Leading Online Matrimonial Websites of India

Shaadi.com is one of the India's best known brands and world's largest matrimonial service. The company pioneered online matrimonials in 1996 and continues to lead the matrimony category after more than a decade. This is an ISO 9001:2000 certified website. The company also provides specialized services like 'Secure talk' to its premium members which is a new and revolutionary technology through which members can connect with potential partners on their registered landline or mobile number without revealing their number. Registered members can make as well as receive calls using this technology.

Bharatmatrimony.com is celebrated as the most trusted matrimony brand combining tradition and technology. It is network of 15 regional portals and over 2 crore members and has found a place in the Limca Book of Records for facilitating a record number of marriages. Bharatmatrimony.com is also listed in the NASSCOM's Top 100 IT innovators.

Jeevansathi.com is another popular matrimonial website of India, online since 1998 . This website is another venture of the promoter of Naukri.com the leading online Job portal of India.

Matrimonialsindia.com is online since the year 1997 and another popular Indian portal into the matrimonial segment. The site also contains Wedding related business listings.

Indian Bridal Wear: Clothing

In a Wedding the Bride's look is the most important one as on the Wedding day all eyes eagerly wait to have a single glimpse of her. Hence the shopping for the Bridal outfit consumes maximum time and effort and clothing being the primary affair, it's selection is been given paramount priority. A lot of variety in dressing is available for the the today's bride and one can select from the large range of Bridal wear depending upon personal looks, preference and budget.

Lehenga Choli

Lehenga Choli or Ghagra Choli is the costume especially for auspicious occassions and mainly worn by women in Rajsthani and North Indian Weddings. This dress is a combination of a long skirt (lehenga) and the blouse (choli) complemented with a matching dupatta. A lot of options are available in the market be it the color, fabric or the quality of embroidary work on it.

Indian Groom Wear: Clothing

'Sherwani' is the most popular wedding garment and the the first choice of the Indian Groom for his wedding. Sherwani is basically a close fitted jacket very similar to an Achkan or Doublet the difference being the former made from heavier fabric and the presence of a lining. It is worn over the kurta, coupled with a churidar, khara pajama or shalwar. Then it is combined with a pair of Mojris ( a traditional ornamental footwear originating from Rajasthan), Stole and Bandhani Pagri (the wedding turban) to give the perfect traditional wedding look to the Groom.

Out of the many fabric options available for the purpose of the Sherwani, Silk is the most sought out of all other. Sherwani being the core costume of a lavish occassions like the Indian wedding is mostly heavily embroidered. Red, Cream, Off White, Golden and Maroon are the most popular colors but the selection of these generally depends on the Groom's complexion and preference.

Honeymoon Places: Goa

Out of all the honeymoon destinations in the world Goa, the beach capital of India has its own place. Though it is the smallest state in India but its natural beauty and long sun drenched beaches make it very special and the ideal honeymoon spot.

Accessibility

Goa is reachable by all the three means of transportation i.e. By Air (International Airport by Dabolim, 30 km from Panaji, availability of both International and Domestic flights), By Rail (two Railway stations are Madgaon and Vasco De Gama, Railway travel to and from Goa has been highly improved with the commissiong of Konkan Railways) & By Road (Car and Bus services).

Beaches in Goa

Goa is world famous for its beaches. The long and clear beaches here are the best to spend time on. Majority of beaches here are very crowded with tourists and local residents here with some beaches being quite isolated ideal for the honeymooners. Major beaches here are Candolim Beach, Baga Beach, Vagator, Palolem Beach, Dona Paula Beach and Varca Beach.

Churches of Goa

Goa is well renowed for old churches and these churches here are listed as UNESCO's World Heritage Site. Church of Lady Rosary, Church of St. Augustine, Church of St. Lady of the Mount, Church of St. Catejan, Brasilica of Bom Jesus, Church & Convent of St. Monica, Rachol Seminary are some of the churches worth visiting.

