Why Do Indian Brides Kick Rice?

In Hindu weddings, the bride throws a container of rice before entering her new home as a married woman. This ritual is not just a farewell, but also signifies the abundance of wealth that the new bride is expected to bring within the house. The tradition of showering newlyweds with rice, seed, and grains predates Christianity and has deep symbolic and spiritual or practical meanings.

During the vidai ceremony, the bride throws rice backwards before leaving her parents’ house, usually at the shaadi ka mandap. Rice is considered auspicious and is used in India and abroad during the wedding. In the west, rice is being showered upon the new couple to bless them with fertility, auspicious, and wealth.

After the bride is gone, guests are asked to bless the newlyweds by gently throwing rice on them. This signifies the guests’ blessings and prayers for the couple’s future. Towards the end of the ceremony, the bride throws rice over her shoulder as she leaves with the blessings.

Rice is an important component of Hindu wedding ceremonies, as women are considered embodiments of the Goddess of Prosperity and Wealth – Lakshmi. The significance of the bride pushing a kalash inside the house is a symbol of her letting in prosperity, wealth, and good luck within the household.

In addition to the ritual of throwing rice, the bride also thanks her parents for feeding her since childhood and having loved her affectionately. When the daughter gets married and leaves her parents’ house, she throws back rice as a symbol of reassurance to them.

What is the Indian rice ritual?

Rice grains are used in blessings called akshata. Dry rice is smeared with red vermilion and put on the forehead to make people lucky. It is one of the nine sacred grains used in ceremonies. In Hindu ceremonies, rice is offered to the gods in the yajña kuṇḍa, a sacred fire. Rice with turmeric is sprinkled over worshippers and the newly married couple. Rice is used to make a seat for the sacred kalasha (pot) during religious celebrations. In some parts of India, the bride and groom stand on a pile of rice during the wedding. In many Indian states, when a bride enters her husband’s house, she is made to push a small metal jar of rice. This symbolizes that she will bring prosperity to the family. Rice is also used in the naming ceremony of a newborn child. A Hindu ritual for babies is called Annaprashana. It is done when rice or pudding is given to the baby with prayers. When priests bless their kin, they wish them wealth and rice. In some South Indian communities, the bride and groom pour rice on each other during the wedding, symbolizing wealth and happiness. In Tamil Nadu, Ponni Amman is the rice goddess worshiped in some regions from July to August. Farmers prayed to Ponni Amman to save their crops from floods. They built a statue in her honor.

Why does the bride throw rice?

What is the rice toss? The rice toss is a wish for the newlyweds to have many children. Guests throw rice at the couple as they leave the ceremony. We’ll look at this ancient tradition with help from an expert.

The History and Meaning of the Rice Toss. The tradition of showering newlyweds with rice, seeds, and grains goes back to ancient times. The Celts, great warriors, were also farmers who tossed rice, millet, and other grains to ask for blessings and fertility for the couple. The ancient Romans used wheat. Italians toss candies or nuts. The Polish use rice and coins to ensure prosperity. In Morocco, it’s dried dates or figs, and in India, it’s flower petals. “Family and friends give the newlyweds good wishes as they start their new life,” says Nora. No matter the culture, the throw is significant. Guests and family throw things to wish the couple good fortune, a prosperous marriage, and children.

Who started throwing rice at weddings?

It seems rice was meant to mimic rain, which I wrote about in my last blog. Rain is a symbol of good luck and fertility on your wedding day. It also keeps evil spirits away. The Romans started the custom of throwing rice, which was meant to mimic rain. They threw wheat instead. Some traditions say the rice or wheat was eaten after it was thrown to compliment the bride. But this was stopped because the brides were probably eating more dirt than grain.

This tradition has changed in different cultures, but everyone enjoys throwing things at the happy couple. In Italy, guests throw candy at the couple to wish them a happy marriage. In France, the happy couple is showered with wheat. In Morocco, they throw raisins and figs to symbolize fertility. In England during the Tudor era, they started throwing shoes instead! Here in the US, we usually throw confetti, sparklers, and bubbles at the couple. I’ve never had rice thrown at me, but bubbles or confetti might be a softer option. Many couples have switched to these alternatives to make their wedding less painful. Some other options are to pass out noisemakers or paper streamers to get the photos without the mess.

Rice is a good option for throwing at your wedding, and it’s been approved by many authorities. Make sure you get the venue’s approval and a shield if someone is going to congratulate you. There are other options, like petals and sparklers, and we’d love to discuss them over coffee and celebrate!

What country throws rice at weddings?

Weddings and traditions around the world. Rice throwing is popular in Italy, but every country has its own traditions. In Venezuela, running away from your wedding is a good luck wish. In Sweden, a myrtle stick in the bride’s bouquet symbolizes love. In African weddings, wedding dresses are often gold or green to symbolize prosperity and life. In China, couples have a tea ceremony with friends and family to show their love and share happy moments.

What is the Indian myth about rice?

MYTH: The birth of Annapurna. People started worshipping Annapurna when there was no food and they were in danger of dying. They asked Lord Brahma for help. Brahma asked Vishnu for advice. He decided to wake Shiva from his sleep and ask him to help. Shiva asked Annapurna for rice, which he gave to everyone. Shiva is the destroyer, Vishnu is the preserver, and Brahma is the creator.

Lakshmi in rice rituals. A bowl of rice is enough for everyone. A bowl of rice doesn’t judge who eats it. A piece of cloth works the same way.

