The Wedding Standard

The Wedding Standard Special Edition

Saturday, July 20, 2013

#anandseema

SEEMA & ANAND TIE THE KNOT

Seema and Anand spend most of their time together laughing.

Their wedding photographer, Saj Sidhu of Photokitch, captured this moment on Tom Patterson Island in Stratford, Ont., in June.

Seema and Anand meet at Ryerson; they become the best of friends

THE CEREMONY Couple takes next step with Hindu wedding

A

s we’ve covered extensively in previous issues, the next chapter in the love story of the century is finally beginning. The Wedding Standard’s staff breaks down the events so you don’t miss a step: Welcoming the Wedding Party - Swagatam Seema arrives with her family and friends, followed by Anand and his family and friends (baraat). The families welcome each other.

Bhowan Persaud

The Bachelors

Anand and Seema graduate with a Bachelor of Journalism from Ryerson University in 2010.

Dvar Puja Anand and Seema’s fathers greet each other. Vedic hymns are chanted by the priest (pandit) presiding over the ceremony. A short prayer (puja) is said to invoke Lord Ganesha, the remover of all obstacles.

Parchan Seema’s mother and female relatives welcome and bless (aarti) Anand.

Janwaas Anand is taken to a place of rest until the ceremony begins.

Prayers Seema enters the marriage altar (mandap) and does preliminary prayers, including offerings for Ganesha, Gauri, Lakshmi and the planetary deities (navagraha).

Kiara Ariado

Caught in the Act An

eagle-eyed and quick-on-the-draw photographer snapped the moment when Anand proposed to Seema on Tom Patterson Island in Stratford, Ont.

Raksha Sutra Seema is presented with a cord of guidance (raksha sutra) by Anand’s elder brother (dutifully played by Ashwin). He agrees to advise and guide Seema through any difficult times. Seema leaves the mandap.

Saj Sidhu, Photokitch.com

Nadine Persaud

(Left) In September 2012, the two took part in an engagement ceremony and began the process of uniting their two families.

(Right) On another trip to Stratford, this time in June 2013, the couple had a 1920s-inspired tea party in the forest. They like tea.

Engaged

Madhuparka Anand enters the mandap for the first time. Seema’s father offers a sweet liquid combination of ghee, yogurt and honey (madhuparka).

The mixture is symbolic of how sweet the relationship between the two families should be.

Gotrachar The priest recites the names of Seema and Anand’s forefathers, to pay homage to the family lineage (gotra) on both sides.

Kanya Daan Seema returns to the mandap, and her parents place her right hand on Anand’s hand, declaring that they bless the marriage. The pandit chants the appropriate prayers (mantras) as the fire is kindled as witness to the union.

Sri Suktam Chanting The couple prays to goddess Durga for her blessings.

Havan The wedding is solemnized before the sacred fire (agni), the symbol of light, energy and purity. It serves as witness to the vows that follow.

Sapta Padi Seema and Anand take seven symbolic steps together (sapta padi), reciting mantras, to acknowledge Pani Grahan their duties to each other. Their Anand takes Seema’s hand (pani) vows: and asks her to sit beside him. Laaja Homa 1. To love, trust and respect each The grasping (grahan) of the hand Seema and Anand offer grains to other in our lifetime together. represents Anand’s pledge to hold the sacred fire which represents 2. To grow together, intellectually her hand for life with the prayer prayers for good health, prosperity and emotionally. that they will age together. and happiness.

3. To love and respect each other’s family as our own.

Mangal Daan Mangal Phere 4. To always remember the Anand’s elders bless a necklace The pandit chants vedic hymns commitment we’ve made to each (mangal sutra) that will be given to while Seema and Anand circle the other, in moments of strength and Seema. Anand places the necklace fire seven times and make offerings weakness. around Seema’s neck as a symbol of to it. The first four circles signify four 5. To care for each other in sickness their commitment to each other, and goals of life: moral duty (dharma), and in health. her status as a married woman. wealth (artha), love (kama) and 6. To respect each other’s spirituality salvation (moksha). The last three and nurture each other’s faith.

Gath Bandhan symbolize their union in mind, body 7. To act righteously, and with Seema and Anand’s shawls are tied and soul. integrity, for all the challenges life together to symbolize their union. may bring us.

Continued on back

Shila Rohan Seema and Anand each place a foot on a rock (shila) to represent the strength of their commitment to each other.

Saat Vachan Seema and Anand make seven vows (saat vachan) to each other, similar to those made during sapta padi. They promise to respect and love each other, and to consult one another in decisions that affect them both.

Jaimala Seema and Anand exchange garlands (jaimala) which symbolizes their voluntary acceptance of each other as life partners.

Sindoor Daan Anand applies vermillion powder (sindoor) to the part in Seema’s hair which symbolizes that she is a married woman.

Hridaya Sparsha Seema and Anand share an expression of love and devotion.

Ring Exchange The bride and groom exchange rings as a sign of their unity and commitment to each other.

Surya Darshan In a prayer to the sun, the bride and groom ask for its radiance to shine upon their lives forever..

Aashirvaad Family and friends shower flowers on Seema and Anand to bless them.

Food Time After the ceremony, venture into the lobby for appetizers and beverages, and stick around for an evening of dinner and dancing.

Taking photos and videos? Read on.

We’d love to see your view of the wedding. Send your captures to us at anandseema2013@gmail.com.

Please be considerate of other guests, professional photographers and videographers, and avoid flash photography.

Saj Sidhu, Photokitch.com

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS This very special issue of The Wedding Standard could not have been possible were it not for the efforts of our sponsors. We’d like to thank them individually for their generosity.

Unconditional Love and Support provided by: Ram and Raji Enterprises & Bhowan and Savi Incorporated Logistics, Shipping and Comic Relief provided by: Kiran Persaud (Ph.D, YouTube studies)

MASTHEAD Officiant

Staff Photographer

Pandit Bhoj Sharma

Saj Sidhu, Photokitch.com

Adorable Baby Services rendered by: Nithya Ashwin (President and CEO, Ashwin Enterprises)

Editors-in-Chief

Guest Photographers

Full Disclosure: The preceding companies are deeply invested in the subject matter of this issue of The Wedding Standard, and the people featured here will always have a close, personal relationship with them.

Anand Ramakrishnan

Kiara Ariado

Seema Persaud

Bhowan Persaud

Adorable Baby provided by: Harini Ashwin (Vice President, Ashwin Enterprises) Ashwin Ganapathy (Assistant to the Vice President, Ashwin Enterprises)

Kiran Persaud Art Director

Nadine Persaud

Seema Persaud Copy Editors Senior Writers

Tage Sharma

Anand Ramakrishnan

Vishal Sharma

We would also like to thank the innumerable contributors to this issue.

We would be nothing without our freelancers (especially those borrowed from the firm Friends and Relatives, LLP). They do so much for us with little direction—sometimes we don’t need to ask, they’re just there to help. And even with our crazy time constraints, our freelancers still see us when they can. So a great big thank you to them.

Finally, to our readers, we owe a great deal of thanks. Your devotion to this issue and the articles featured inside make special editions possible. If you weren’t the loving audience that you were, we wouldn’t do the things we do.

So, from both editors of this issue of The Wedding Standard, we hope you enjoyed reading.

Seema Persaud To submit a letter to the editors, send an e-mail to anandseema2013@gmail.com.

Love, Anand and Seema.