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BUDDHIST WEDDING CEREMONY
The
wedding day is begun at a local temple
where the couple separately asks for the
blessings of Buddha. Both bride and groom
are then dressed in outfits traditional
to their region.
At
the mutually auspicious astrologically
designated wedding time, the bride and
groom are individually taken to the shrine
room of their local temple or a hall hired
for the occasion. Here, the couple sees
each other for the first time on that
day.
Spiritual
Buddhist wedding traditions don't necessarily
require the presence of monks or the use
of a temple's shrine room. For these traditions,
the wedding location would be equipped
with a shrine to Buddha featuring candles,
flowers, incense and a statue or image
of Buddha.
The
ceremony begins as the entire assembly
recites the Vandana, Tisarana and Pancasila
readings. The couple then lights the candles
and incense sticks surrounding Buddha's
image and offers him the flowers within
the shrine. Because of the secularity
of Buddhist weddings, there is no assigned
set of marriage vows. However, the bride
and groom will recite their expected undertakings
using the Sigilovdda Sutta as a guide.The
bride and groom can exchange rings. If
monks are present, the marriage vows will
be both preceded and proceeded by their
chanting.
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to Wedding Vows Page
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