Decision on Necessity of Fire at a Wedding
Many families wish to have a havan at their weddings and even feel that in its absence a wedding would not be a true wedding!
Originally the fire that was kindled by attrition at the marriage was taken home and kept burning in the family domestic hearth. Offerings of rice were made daily into the fire in the morning and evening (agni-hotra).These daily offerings were continued for one's entire life. At death one was cremated using a brand form this same fire.
Nowadays no one keeps the sacred fire burning and only a handful of people actually make daily oblations into the sacred domestic fire. So in the modern era the fire at the wedding is merely a throw-back to by-gone days and can very well be dispensed with.
There is a necessity in Hindu culture to make solemn vows in the presence of fire and water. Fire for the purpose of the modern wedding can be invoked in the form of a lamp kept on the central altar in the wedding canopy.
In Australia there are strict controls of fire and many wedding venues will not allow you to have a fire. If they do agree then the purohit will require a written consent form from the wedding venue.
In addition you will need to sign a disclaimer absolving the purohit and his team from any litigation in case of colateral damage. The wording is as follows:—
Havan Disclaimer
I ........................... affirm my insistence to have HAVAN (fire-offerings) performed on the occasion of my/my son's/daughters marriage which will take place on the ................................ at ............................
The pandit Ram Sivan who will conduct the ceremony has discouraged me from it's performance and has offered me scripturally sanctioned alternatives. He has informed me of all the possible collateral effects and damages that could possibly occur and I am fully aware that; —
- I may be guilty of breaking any fire-ban currently imposed at the time and could be subjected to warnings and/or penalties.
- There is the possibility of a fine being imposed upon me should the fire alarms be activated and the fire-brigade summoned.
- There is the possibility of deleterious effect or damage to the hall, fittings, and other paraphernalia and accoutrements both of the hall and persons present due to fire, smoke, embers or sparks.
- There is the possibility of damage to the carpet, wooden floor, and all other types of floorings belonging to the establishment where the wedding is taking place due to the unintended spillage of clarified butter, radiating heat, embers, coals or ashes.
- There is the possibility of a person or persons being burnt or injured due to some form of participation in the ceremony through either direct involvement during the ceremony or through help rendered by removing the hot fire pan from the hall.
In spite of all the above reasons for not having the HAVAN performed, I insist, and declare that I am fully aware of all these possible collateral effects and accept full and complete responsibility for any or all of them that may occur. Whether personally responsible or due to the human error, inattentiveness, or misjudgment of any other member of the sacerdotal team, marriage party, invitees, employees of the hall or caterers or any other person present , whether invited as guests, or participants, on official business or present for any other reason whatsoever.
I hereby absolve the pandit Ram Sivan and his team from any blame whatsoever in the event that an untoward event should occur whatever be its circumstance or cause. I am also fully aware that it will be our responsibility to clean up and dispose of the ashes and other residue of the Havan.
Signed .............................
on this day ..............................