First, the priest sanctifies the area by sprinkling water and reciting holy scripts. The ceremony starts with the priest’s prayer to Lord Ganesha on behalf of the groom to remove all hurdles and promote harmony during the wedding ceremony. The groom is given a Thetpai (ring made of grass) to symbolize mental purity. A saffron thread is then tied around his right wrist to safeguard against any future malevolence. A close member of the groom’s family cracks a coconut into two halves symbolizing a bloodless sacrifice. Then, the priest invites five married women to plant nine different grains into a pot to represent their hopes for the couple’s marital happiness.