction of polar opposites, the opposing energies of yang properties and yin properties to bring creation into manifestation and the illusion of time. Yang manifests itself in movement and Yin in stillness.
Expatriates
Flexibility and the willingness of at least one spouse to live as a foreigner or immigrant abroad can make things easier. Living in an area where diversity is common can make the move easier. Building a community of international friends also helps tremendously. If it’s financially feasible, yearly visits home can also help your spouse feel more in touch with
Yin and yang in marriage
Marriage is a public sharing of a private bond. But what does this bond consist of? Beyond the biology and the social mechanics, marriage allows the future to come through you and connects you to thousands of generations and events in both the past and the future though a child.
Your life energy and that of your spouse creates psychic channels, wherein life energy exchange happens; the life energy of the male flows into the female and she gives it back to him non-locally. Practitioners of yoga often refer to this female/male energy conversion principle as ‘shakti’. The powerful ‘shakti’ creates binding energy, non-local bonds and channels that are not easily dissolved in relationships.
The commitment of marriage requires an act of will from both parties that enables the merging of Yin and Yang. Without the commitment, there is no merging, no real energy and hence little scope for personal transformation. This merging raises the energy and is the catalyst that enables the husband and wife to create new life within themselves to grow the two into a state of Oneness.
But though the mystical connection of thoughts and impressions is beyond the conscious awareness of the average person, in relation to the true depth and dimension of marriage, it is really and only the being.
Wedding tips and trends
Creating a theme that has never taken place before comes for a premium. There are a whole range of wedding ideas out there. The entire celebration weddings today are increasingly based on themes which can truly reflect the couple’s ‘identity’.
Family members, friends and colleagues with a creative bent of mind are asked to brainstorm to come up with ideas that give you the couple and the host a chance to personally interact and attend to each of their guests. The right choice of theme can turn a wedding into an ‘unforgettable’ experience for both the guests who would take sweet memories of the personalized and ‘interesting’ event.
For a wedding function you can opt for various themes like romantic theme, fantasy theme, fairytale theme, royal theme to name a few. These wedding themes can be used for all the pre wedding, main day and post wedding functions or it can be used in both pre wedding ceremonies and for the reception ceremony. Allow your imagination to run wild as you work at organising a wedding which is meaningful to ‘both of you’ and exciting and enjoyable for the guests.
1. Recreate the costume-oriented fairy tale:
Live your ‘Prince Charming’ and ‘Cinderella’ fantasy, in suitably exotic surroundings!!!
Food: Your food layout can be made fanciful and dreamy. Location: Engage a professional wedding decorator to turn the function room into your mini palace.
Backdrop and décor: The fairyland touch and aura must be created to perfection.
Outfits: The theme calls for a trendy, non-traditional wedding outfit.
Guests: Persuade your guests to arrive in costumes and request them in your wedding party to go all out in displaying their garb!
2. The Fort Wedding
Get your marriage solemnised at one of the most famous forts in India in Neemrana, Udaipur, Mandu and Jaipur in regal splendour. Give your guests a taste of the royal life.
Food:Decide on a medieval style gourmet feast.
Décor: Aim for a grand, real, royal and majestic theme. It’s a treat to watch a typical Rajasthani scene showcasing the mehndi tradition, rituals, puppet shows, and traditional song and dance.
Outfits: You could don the dress of a Rajasthani prince and princess teamed with regal accessories, not to mention the tiara and the crown.
Guests:Guests can wear heavy dresses with heavy mirror work, or choose brightly colored Rajasthani turbans.
3. Candlelight Romance
Candles galore to create an all-pervasive ambience of serenity and romance.
4. Exquisite and pristine floral theme
Select a particular flower and try to create a magical world with the same. Create a pristine jeweled look. Adorn the mandap, reception area, the home, the garden and even
the food display area with the same flower(s) in different arrangements but in harmony. Fresh flowers like orchids, carnations, baby roses or lilies can give a very unconventional look to the usual décor.
The expenses of a theme decor for a wedding depend on the total area to be decorated and the use of various accessories and flowers.
Flowers can also be complimented with drapes too. If you’ve decided on a colourful décor, ethnic Indian colours like orange, red, maroon or bandhni or organza drapes along with gold and zari tissue can surround the entire living area. The same theme can work for the entrance and the lobby of the building.
Some of the innovative décor ideas include arches with sheer drapes, stone sculptures and diyas placed at regular intervals, etc. Miniature landscaped gardens and fountains with a fusillade of lights are easy to incorporate.
