Inclusive Hindu Weddings Course Sign-Up
Hindu wedding ceremonies are often beautiful, extensive affairs where couples and their families pledge their commitment to each other. They are performed in diverse ways across South Asian communities, with joyful rituals such as the jeelakarra bellam ceremony in Andhra Pradesh and the baraat in North India.
However, Hindu wedding ceremonies also include rituals rooted in patriarchy and casteism. Traditional Hindu wedding formulas often fail to meet the needs of Hindus entering interfaith marriages, inter-caste marriages, and queer marriages. The lack of knowledge in Hindu communities about how to conduct a complex ritual such as a wedding, let alone re-imagine it in a way that promotes inclusion and social justice, is a significant barrier to Hindus having weddings that reflect their faith and personal values.
Inclusive Hindu Weddings, taught by Hindu pandita and scholar Sapna Pandya, is a three-part introductory workshop on conducting inclusive Hindu weddings. The class is part of HfHR’s new Samadarshini Project, which brings Hindu pandits, theologians, and practitioners together to re-imagine Hindu rituals and philosophies in ways that promote collective liberation.
The first class will start with an overview of the purpose of marriage in Hinduism and the principles behind Hindu wedding rituals. The second and third classes will take us through the main “beats” of Hindu weddings: invocations; commitment rituals; and community acknowledgements. This class will highlight regional and caste differences in ritual practices and identify ways to change rituals to make them gender inclusive, anti-caste, and friendly toward same-sex and interfaith contexts.
Classes are one hour long and will take place every other Sunday from May 3rd-May 31st. To join this class, you must become a member of Hindus for Human Rights. If you do not wish to become a member, you can sign up for the class by paying a course fee of $100.
Class One: Sunday, May 3rd from 9 AM PT/12 PM ET
Class Two: Sunday, May 17th from 9 AM PT/12 PM ET
Class Three: Sunday, May 31st from 9 AM PT/12 PM ET