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.

Celebrity Wedding: Eesha Koppikar & Timmy Narang

Eesha Koppikar: Bollywood Actress.

Timmy Narang: Renowed Restaurateur.

Wedding Date: November 29, 2009

Wedding Venue: ISKON Temple, Mumbai

Celebrity Wedding: Shilpa Shetty & Raj Kundra

Shilpa Shetty: Bollywood actress & Co-owner IPL Team 'Rajasthan Royals'.

Raj Kundra: Britain's 198th richest man in (2004), young millionaire & Co-owner IPL Team 'Rajasthan Royals'.

Wedding Date: November 22, 2009

Wedding Venue: Royal Mansion, Khandala

Maharashtrian Wedding: Sakharpuda

Sakharpuda is basically the Engagement Ceremony. Being a pre-wedding ritual it is generally held a few days before the wedding. In this ceremony the Groom's parents gift a saree to the Bride as a token of her acceptance in the family and mainly a packet of Sakharpuda (i.e. sugar) which symbolizes spreading of sweetness in their lives. This ceremony is conducted at Bride's place and normally Groom, his parents and close relatives participate in this.

The Indian Wedding Food: North Indian

Dal Makhni : The delicacy from Punjab.

Malai Kofta : A special dish for special occassions like wedding.

Shahi Paneer : A must main course dish made of cheese.

Pulao : The rice dish.

Hindu Marriage Ceremony: Var Mala (or Jai Mala)

Var Mala (or Jai Mala) is one of the most significant rituals performed on the wedding day. This ceremony takes place after the groom reaches the venue for wedding, along with the baraat. Var Mala (or Jai Mala) is basically a garland made of fresh and colorful flowers, the size and weight of which vary from region to region.

After the reception of baraat the groom is taken to a stage in the wedding venue where this ritual is performed. The bride is made to come to the stage along with a garland in her hands, escorted by her sisters and close friends then she is made to stand next to the groom on the stage. Then afterwards the Var mala (or Jai Mala) ceremony is performed in which the bride and the groom exchange their flower garland by putting it around each other's neck.

This is a very important ceremony as it indicates mutual acceptance of both bride and groom towards each other.

Hindu Marriage Ceremony: Mehendi Ceremony

Mehendi is another important, fun filled pre wedding ritual usually organised with the sangeet function. Mehendi is one of the sixteen adornments of the bride and her beauty is considered to be incomplete without it.

Mehendi ceremony is usually takes place just before marriage and as per ritual the bride does not step out of the house after this ceremony. This ceremony is essentially organised by the family of the bride and being a private affair only friends, relatives and family members participate in this function. Also a skilled Mehendi expert is called who applies Mehendi on bride's hands, arms, feet and legs. It is believed that darker the color of the Mehendi, more the bride will be loved by her husband.

Hindu Marriage Ceremony: Saptapadi

'Saptapadi' or 'Saat Phere' is an important rite of the Hindu Marriage Ceremony. In this rite the bride and groom are symbolically brought together through the marriage knot then they take the seven steps. In the seven steps the bride and groom circumambulate a (sacred) fire or the Agnideva seven times reciting specific vows which represent everything from nourishment, strength, hapiness to progeny, long life, harmony & understanding. After exchanging the vows the couple agree to be companions forever.

The symbol of Hindu Marriage: Mangalsutra

"Mangalsutra" carries immense importance in a Hindu Wedding as well in lives of Hindu married women. Though basically it is a black and gold beaded necklace with a gold or diamond pendent(shape and size varies from region to region) but it carries much more importance than a mere jewellary item as it reflects the union of the husband and the wife and is a symbol of promise by a husband to his wife that they will always stay together.

With the changing mindset of women and fast development Mangalsutra today comes in handsome range of designs to choose from, but its importance remains unchanged.

Hindu Marriage Ceremony: Tilak Ceremony

Tilak Ceremony holds an important place in the Hindu Wedding. This is basically a pre-wedding ceremony performed in different styles according to different traditions and culture of a particular caste or community.

The Tilak ceremony in mostly held at the groom's residence and nowadays families prefer to celebrate Tilak and Ring or Engagement Ceremony together. Mostly male family members and relatives participate in this ceremony.

This Tilak Ceremony not only bonds the Bride & Groom but their families together as well hence this ceremony holds key importance in a Hindu Wedding.