Tips
Elaborate planning, useful feedback from close friends and an assessment of the interests of the guests can be interesting pointers while implementing the plan.
Food:Select a menu in sync with your theme but be sensitive to the needs of all your guests. Factor in tastes across age groups and communities and figure out a suitable combination for both of them in food.
Location: Have a rough idea of the approximate number of guests before booking an outdoor or indoor site. Geographical proximity to the guests’ place is important.
Decoration:Flip through magazines, brainstorm and be inspired.
Outfits: For your wedding outfit, inform your designer/tailor of the theme so that he’d use designs/ colors which blend with the theme. Ask him/her to make it a comfortable when which will allow you to move around with considerable ease.
Guests: Persuade your guests to arrive in costumes and request them in your wedding party to go all out in displaying their garb!
Wedding planners
While Indian weddings are true celebrations of love and life, the occasion calls for perfect planning and co-ordination at every stage so that all the guests are well-attended to and the happy couple remembers the vivid event fondly. Lavish or simple, the wedding reflects the personality and culture of families of both bride and groom.
During the course of a traditional Indian wedding, the budget of the wedding, venue of the wedding, the theme, decoration, wedding feast, stage or mandap décor menu, etc have to be decided. A huge range of ideas also emanate from experienced family members and friends.
However, people buzzing with wedding ideas may not know how to put them in place. Knowing how overwhelming wedding planning can be, a wedding planner can ease the burden, and can assist couples in planning for this special day. The services of a wedding planner will ensure the event moves in a coordinated way and in as organized, simple and time-saving a manner as possible.
Modern wedding including the themed weddings which are in currency, demand more creative planning on this special day. Themed wedding arrangements are especially considered more relaxed and relatable for the couple as well as the guests.
With an experienced and capable wedding planner in tow to make the wedding an event to remember, nothing is off-limits for wedding couples who are increasingly given to experimenting with numerous variations of traditional wedding ceremonies.
Whatever arrangements couples may decide on, wedding planners are the best people to rely on for using resources to the optimum level. Be it about stylish venue décor, drapings, table décor, deciding the furniture for a lounge look or traditional royal look, table dressing or foyer displays, people feel relieved to be able to leave the wedding planning in the wedding planner’s capable hands. Transforming spaces, creating a vibrant place out of nothing is also part of a wedding planner’s job.
Even as bright colours get replaced by sepia or toned down colours and the backdrop shifts to exotic locales, the trappings of the Indian wedding are too much of a lure.
The Institution of Marriage
Marriage is an institution in which interpersonal relationships between two individuals, is sanctioned with governmental, social or religious approval. The act of marriage changes the personal status of individuals in the eyes of those authorities that recognize it, namely the State, religion(s) to which the parties belong and/or by society in general. The civil process sanctifies it in accordance with the marriage laws of the land.
Since family is a basic but important unit constituting the social structure of mankind, marriage upholds this institution. It is one of the most significant events that occur between life and death.
A New Phase
Marriage also marks a distinct phase in life, making the path for progress, prosperity and joy through a spiritual journey and a quest to be one with the Infinite. By all that marriage invests in every married couple through societal recognition, it makes way for procreation and nurturing of future generations and influences the social and cultural growth of society.
This new phase of life brings along experiences that help both the individuals mature through intricacies in the realm of relationships and play a key role in shaping a common future.
Marriage is a serious decision in India, and is taken after careful deliberation and understanding of the partner with respect to compatibility of the couples’ horoscopes, the backgrounds of their families (wealth, social standing) and their castes.
The concept of marriage is an integral part of Indian society in India and retains its sanctity, with often older and wiser parents and elderly family-members planning the marriage of their sons and daughters.
Spiritual Relevance
Marriage prepares you to serves three purposes-Dharma (duty towards family and society), procreation, progeny and performance of holy rites. In Hinduism, the latter has its own importance and marriage facilitates the participation of women in rituals.
Marriage is a union of souls and of minds. It stresses on the spiritual equality of man and woman. It is defined by an everlasting commitment between the couple who are going to start a new relation and a new life with each other.
The Samkhya theory states that Man (Purush) and Woman (Prakriti) are eternal and evolve spiritually.
Motherhood is considered a significant stage, and the virtues of a woman, who bears a child, cares and nurses it, has been extolled by Saint Yajnavalkya as ‘Soma gave woman purification, the Gandharva, sweet speech, Agni, perfection and purity; thereafter, verily, woman is always pure.