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The mandap or wedding canopy is the focal point of
every Hindu wedding ceremony, a sacred structure
supported by four pillars under which the bride and
groom are seated and exchange their wedding vows. It
is within this sanctified edifice that the auspicious
ceremony takes place witnessed by the sacred fire.
The four-pillared structure is said to represents the
four Vedas as well as the four goals of a fulfilled
Hindu life (Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha). The
symbolism of the mandap goes further with each pillar
being understood to represent the four parents of the
couple, without whose support, love and blessings, the
marriage would not have come to take place. Such is
the sanctity of the mandap that a special ritual is
held the day before the wedding to bless the
inauguration of the mandap, known as Mandap Mahurat or
Mandap Ropan.
The last few years have witnessed several changes in
the design and style of mandaps. But the basic
religious and cultural sanctity attached to them by
Hindus remains the same: Mandaps are also becoming
popular amongst those of other religions such as Sikhs
& Muslims, obviously more for aesthetic effect
than religious significance - but nonetheless they go
a long way to enhancing the wedding décor and
provide a scenic focus for the couple to take their
vows.
Selecting a mandap has always been an important
decision in planning a Hindu wedding, but in recent
times, couples have been taking the selection process
a stage further. Gone are the days when the mandap was
an "off the shelf element" of the wedding décor.
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Today, the sacred wedding canopy is a
fashion statement in itself - a reflection of the couple's
taste and discerning style and should thus come up high on
the list of priorities when planning your big day.
From A
Four Pillared Canopy To Fashion Statement Extraordinaire…
The structure and style of mandaps has
evolved from traditional designs that typically included
sankheda (traditional coloured paintwork), bandhani (tie and
dye) fabrics and mirror work, to more sleek, contemporary
and chic designs. With British Asian weddings taking on a
more westernized style Mandaps have evolved to reflect this
trend, combining western design concepts with an eastern
look and feel.
Recent popular designs have been the round top mandap,
mandaps with iron domes, roman pillar mandaps, wooden carved
mandaps and mandaps festooned with
fresh flowers and ornate drapes. Other
imaginative concepts have included water feature mandaps,
chandelier mandaps and even mandaps that emulate the
grandeur of period films like Devdas.
From chic and slender to grandiose and majestic, a mandap
is guaranteed to be found that has every couple's name
written all over it. If you do your homework well, you will
really start to tell the difference between companies that
purchase their mandaps off the shelf and those that have a
key input into creating the latest bespoke designs.
Perhaps the best thing about contemporary mandap styles is
their adaptability and scope for customisation. One no
longer needs to think along conventional lines. A mandap
that expresses your individuality is just a thought away and
mandap companies will do all they can to customize their
creations to your individual requirements and wedding theme.
Each year sees the emergence of stunning and innovative
mandap designs on the market with coordinated accessories,
backdrops, statues, candles, lighting, water features and
foyer displays, all used to complement the mandap and build
an all-encompassing theme. Most mandap decorators will now
go out of their way to source accessories that match their
clients chosen wedding theme and which coordinate together
to transform a mundane venue into a setting of ethereal
fantasy.
The
Mandap Of Your Dreams Many couples will
search out a mandap that compliments the chosen theme and
style of their wedding, whereas for others the theme of
their wedding is created around the mandap they have picked
out. Whichever approach you take, you should have a fair
idea of how much of your wedding budget you will be
allocating to the mandap and wedding décor and what
style of mandap compliments your personality and style
before you begin your search.
Armed with this information, a visit to the websites of
mandap suppliers (click here to visit the mandaps section of
our wedding directory) will enable you to browse thelatest
offerings and shortlist the designs that appeal to you the
most. Book an appointment to meet your short listed
companies as soon as possible, as many mandaps tend to get
booked up a year in advance. |
