ATTN: Hindu Followers, Could you please beautifully explain the Gazebo couples are married on ?

Question

I attended a Hindu wedding and the Gazebo which couples are married on has a particular name, which I cannot remember. The structure has a beautiful culmination of spiritual meanings and I hope you can share them with me.

The structure is elevated to be closer to God.
The four Pillars represent the Four Directions.
The Roof represents the Universe ... and so on.

Could you please completely explain this beautiful, meaninful structure to me?

Thank you.

Answer 1

It's called a 'Mandap'. The mandap or wedding canopy is the focal point of every Hindu wedding ceremony, a sacred structure supported by four pillars under which the bride and groom are seated and exchange their wedding vows. It is within this sanctified edifice that the auspicious ceremony takes place witnessed by the sacred fire. The four-pillared structure is said to represents the four Vedas as well as the four goals of a fulfilled Hindu life (Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha). The symbolism of the mandap goes further with each pillar being understood to represent the four parents of the couple, without whose support, love and blessings, the marriage would not have come to take place. Such is the sanctity of the mandap that a special ritual is held the day before the wedding to bless the inauguration of the mandap, known as Mandap Mahurat or Mandap Ropan.

The last few years have witnessed several changes in the design and style of mandaps. But the basic religious and cultural sanctity attached to them by Hindus remains the same: Mandaps are also becoming popular amongst those of other religions such as Sikhs & Muslims, obviously more for aesthetic effect than religious significance.

An another thing....
kama (pleasure, physical or emotional)
artha (material wealth)
dharma (righteousness)
moksha (liberation of soul/roughly salvation)
It is said that all beings seek kama and artha but soon, with maturity, learn to govern these legitimate desires within the higher framework of dharma. Then they can achieve moksha.

Answer 2

It is called a Vivah Mandap as Avik explained. Pillers traditionally used are of Banboo sticks but these days you get metalic ones too. In some aread they actually use up to ten pillers, in a mandap. Especially in eastern UP ie Varanasi and nearby area.Actually Dircetions are devided into 10 in Hindu tradition.

Mandap is made at both places , bride's as well as grooms.

The style and customs of ceremony slightly differs in different areas.