Goa is truely one of the best honeymoon destinations in the World and with numerous honeymoon packages available in the market made to suit everyone's pocket one can fulfill the desire of spending a dream honeymoon.

Destination Wedding : Palace Weddings

Want to get married like a King, in a non-traditional way at splendid and unconventional locations?....then go for Destination Wedding. With availability of variety of themes, desinations and a number of quality planners, these weddings can be organised as normally as regular Indian weddings. Palace Weddings are one kind of destination wedding and if one wants to give a Royal touch to his or her wedding then Palace Wedding is the right choice.

Shiv Niwas Palace, Udaipur

This cresent shaped palace was built in the early 20th century, in the reign of Maharana Fateh Singh. This palace was exclusively reserved for visiting guests of the House of Mewar, now today it is Grand Heritage Palace for guests, having the combination of elegance of last century with modern 21st century amenities.

Facilities and Services include swimming pool, squash courts, billiard room, board room, ayurvedic message, beauty parlour, band and music, boat services, library, laundry, tour & travel guides, money exchange facilities, fascimile & internet, doctor on call, car on hire, etc.

Shiv Niwas Palace has been awarded The Heritage Award for Excellence in 1997-98, The National Tourism Award for the Best Heritage Hotel in Heritage Grand Category four times (1997-98, 1998-99, 2000-01, 2004-05, 2007-08) by the Dept. of Tourism, Govt. Of India.

Jain Wedding Ceremony: Pre Wedding Rituals

As like other castes and communities of India, the Jain community also follows its own marriage traditions and rituals. Unlike other Indian weddings which are celebrated with much pomp and show, Jain weddings are performed with very simplicity. Jains do not believe in wasting much time and money over their weddings as they regard a marriage much more than a wordly affair. These weddings more ritualistic and traditional as compared to those of other communities.

Lagan Lekhan
This is the initiating pre wedding ritual held at the to be bride's home and on this occassion the date of wedding is fixed. After a puja the lagan or muhurat for the wedding is determined by the priest and the same is sent to the Groom's house in the form of Lagan Patrika or letter.

Sagai
Sagai is the Engagement ceremony held at the Groom's house. In this ritual the Groom wears the traditional dress and then performs the Vinayakyantra Pooja. After the Pooja the Bride's brother applies tilak to the Groom's forehead and then gifts him sweets, gold chain, clothes, etc. Then after he is presented the Lagan Patrika Vachan.

Lagan Patrika Vachan
This ritual is performed at the time or after the Sagai ceremony in which the Lagan Patrika Vachan is read out in the Groom's house.

Mada Mandap
Mada Mandap another pre wedding ritual performed after the Sagai ceremony and held both at Bride's and Groom's place.

Punjabi Wedding: Roka, Sagan & Chunni Chadana

Punjabi Weddings are the most fun filled, colorful & musial marriage ceremonies in the country. These weddings are conducted lavishly and celebrated with exteme festivity & liveliness. Just like other Marriage ceremonies of India a Punjabi Wedding comprises of many rituals conducted before and after the wedding but these only add to the flavour and joy of these weddings.

Roka: This is a small pre wedding ritual and conducted to declare the announcement that the couple have agreed to wed. This fuction involves exchange of gifts, dry, fruits, sweets, etc.

Sagan: This ceremony is held at the groom's house or a third place like banquet hall. The bride's father applies tilak to groom's forehead and then offers him gifts him sweets and presents. Bride'srRelatives and friends also come to present gifts, sweets and to bless the to be Groom.

Chunni Chadana: This ceremony takes place post the 'Sagan' function. Now the Groom's family visits the would be Bride's house. Thenafter the Groom's sister or sister-in-law presents the Bride a Red 'Chunni' or a Red Saree. The Bride then gets dressed in the same clothes brought by the Groom's parents. After this the Bride is fed boiled rice and milk by the Groom's family followed by the ring ceremony in which the couple exchange rings.