Guidelines for Solemnizing Marriages by the Temple Priests of the Hindu Temple
- In pursuance of the provisions in the Ontario Marriage Act, the Temple priests of the Hindu Temple of Ottawa-Carleton will not perform any marriage without receiving a valid marriage license duly issued by the Government, no matter whether the ceremony is performed at the temple or outside.
- It is preferable to receive the marriage license from the couple (bride and bridegroom) before the marriage, at least a day earlier.
- After the marriage ceremony, the temple priest must certify the marriage by completely filling, witnessing, and signing the document, and giving it back to the couple.
- The Temple priest must perform the marriage ceremony only according to Hindu religious rituals.
- The Hindu Temple maintains a marriage register and keeps a record of all marriages, performed by its priests. The marriage record form in the register must also be completely filled, witnessed, and signed. It is preferable that the witnesses for the temple marriage register are the same individuals who witness for the marriage certificate. A designated member of the Board of Directors of the Hindu Temple should review the register to ensure that all the guidelines and procedures are fully followed.
- An already Hindu married couple may request the Temple priest to perform a Marriage-Like ceremony for the couple to celebrate their marriage, for occasions such as some special marriage anniversary, or for any personal and family reasons. For the marriage-like ceremony, the temple priest does not require the marriage license and cannot certify the marriage as the couple is already married, either in Canada or abroad.
Temple policy revised
Performing Hindu wedding out of town and out of province
- Temple priests can go out of town provided:
- The temple function is not affected and
- No other Hindu priest is available in the city where the priest is required.
- Temple priest is authorized to solemnize the Hindu wedding only in the province of Ontario and only for the couples who have received written permission to get married in Ontario by the government authorities in Ontario
