Amongst the Sindhis during the ceremony of 'Datar', salt is exchanged from the bride's hands to the groom's hands three times. The bride also does the same with all the relatives from the in-law's side. It is commonly believed that if you do the above there will be no arguments or fights between the bride and the in-laws. When salt mixes with food, it mingles totally with the ingredients of the meal. However the presence of the salt is felt because it gives the food taste. By exchanging salt, the family subtly tells the bride that she is going to be part of the new family and she should mingle with them like salt does with food.

Amongst the Hindus it is also believed that if you eat the salt of anybody's house, you ought always to be faithful to that family. Exchanging salt is also symbolic of the above.

In the above photograph you will see me exchanging salt with my father-in-law and years later my husband performing the ceremony with our bahu-rani (daughter-in-law)
Some time back, I had an interesting visitor. She is getting married soon and hence wanted to know about the significance of Hindu Wedding Rituals. She and her fiancée would like to have a marriage ceremony with a difference. They feel that they would both be contributing equally towards the working of their marriage. Therefore the to-be groom is inclined towards the desire to perform 'datar' with his in-laws, just like the to-be bride is required to enact with hers.
The bride-to-be would like her sister to participate in the marriage ceremony as much as her brother and uncles would be required to do. She asked me whether she was breaking any Religious rules thereby. I assured her that the above ceremony was relevant to those times when it was only important that the bride adjust with her new family. I laud the bride and groom's spirit . I appreciate their desire to modify the Rituals and follow what their hearts proclaim is the truth of the day.


12th of August was Sheetla Saptami...Click:
http://www.dalsabzi.com/Books/kids_kahaani/Festivals/sheetla_saptami.htm

20th of Aug is Parsi New Year. Click:

http://dalsabzi.com/Language_Festivals/parsi_new_year.htm

Smt. Jaya Row will be touring the US and UK to take the universal message of Vedanta to more people across the globe. If you have benefited from Vedanta and would like your family & friends in the US and UK to avail of it too, you might want to share Smt. Row's US/UK itinerary with them.
Below is a link that takes you to Smt. Jaya Row's itinerary:
http://www.vedantavision.com/events/06_us_uk.html