Can You Have a Hindu Wedding Ceremony If You’re Not Religious? A Modern, Inclusive Approach

Photo credits to Jay Nandha

Hindu Wedding Ceremonies for Non-Religious and Mixed-Faith Couples

Can you honour Hindu tradition without being religious?

One of the most magical things about your wedding day is being able to show off your most authentic self, and to be showered with love for it.

Whether you’re religious or not, if Hindu heritage feels like a part of your identity you want to celebrate and share on your big day, then you absolutely deserve to be able to do so.

Celebrating culture

Pandit Prash is a Hindu wedding priest specialising in weddings for modern & mixed culture couples who want to tie the knot in a way that’s authentic to them.

For Prash growing up in a non-traditional British Asian family, Hindu upbringing was all about cultural celebrations and family gatherings centred around kathas/poojas (prayers). 

At the age of 13 he was presented with a 'janoi', a sacred thread given to adolescent boys from the Hindu 'Brahmin' priest caste as part of a holy initiation ceremony. 

He still wears it 20 years later, not as a strictly religious item, but as a daily reminder of his cultural roots and to feel connected to his family heritage.

Stepping back, this reflects what Hinduism more broadly means to many 2nd and 3rd generation Indians in the UK, it's the cultural heritage aspect of the religion that feels most meaningful.

Prash believes this is still a beautiful and powerful thing, not something to hide, or apologise for. 

And as a pandit, he wants to help you celebrate this. Hindu wedding rituals, carried out with the utmost respect for the tradition, in the service of what's actually more meaningful to you on your big day. 

Spiritual connection

Even if you’re not traditionally religious, some couples also find that their Hindu wedding ceremony creates a deeper feeling of spiritual connection than their secular Civil wedding vows.

As a wedding pandit, Prash’s approach is all about leaning into this, using the rituals to help couples ‘do less, be more’ on a day that can sometimes feel really overwhelming. 

Hindu wedding rituals are simple acts with few words, no material purpose and nothing extrinsic to be achieved - and as such, encourage couples to step away from the rush and look inward for meaning.

Prash believes his role as a pandit is to be the calming presence that helps take you to this place of spiritual union with your life partner and closest family members.

Crucially, for the greatest depth of meaning on the day, it isn’t just about telling you what actions to physically perform when you’re up on the mandap.

That’s why a key part of the planning process with Prash is about diving into why a Hindu wedding ceremony is important to you as a couple.

Whether it’s about a deeper feeling of connection with family, or more formally initiating your partner into your culture, there are no rules, as long as it feels authentic and true to you.

Keeping this in mind on the day, he can help you refine your centre and reconnect with why you’re there in the first place, while keeping it fun and engaging for your guests. 

What if my partner isn’t Hindu?

Pandit Prash regularly works alongside experienced multicultural wedding planners to ensure Hindu ceremonies sit seamlessly within modern, multi-layered celebrations. In August, he will be officiating a multicultural wedding planned by BusyBrides Wedding Planners, where Hindu rituals are being thoughtfully integrated alongside other cultural and personal elements of the day. This kind of collaboration allows couples to honour tradition without

compromising on flow, guest experience, or authenticity.

For planners like BusyBrides, whose work often involves complex timelines, mixed-faith families, and large guest numbers, having a pandit who understands modern couples is essential. Working closely from the planning stage ensures rituals are explained clearly, timings feel intentional, and every part of the ceremony feels inclusive rather than confusing or tokenistic.

Nowadays even traditional Hindu priests are accommodating of multicultural and/or interfaith couples, and deliver ceremonies in English to make them accessible for all.

As someone in a mixed culture marriage himself, Pandit Prash wants to go even further in terms of inclusivity. He believes that the coming together of cultures is something that should be actively celebrated as an intentional part of the ceremony, it’s not just about ‘turning a blind eye’.

If you choose to work with Prash, he’ll help you craft a personalised ceremony that reflects your cultural nuances and values as a couple. This may include shortening the overall ceremony length or customising certain rituals - such as adding personal vows to the saptapadi (7 steps of marriage), or reframing the kanyadaan ('giving away of the bride'). ​

On the day, Prash will then guide guests from all backgrounds on a journey through understanding your cultural heritage in an intentional, authentic way.

If you are looking for a Hindu priest who understands modern relationships, mixed-faith families, and the realities of contemporary weddings, Pandit Prash is an excellent choice. His calm, inclusive approach allows couples to honour Hindu tradition in a way that feels meaningful, respectful, and true to who they are.

Pandit Prash can be found on his website or instagram links below

Website

Instagram