The length of the religious service has always depended on the scholarship of the priests, and has varied enormously in the past. Time was when Hindu weddings lasted for four or five days, with a couple of religious rituals performed each day, the rest of the time being devoted to feasting! But now the religious service is shortened and streamlined. The service explained below contains mantras from the Rig-Veda and other scriptures, which are recited in Sanskrit to accompany and emphasize rituals with religious significance. The whole service lasts for about three hours, which leaves sufficient time for an elaborate wedding feast before the hired hall has to be vacated.Meaningful participation in the service by the guests is determined by the design of the hall. Usually the assembly area is used for dining and the service is conducted on the stage at one end. This is not a very satisfactory arrangement because the guests sitting towards the back of the hall cannot see the rituals or