What are various traditions or rituals that are followed as per different religions for Marriage?

In our country region to region the methods and rituals in the marriage differ sometimes significantly also but the main objective of following these ritual is to blend the two families in one through common rituals and traditions. Nowadays it is also happening that the bride is from some other place and community and the bridegroom is from some other and the families try to follow a common denominator of the two wherever feasible so that individual families do not feel that they have not done justice to their part. Even then if there is something left out they try to cover it through a grand reception.

Anyway, many people are not now in touch and conversant with their own traditions and take help of the local priest who guides them for observing the rituals and decides the sequence of the activities. The priest also decides the auspicious time for the marriage to get the blessings of the almighty and due to that sometimes the good muhurtam may fall in the night also. We all know that these rituals and traditions not only change with the places and regions but also from communities also but there are some patterns which are distinguishable region wise and we would confine our attention more on them. We would go through these patterns mainly on regional basis.

In the Eastern part of the country, in Assam area, usually the mother of the bridegroom, a few days before the marriage, goes to the bride's house and presents gifts kept on a brass plate (xhorai) to the bride and her family. This ritual is known as Juran. The mother also puts a ring and a betel nut on the hairs of the bride. This ritual is known as Tel Diya. Then comes the tradition of Pani Tola and Nuani where both the mothers collect the holy water from the nearby river and then the bride and bridegroom are asked to take the ceremonial bath. After these pre-weding rituals the main reception is arranged where all the guests assemble and then a procession from the bridegroom's side enters the venue. As per tradition they have to pay some thing, sometimes significant to gain an entry there. The priest asks the girl and boy to sit near the fire and chants some slokas and mantras and couple garland each other. Conch shells are blown and it is a great fun to attend these marriages. The bridegroom generally wears a dhoti-kurta while the girl will be in traditional Assamese dress Mekhla or a silk saree.

In Bengal area the marriages are a long affair and the functions go for quite some time. After the match making is done (which is done by the people called Ghotak), many rituals are followed. The main rituals are Henna mehandi on bride, Adan Pradan (give and take) between the two sides, Ashirvad (a ceremony of engagement generally done 3-4 days in advance of the marriage), Aai Budo Bhaat (the ritual of having last meal as a bachelor, incidentally this meal is a sumptuous one and has many dishes as per the liking of the two sides), Vridhi (in this ritual the seniors from both the sides perform puja and worship the ancestors), Dodhi Mangal (this ritual is performed in the bride's house on the day of marriage and she is given a meal of yoghurt and puffed rice), Ganga Nimontron (in this ritual the mother of the bride goes to the river Ganges and invites the Goddess and brings water from it), Gaye Holud (this is the ritual of cleaning the body with turmeric and looking fresher), Sankha Pola Porano (in this ritual the purohit or priest chants mantras and performs a puja when the bride's hands are adorned with 'Sankha' and 'Pola' by seven married women), Adhibas Tatva (in this the gifts are presented to the groom's family from the bride's side), Kubi Patta (it is Kuber puja, where Kuber is the God of wealth, and is performed in the house of both the bride and the groom) etc. After these pre wedding rituals the main marriage takes place. The groom enters the house of the bride with a large number of friends and relatives and is welcome there and taken to mandapam. This follows with some rituals like Saanth Paak (the bride is seated on a piri and lifted up by her brothers or cousins), Subho Drishti (in this the bride removes the betel leaves from the front of her face and looks at the groom and the eye contact is established), Mala Badal (here the bride and the groom exchange garlands thrice), Sampradan (it is a sacred one in which the hands of the bride is given to the hands of the groom), Yagna (this is also a sacred ceremony and the priest chants the mantras during this time), Saptapadi (the bride and the groom take rounds around the fire), Anjali (the couple offers puffed rice to the fire), Sindoor daan (where the groom puts Sindoor on the forehead of the bride without looking at her, while the bride puts a saree over her head) etc and with this they are announced as husband and wife. After this there are some other rituals like Bashor Ghar (sitting among friends and having fun), Bashi Biye (the groom again puts sin door on the forehead of the bride), and Bidai (with the blessings of seniors the bride leaves her father's home).

In the Karnataka region the wedding lasts for about a week. The main ceremonies are Nischay Tamulam ceremony (fixing the date of marriage), Haldi ceremony (application of turmeric paste to both bride and bridegroom in their respective houses), Dev Karya Ceremony (praying to Lord Ganesh), Kashi Yatra Tradition (groom pretends as if he is leaving the house to visit Kashi to find a wife and on the way is stopped by his maternal uncle and the uncle tells him that the bride is already selected) etc. After this the main marriage function is held amid a grand reception.

