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Buddhist Wedding Ceremony in Bali

A Buddhist wedding is a simple wedding ritual. If possible the ceremony should be conducted in a Buddhist temple called Vihara; but for some reasons the ceremony could be held in other venue too. The intention of Buddhist wedding is to build and maintain a harmonious and spiritual family.

General Requirements

You will need to prepare some documentation as the administration requirements at least 3 months before the wedding date. Here below the list of the general requirements to be prepared and submitted to Vihara wedding administration office:

  1. Fill in the Buddhist marriage blessing application and Civil Registry Office form
  2. Copy of Passports
  3. Copy of Birthcertificates
  4. Copy of witness’ Passports. Witness should be non family related
  5. 4 Pieces of side by side color photo size 6 x 4 cm; groom on the right hand side of the bride

General Procession

Entering the place of ceremony
The bride and groom (the groom is on the right hand side of the bride) enter the place of ceremony to the altar with their parents or proxy behind them following by their family and relatives. The officiant or Monk and the server already stand by in front of the altar.

Flowers and fruits offering
The bride and groom together present their flowers and fruits to the altar as an offering to the Buddha and then they will do Namakāra kneel down to Buddha for three times.

Affirmation
The officiant or Monk as the leader of the ceremony will ask a few questions to the bride and groom if there are any force and threat from other party to marry in Buddha religion; and the bride and groom will be expected to answer “No, there are no force and threat”

The officiant or Monk will continue asking the bride and groom:
"Do you (the groom’s name) want to take (the bride’s name) as your legal wife? The groom will answer “I do"; then the officiant or Monk will ask the bride the same question. The main procession will then continue.

Light the candles (usually this part is confiscated if necessary)

Opening the wedding ceremony
The officiant/ Monk will officially open the wedding ceremony by light up 3 fragrant incenses at the altar and said the rite of Namakāra-Pāñha following by the bride and groom together with all the participants Namakāra kneel down.

Namakāra-Pānha
Arahaṁ Sammāsambuddho Bhagavā, Buddhaṁ Bhagavantaṁ Abhivādemi
Svākkhato Bhagavatā Dhammo, Dhammaṁ Namassāmi
Supaṭipanno Bhagavato Sāvakasaṅgho, Saṅghaṁ Namāmi

Wedding vow
The officiant/ Monk will lead the bride and groom to say the wedding vow with the following rite:

    1. the groom holds up the 3 incense in Añjali posture (clasped the hands and fingers on the chest) and following said the words of Vandana and wedding vow spelled by the officiant or Monk:

”Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammāsambuddhassa ..

I request the participants of this wedding to witness, as today I (the groom’s name) take (the bride’s name) as my legal wife, and I assure:
1. will always respect my wife;
2. will always tender and care to my wife;
3. will always be faithful to my wife;
4. will give certain authorities to my wife;
5. will provide wealthy to my wife;
6. will be diligent and full of spirit to earn my family

May God always bless me; and the Buddha protects me

Sādhu! Sādhu! Sādhu!”

Then the groom will embed the incenses at the altar or assisted by the server.

    1. the bride holds up the 3 incense in añjali posture (clasped the hands and fingers on the chest) and following said the words of Vandana and wedding vow spelled by the officiant or Monk:

”Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammāsambuddhassa…
I request the participants of this wedding to witness, as today I (the bride’s name) take (the groom’s name) as my legal husband, and I assure:

1. will always attention to the whole family’s importance
2. will always be hospitality to the whole family members of both parties
3. will always be faithful to my husband;
4. will always take care of my husband’s given to me;
5. will always learn and diligent to work;
6. will obey the positive instructions from my husband;

May God always bless me; and the Buddha protects me

Sādhu! Sādhu! Sādhu!”

Then the bride will embed the incenses at the altar or assisted by the server.

The Bride and groom are also able to use their own wedding vows.

    1. The bride and groom kneel and bend over together with Namakāra pose three times to the altar of Buddha.

Exchange of wedding rings
The officiant or Monk will give the rings, first to the groom and ask him to put the ring on his bride’s finger; then the officiant or Monk will give the ring to the bride and ask her to put the ring on her groom’s finger.

Yellow ribbon knotting and cover up by yellow cloth
The officiant or Monk will bend the groom’s left wrist with the bride’s right wrist with yellow ribbon, then both the bride and groom cover up by yellow cloth by their parents (bride and groom’s parents) assisted by the server.

Blessing water sprinkling
a. the officiant or Monk will ask the parents of the groom to knee and bend down with Añjali pose then take the blessing water from the altar. The parents then springkle the blessing water to the bride and groom and pray for their happiness.
b. the officiant or Monk will also ask the parents of the bride to do the same.
c. the officiant or Monk will sprinkle the blessing water and rite and blessing of Paritta.

Untied the yellow ribbon and uncover the yellow cloth.
The officiant or Monk asks both parents of the bride and groom to uncover the yellow cloth assisted by the server, and the officiant or Monk will untied the yellow ribbon.

Advice from the officiant or Monk
The officiant or Monk will provide a some marriage advice to the bride and groom while they’re seating.

Signing the wedding vow
After the advice, the officiant or Monk will ask the bride and groom, both parents and witnesses and the Monk to sign the wedding vow.

Closing of the ceremony.
The officiant or Monk officially close the wedding ceremony by said the rite of Namakāra-Pāñha followed by all the participants knee and bend down.

Namakāra-Pāṭha
Arahaṁ Sammāsambuddho Bhagavā, Buddhaṁ Bhagavantaṁ Abhivādemi
Svākkhato Bhagavatā Dhammo, Dhammaṁ Namassāmi
Supaṭipanno Bhagavato Sāvakasaṅgho, Saṅghaṁ Namāmi

End of the ceremony
The officiant or Monk congratulates the bride and groom.

For further information about Buddhist Wedding Packages in Bali, please contact us at info@baliweddingassistant.com or use our pre-wedding inquiry form where you can customize all your wedding inquiry.

Bali Wedding Assistant Team