Indian vs. Hindu
When I began this inquiry, I thought that I was simply going to research "Indian weddings." I quickly learned that "Indian wedding" is an umbrella term that can be used to describe many different types of weddings performed in India, including Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jain, Sikh, and Buddhist. Similarly, an "American wedding" might be Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, non-denominational, or a civil ceremony.
The ceremony that I will be attending is a Hindu wedding. Even within Hindu weddings, great variation can occur due to the type of Hinduism practiced and the geographic origin and caste of the participants. In the particular wedding that I have researched, the bride's family is from the state of Andhra Pradesh and the Reddy caste. Furthermore, the bride was raised almost entirely in the United States and does not consider herself to be a "practicing Hindu," so some religious elements of the ceremony have been removed.
The ceremony that I will be attending is a Hindu wedding. Even within Hindu weddings, great variation can occur due to the type of Hinduism practiced and the geographic origin and caste of the participants. In the particular wedding that I have researched, the bride's family is from the state of Andhra Pradesh and the Reddy caste. Furthermore, the bride was raised almost entirely in the United States and does not consider herself to be a "practicing Hindu," so some religious elements of the ceremony have been removed.
This map of India demonstrates the location of Andhra Pradesh.
The map was found at http://www.nationsonline.org.
The map was found at http://www.nationsonline.org.