Frequently Asked Questions
The wedding will occur on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of May 2025. We remind you that May 1st is a public holiday in many countries, so, you’ll just have to take time off work on Friday, the 2nd (except if you are flight attendants /pilots or live in a country where Labour Day is not celebrated).
Each day will be in a different location:
Day 1 will be at the Lisbon Hindu Temple (location).
Day 2, the morning ceremonies will be at the groom’s house, and in the afternoon at a location still to be announced.
Day 3 will be at Quinta de Monfalim (location). Monfalim is located between Arruda dos Vinhos and Sobral de Monte Agraço, 40 minutes away from Lisbon.
We would love to see everyone in Indian clothes and we will do our best to point out places where you can buy or rent them, but we don’t force anyone to.
In all ceremonies, women usually wear a saree or chaniya choli (typical Indian attire).
For Sagai (the morning of the 1st) men usually wear suits. For other ceremonies, it is common to wear a kurta (Indian tunic). For the wedding, it is common to see men wearing a suit or a kurta.
For Pithi (the afternoon of the 2nd) it is common for everyone to have a touch of yellow in their clothes. For this day, it is ok if you choose to go in western clothes, as it is a more casual day.
Some stores in Lisbon sell Indian clothes. We leave their Instagrams here: @kaladeep; @virsaweddings; @indian_queen_portugal Some of them don’t open every day, so it’s best to write a message to find out when they are open.
The bride and groom’s family also have some clothes they can borrow or sell second-hand. We therefore ask that you mark in the RSVP form if you are interested in this option.
Only vegetarian food is allowed inside the Temple, so on the first day, lunch and snacks will be vegetarian and typically Indian. Alcohol is not permitted inside the temple, so if having a drink, it will have to be in a specific designated area.
At Quinta de Monfalim (day 3), the food will be typically Portuguese, with the occasional touch of Indian cuisine during the cocktail.
The Maharaj (priest) speaks in Sanskrit, an ancient classical language of India, one of the oldest in the world and still used in Hindu ceremonies and rituals, but which in reality neither party, Portuguese or Indian, understands. That’s why he gives instructions on what to do in Gujarati and we will have cousin Padu translating it into Portuguese so that we can understand. The website also serves as a “guide” for you to understand what is happening.
The “rules” are identical in any temple of any religion. We must dress modestly, avoiding necklines and revealing clothes. Although some traditional Indian clothing shows parts of the body, it is important to maintain a respectful style at the temple. Furthermore, large public displays of affection should be avoided. And remember that consumption of alcohol and non-vegetarian food is not allowed inside the temple.
There is quite a lot. It is also served by Carris buses 43B, 703 and 778.
We ask that you do this in the days before the wedding begins, as there will be no one at the ceremonies to do so. Please mark the RSVP form if you need help finding someone you can do this with.
There is no shortage of websites with lists and lists of suggestions. Here‘s one with 100 different songs, some of them with an example video. There are also specific lists, for dances for the bride’s friends, or others for the groom’s friends, for family members… just search a little.
Ideally, write on the RSVP form which song you will dance to and we will pass the information on to the DJ. As a last resort, notify us up to 5 days before Sangeet.
Garba and Dandiya are traditional dances from India, more specifically from the Gujarat region,
performed at religious celebrations (such as weddings) and festivals (such as Navratri).
Garba is danced in a circle, with participants dancing around an image or symbolic representation of one of the gods (in a wedding typically Ganesha).
The movements are repetitive, almost a trance, and the dance is accompanied by devotional songs and traditional instruments. The pace increases as the night heats up.
Here is an example of Garba in the Hindu Temple of Lisbon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8LxExRpYok
Dandiya is a dance in pairs or in two rows facing each other, where participants beat wooden sticks (dandiyas) in rhythm with the music, accompanied by dance steps.
You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXDbs0VW4FU
Yes, but we ask that you arrive early, as access to the parking lot will be occupied by Jaan, the groom’s arrival parade. If you arrive late, you will have to wait for this part to end, before you can park your car at the location.
We have a lot of guests coming from abroad, so we will do our best to organize carpools, rent vans and assign drivers, among the guests, to take everyone to Monfalim and back. Please mark on the RSVP form if you need transportation or if you have space in your car to take other guests.
This is one of the most fun parts of the wedding. The groom and his family come in a parade, with loud music and dancing, a celebration of the bachelor’s last steps, slowly towards the bride. The groom is usually on a horse (or elephant, in India), armed with a sword and does not exactly participate in the dances. The bride’s guests can join the party once the parade is closer to its end.
There is no limit to the number of people at the Hindu Temple. It is common for the entire community to be present, especially for the Sangeet, on the first day in the evening. We are counting with around 400 people in the temple.
For the second day, only family and close friends are usually present (those who received an invitation).
As for the wedding day (day 3), as we will hold the ceremony at Quinta de Monfalim and there is a cost per person, this day is reserved only for those invited by the bride and groom (around 200 people).
Yes, without a doubt. An Indian wedding is a family event and all generations are more than welcome. Just remember that the food in the temple may be slightly spicy, so it’s not a bad idea to bring some snacks.
Because there are many ceremonies and it would be impossible to do everything in one day. In fact, this wedding is going to be a reduced version of the normal Hindu wedding.
The two most common gifts are money or gold. Gold is seen as an investment for Indians, offered only by the closest family, something that is passed down from generation to generation and only exchanged for money in cases of extreme need. It is also common to see people giving small bills (5/10€) to the bride and groom during different ceremonies like Sagai or Pithi.
Thank you in advance for any gift you may wish to give us. You know that for us your greatest gift is to be present on this most special occasion. But if you feel like contributing to this new phase of our lives, as newlyweds, we provide our IBAN:
PT50 001800032898654502039