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sequently a Hindu marriage is considered to be too sacred to be
dissolved.
The most important steps of this
sacrament are : Kanyadana (gift of the bride to the bridegroom by
the legitimate guardian), Vivaha homa (marriage offerings in sacred
fire), Panigrahana (clasping the hand of the bride by the
bridegroom), Saptapadi (walking seven steps), Ashmarohana (mounting
the stone), Suryalokana (looking at the sun) and Dhruvadarshana
(gazing at the Pole star).
Panigrahana
symbolises that the bridegroom has taken over her responsibility
here afterwards. Saptapadi is symbolic of prosperity and felicity.
At the end of this ceremony the bride passes into the family of the
bridegroom. Marriage is regarded as complete with it.
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