The rituals and process in a Hindu wedding vary widely. Nevertheless, there are a few key rituals common in Hindu weddings Kanyadaan, Panigrahana, and Saptapadi which are respectively, giving away of daughter by the father, voluntarily holding hand near the fire to signify union. Taking seven steps with each step includes a promise to each other before fire. The Hindu wedding ceremony at its core is essentially a Vedic yajna ritual. The primary witness of a Hindu marriage is the fire-deity (or the Sacred Fire) Agri, in the presence of family and friends. The ceremony is traditionally conducted entirely, or at least partially in Sanskrit, considered by Hindu as the language of holy ceremonies. The local language of the bride and groom is also used. These rituals are prescribed in the Gruhya sutra composed by various rishis such as Baudhavana and Ashvalayana.