What is the significance of rice ceremony?

3. The Wedding Meal: An act of joining two souls. Every wedding is about food, and this tradition is no different for the bride and groom. Couples eat rice to celebrate their bond and vows. In some cultures, eating rice symbolizes a tradition before tossing rice over the newlyweds. In Queen Elizabeth I’s time, rice-tossing was banned. Instead, they were made into small cakes and thrown on the bride’s head during the wedding.

4. Vidai Rituals: A Daughter’s Last Goodbye. After the wedding, the bride leaves her parents’ home with rice thrown at her. The mother of the bride will stand behind her with her dupatta wide open. The bride walks slowly while throwing rice. In Indian families, daughters are like Goddess Lakshmi, and having her in the house is a sign of wealth. The ritual symbolizes that the daughter is leaving her parents’ home with blessings for the family to continue living well.

Do Jews throw rice at weddings?

Jews aren’t the only ones who throw things at brides and grooms. The ancient Romans threw wheat at newlyweds to wish them fertility. Rice became a universal symbol for fertility for some reason. The rice toss lost some popularity after a rumor that birds would explode if they ate the rice. The rumor is false. In 1985, a Connecticut state legislator tried to ban the practice. Today, you can throw rice as much as you like without harming birds. Joan Rivers once joked about Elizabeth Taylor. “She’s been married so many times, she has rice stains on her face!”

What does rice symbolize in India?

Rice is a main food in India. It symbolizes life, nourishment, and abundance. White rice is often seen as pure and fertile, so it is often offered to gods in Hindu rituals. Giving rice to the gods is a way of asking for their help. Rice represents the Earth Goddess (Bhudevi). In Hinduism, the Earth is the goddess Bhudevi. Rice comes from the Earth, so it is seen as a manifestation of the goddess. Rice is grown together with the Earth goddess. Rice offerings in rituals show gratitude for her. This connection makes rice more important in Hindu ceremonies.

Rice in Rituals. Rice is an important offering in Hindu worship. People often anoint idols and images of gods and goddesses with rice to show that they are pure and holy. This shows respect and devotion to the deities, acknowledging their status and seeking blessings. Anointing deities with rice is often done with mantras.

Why do Pakistani brides throw rice?

Vidaai/Doli: Vidaai is when the bride leaves her parents’ house. The bride throws rice over her head. The ritual is to wish her parents well. The bride says goodbye to her family. Her brothers lead her to her husband, who takes her to his family home. Relatives throw coins after the procession. The mother-in-law usually doesn’t come to the doli. She makes preparations at home to greet her son and new wife. The mother-in-law offers the bride water in a symbol of acceptance and blessing.

Rituals at the groom’s house. Reception at the groom’s house: The newlyweds are welcomed in a ceremony called the pani bharna. Then the bride must kick the mustard oil on the door before entering the house. Then she and her husband must offer prayers in their room. Then they must touch the elders’ feet in a ceremony called matha tekna. The rest of the evening is spent playing games.

What is the Indian story about rice?

In India, a king believed he was wise and fair. The people in his province farmed rice. The king said everyone must give him most of their rice. The Raja promised to store the rice safely so that everyone would have rice to eat in a famine. Each year, the Raja’s rice collectors gathered nearly all of the people’s rice and carried it away to the royal storehouses. The rice grew well for many years. The people gave the raja nearly all of their rice, and the storehouses were always full. But they had only enough rice to get by. Then one year the rice didn’t grow well, and there was a famine. The people had no rice to give to the raja or to eat. The ministers asked the raja, “Your Majesty, please open the royal storehouses and give the rice to the people.” No! cried the Raja. How long will the famine last? I need the rice for myself. A raja must not go hungry! The people got hungrier and hungrier. But the raja wouldn’t give the rice. One day, the king ordered a feast for himself and his court. He felt it was his duty to enjoy himself even when there was famine. A servant led an elephant from a royal storehouse to the palace, carrying two full baskets of rice. A village girl named Rani saw rice falling from one of the baskets. She quickly jumped up and walked along beside the elephant, catching the rice in her skirt. She was clever and started to plan. At the palace, a guard yelled, “Stop, thief! What are you doing with that rice?”

Why did they throw rice at weddings?

In olden times, marriage meant expansion, from building a family to increasing ones assets. Rice (most likely chosen for its availability and low cost) symbolized both fertility and prosperity, and tossing it at couples implied best wishes and good luck-for newborns, good harvests, and everything in between.

Alternatives included wheat (the Roman tradition) and oats, but regardless, the message was clear: Seeds and crops are things that grow.

Nowadays, the tradition takes many forms, from candy and sugared nuts in Italy (for sweetness in marriage) to figs and raisins in Morocco (for fruitfulness).

Why does rice represent fertility?

The tradition of tossing grain at weddings started in ancient Rome. Wheat symbolized showering the couple with prosperity. Rice was later used because it was easy to get and meant fertility for the newly married couple. In Italy, candies and nuts are thrown at the newlyweds. In Morocco, dried fruits are often used. These days, tossing rice is less common. Instead, flower petals and confetti are used. These have some drawbacks, including cleanup, safety hazards, and environmental impacts. Couples are choosing mess-free alternatives like bubbles, sparklers, ribbons, and ringing bells. But is rice deadly for birds? In the 1980s, Connecticut banned rice tossing because it was killing birds. This was later proven wrong. Many studies have shown that eating raw rice does not harm birds.