An Arya Samaj Wedding is special marriage ceremony that is only applicable to Hindus, as its founded by Dayanand Saraswati sincerely believed Hinduism to be the original religion. An Arya Samaj Wedding is a simple ceremony, minus all the ostentatious display of wealth and grandeur that characterizes other Hindu marriages.

Solemnized according to Vedic rites, in an Arya Samaj Wedding, the pooja is not performed to any specific deity, but rather to fire and the other elements of the universe.

The marriage ceremony is conducted in a peaceful ambience, with the priests translating the meaning of Vedic chants for the couple. Also Arya Samaj weddings don't incur too many expenses.

Some of the unique rituals of an Arya Samaj wedding are:

Madhuparka: After the bride and the groom arrive at the venue of the wedding the groom partakes of 'Madhuparka', a mixture of honey, curds and cream. The bride gives the groom water three times, which he sprinkles on his feet, over his body and drinks it the third time. Similarly, the groom partakes of the 'Madhuparka' three times after sprinkling it in all directions. The Madhuparka symbolizes the commencement of their journey into a happy married life.

Shilarohan: The bride's mother places the bride's right foot on a stone, while the groom chants specified mantras. This symbolizes that just as a rock is solid, the relationship between the bride and groom would also be solid and permanent.

Dhruvnakshatra: The Dhruvnakshatra or Polestar is always firm in its place. The couple looks towards the star as a vow to be always with each other.

Arundhati Nakshatra: The couple also invoke the blessings of Arundhati and Vashisht Nakshatras, the two stars that appear as one always, symbolizing their unity.