In Tamil Nadu region the marriage ceremony is relatively simpler. It starts with the Panda Kaal Muhurtham ritual and the bride and groom pray for the peaceful marriage ceremony. After this Sumangali Prarthanai is observed in which the bride takes blessings from Sumangali women. This is followed by Pallikal Thellichal in which seven earthen pots filled with curd and grains are immersed in the water to take its blessings. Then performed is Nichayathartham ritual during which the bride prays Lord Ganesha. During this time only the bride and groom exchange rings. The main marriage ceremony starts with Mangala Snaanam wherein the relatives and friends put paste of oil, turmeric, and kumkum on the bride and the groom's body. After that, they are taken for the purifying bath. Following this the act of Kashi yatra is observed and the bride's father persuades the groom to marry her daughter. Once the groom accepts it then he is directed to the mandapam where puja, oonial ritual, Kanyadanam, Muhurtham, and Saptapadi are observed and finally followed by Bidaai during which the bride leaves the father's home.

In Andhra Pradesh area, the wedding ceremony starts one day before the marriage with the ritual of Pendlikoothuru in which the paste of turmeric is applied on the hands, feet, arms, legs and face of the bride and the groom. This is followed by the Kashi Yatra, in which the groom just acts to leave for Kashi but checked by bride's brother to pursue him to marry his sister. This is then followed by a sacred bath known as Mangala Snanam ritual. Gauri puja is conducted by the bride and is followed by Ganesh puja by the groom. After these rituals the couple is taken to the mandapam and a curtain is kept in between them. The next ritual is Kanyadaan which is followed by removing the curtain and mangalsutra ceremony is performed. After this, the couple exchanges garlands and the people shower flowers and yellow colour rice on them. After this the couples takes seven rounds around the fire, and vows to stay together. The last ritual is Bidai in which the bride leaves the father's house.

In most of the Northern regions of India the ritual sequence followed is confirmation of the wedding date, Sangeet Ceremony, Mehendi Ceremony, Exchange of Floral Garlands ( known as Jai Mala), Sacred Fire ceremony in the Center of the Mandapam, Kanyadaan Ceremony, The Saptapadi (circling around the fire), Sindoor Ceremony, Mangalsutra ceremony followed by Bidai. The sumptuous meals go on in parallel to these rituals.

In Kerala region the sequence is Muhurtham Ritual, Nischayam, Dakshina, then the nuptial ceremony by chanting Vedic mantras, tieing mangalsutra on bride's neck, exchange of garland ceremony, sadhya (feast comprising of 25 dishes) followed by Bidai.

India has a different religion. If you move from south to north and east to west then you will find different marriage ritual.
In India, most of the population belong to the Hindu community. In Hindu, marriage practices are seen as a sacred duty that entails both social and religious obligations. The Hindu weddings are considered a big gala affair with various pre-wedding ceremonies like Ganesh Puja, Haldi, Sagun, Sangeet and Sagami. Both the families of the bride and the groom get together in the ceremonies and enjoy the festivity. And on the day of wedding, marquee is laid out and auspicious rituals like Jaimala, Kanyadaan, Sindoor, Mangalphere and Saptapadi are performed. Hindu marriages are understood as extravagant affair.
Muslims comes in the minority group in India, but their weddings are a lavish affair with equal solemnity and grandeur Known as Nikaah, The wedding is held at either bride or the groom's place at any suitable time. Muslim follow three steps of the wedding. In the pre-wedding steps, rituals like an exchange of sweets and fruits are performed. Mehndi ceremony is done with dancing and singing. On the day of the wedding, in the presence of friends and relatives, the Maulvi conducts the ceremony and reads the important verses from the Quran. Thereafter, the ritual of acceptance and proposal occurs and with the consent of the bride and groom.
A Christian wedding is a charming affair. The function is conducted in the church with the best man greeting the bride with a bouquet. The bride is then accompanied by the father to the altar. Then the couple exchanges their vows and in the presence of two witnesses from both sides, the rings are exchanged. The couple then walks down the aisle together.
Sikh wedding is known as "Anand Karaj", It is almost the same as Hindu marriages. It is a unique ceremony with big spectacular events, music and dancing. In the early morning, the wedding takes place in the Gurdwara with the Reht Maryada, which is the official site code of conduct.
Apart from these, the rituals of south Indian marriage is completely different from north Indian marriage.