Looking To Keep Your Wedding Venue Vastu Friendly? Here’s What To Know

In India, Vastu Shastra can dictate everything from the placement of windows to where the mirrors on the walls would be hung. So it goes without saying that it could play an important role in deciding how your wedding venue would be designed.

From the placement of mirrors in the marriage hall to the choice of colours implemented in your wedding mandap, the guidelines of Vastu Shastra suggest implementing elements that correspond with the energies of the ruling deities of the nine directions to attract their positive energies.

Here’s a quick guide that can help you on the path of ensuring your wedding venue is Vastu-friendly...

How To Ensure Your Wedding Venue is Vastu-Compliant?

What is Vastu Shastra?

Vastu Shastra is a traditional Hindu system of architecture. It involves integrating architecture with nature so that your living spaces attract the positive energies of the natural elements and the ruling deities of the nine directions and the five elements- earth, water, wind, sky, and fire.

Renowned Vastu expert Dr Vivek Chopra says it’s a way of life. “While we may not believe in the existence of god or godly beings, we can't ignore that certain elements invoke certain energies, positive and negative. We need a balance of all energies in our life. Balancing the elemental energy is not easy, and that is where Vastu science comes into the picture and acts as a guide. Every element or being has a certain magnetic field, certain elements tend to gain more power in certain directions, and some elements fall short of energy when placed in the same direction. Vastu is about finding the balance of the elemental energy and the direction in which its power amplifies the most.”

Vastu Basics to Keep in Mind While Designing Your Wedding Venue

While most of us may adhere to the principles of Vastu Shastra while designing our homes or our office spaces, Vastu experts believe that keeping your wedding venue in compliance with this ancient science eradicates hurdles and ensures that the flow of positive energies from all the ruling deities of the nine directions remains ongoing and constant.

“When it comes to major life milestones like weddings, adhering to the principles of Vastu helps to activate the energy of the deity of the direction,” says Dr Vivek Chopra, “Most vastu experts may classify certain directions as inauspicious and auspicious. I believe there is nothing as such. It’s the nature of the presiding deity of the direction that makes all the difference. Marriage opens doors to new challenges and situations. While we may need the traits of a certain deity to ensure our good times, we also need the traits of another deity to help us sail through trials easily. Vastu is all about seeking the energies of the deities of all directions as needed, as per the couple's horoscope, just like a balanced diet that comprises all essential nutrients and minerals in the required quantities, as per a person’s bodily needs.”

Opt for a square mandap only

Vastu experts generally advise opting for a square mandap rather than a circular mandap to conduct pheras and the major wedding festivities like the kanyadaan and the var mala ceremony. “The square mandap arrangement in a wedding has four pillars on its sides where it signifies the four stages of life -Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha (Duty, Money, Progeny, and Spiritual Enlightenment),” says renowned Vastu expert Neeta Sinha, who has designed Amitabh Bachchan’s bungalow in Mumbai, “The square shape also signifies stability and equal balance of energies on all sides as a square is equal in all dimensions.”

Dr Vivek Chopra says, “It’s ideal to opt for a square mandap because out of all the geometric shapes, it is the square that can be equally divided into nine directions in equal parts, thereby satisfying all the presiding deities of the nine directions and the nine planets as per Vastu science”.

Balancing of elements is the key

While scriptures may recommend avoiding metals and sharp objects while designing a mandap, Dr Vivek Chopra believes that balancing various elements is the key. “Every element in nature is an extension of the five basic elements - air, water, earth, sky, and fire,” he says, “Just as lamps represent fire, metals represent the earth, which signifies stability and groundedness. While most people advise keeping metals and sharp objects away from the wedding venue, I believe one should include them also while designing the wedding mandap. Though one may be reluctant to keep sharp objects near the wedding venue, one must try replacing them with alternatives like copper vessels.”

Use flowers to ward off negativity

Whether it’s a low-key intimate affair like actor Aditi Rao Hydari and Siddharth’s temple wedding or a big fat Indian wedding like the Ambani’s, floral decorations fit in every kind of wedding, Vastu expert Neeta Sinha suggests using bright-coloured flowers like marigolds and sunflowers as their hues resemble the sun’s colour and ward off negativity. , “Flowers are representative of the god of love and romance, Venus, and one must use them in their wedding venue to get the blessings of the planet Venus.  According to the expert, you should avoid using heavily scented flowers at night, as it makes you vulnerable to negative forces.

Be mindful of the couple’s seating arrangement

Vastu experts believe that a wrong placement of the couple’s seating arrangement can negatively affect a couple’s marital life.

Neeta Sinha believes that the couple should be seated in the centre of the wedding venue to receive blessings and well wishes from people of all directions.“The couple should be protected on their wedding day as they are vulnerable to negative energies while beginning a new phase of life. Thus, they should be seated in the centre so people from all directions shower them with blessings, act as a shield and protect them against negative forces”. She also advises that elders should be seated near the couple or the wedding venue as they represent the planet of optimism and positivityJupiter, whose blessings are essential before starting a new life.

Be extremely watchful about the northeastern direction

The northeast corner also known as the Ishaan Kon is the most promising direction in Vastu Shastra. It’s believed to be high in positive and spiritual energy. Therefore, you should be extremely watchful and avoid placing elements like dustbins, electrical systems, and eatables in this corner as they interfere with the energy emitted in that direction.

“The Northeast direction is defined as the direction of the Hindu god Shiva and his consort Parvati, who are often referred to as the most ideal couple in Hindu culture. Placing any broken plates, or waste bins in this corner, as the placement of these elements in this corner obstructs the flow of positive energy and divine blessings needed for a harmonious and prosperous married life.”