Mangal Fera Ritual | Gujarati-Hindu Wedding, Canada

Mangal Fera (also referred to as Mangal Phere) consists of the couple taking four circles, or ‘feras’ around the agni (sacred fire). Either ritual may be performed based on the variations of the ceremony. While Saptapadi is more common and also noticeably relevant to the Hindu ceremony, Mangal Fera is frequently used to highlight the four basic goals of life. Each of these four cycles represents a promise just as each phere does in the Saptapadi ritual. The couple begins their walk around the fire, each completed circle representing the four stages of life: 1) To pursue life’s religious and moral duty (Dharma) 2) To pursue prosperity (Artha) 3) To pursue earthly pleasures (Kama) 4) To pursue spiritual salvation (Moksha)