The Rituals...
Our wedding rites are age-old customs and each ritual has its own significance. Through this page we would like to share with you what you (as well as ourselves since its a first for us too ) can expect from our wedding.
Maapillai Varavettral - welcoming the Groom and his family
On arrival of the groom and his family to the 'Kalyaanamandapam' (marriage venue), they are welcomed with a tray containing offerings of flowers, paa-supari, sandalwood paste, vermillion, Rose water and sweets. An arti is performed as a mark of welcome and respect.
Vratham - fasting
This ritual is performed seperately by the bride and the groom to seek blessings from the departed members of the family for the upcoming wedding. The bride ties a holy thread around her wrist 'Kappu' which is meant to ward off all evil spirits. It symbolises protective armour for the bride. The Groom begins with praying to lords Indra, Soma, Chandra and Agni. Hereon the grrom prepares himself to the 'Grihasthanamam' phase of his life leaving behind his bachelorhood life and taking over the responsibility of a family.
Nichiyadhartham - Engagement
This is a traditional engagement ceremony. Members of both the families sit facing each other and perform Ganesh Puja. The Groom's family gifts the Bride a new sari. She wears it with the help of the Groom's sister-in-law. A tilak of chandan and vermillion is applied on her forehead, while the pallav of the her sari is filled with fruits, paan-supari, turneric, vermillion and coconut. She is then garlanded and an aarti is performed. A 'lagna patrika' is then read out by the priest followed by exchanging of 'Thamboolam' (plate containing betel nuts, dry fruits, coconut, turmeric and vermillion).
Mangalasnanam - holy bath
On the morning of the wedding, the bride and the groom are made to sit seperately with their respective parents and anointed with turmeric, vermillion and oil. The couple then proceed to their respective rooms for their ceremonial bath.
Kashi Yatra - The Groom embarks on a mock pilgrimage
This is one of the important ceremony of the wedding. It is believedd taht after his student life, the groom has to choose between married life and Sanyas. The Groom chooses sanyas over facing the tribulations of married life. As he steps out of the marriage hall to proceed for vanvas, the bride's father intervenes and advices him to accept the superiority of married life over sanyas and promises to give his daughter as a companion to share the challenges. The groom accepts and returns to the mandap to get married.
Maalaimaatral & Oonjal - Exchange of Garlands and Swing
In this the couple exchange garland three times. This ceremony is also associated with lighter moments when the bride is teasingle pulled away as the boy reaches out to garland the girl and vice-a-versa. As per the shastras, a garland worn by one person should not be worn by the other. However, maalaimatral symbolises the unification of the couple - as one soul two bodies (that reminds me of the cliched - Do Jism Ek jaan).
The couple is then seated on a decorated swing followed by offering milk and bananas to the couple. Married women from both the families used coloured rice balls to ward off evil eye from the couple.
Mangalya Dharanam - the give-away
The bride is made to sit on her father's lap and is given away as a gift by him to the bridegroom. The bridegroom returns his assurance to the bride's father saying three times that he shall remain her companion forever in joy and sorrow, in this and life after that. The bride is then given a 9 yard sari 'Koora Podavai' which she changes into with the help of her future sister-in-law. This is then followed by vedic hymes.
The tying of Mangalsutra takes place at the pre-decided auspecious hour known as 'Muhurtham'. The bride is then seated on the her father's lap. Three knots of the mangalsutra is tied - first knot by the Groom and two Knots by his sister to make the bride a part of their family. The three knots symbolises marriage of mind, spirit and body.
Saptapadi - the seven steps
This is the most important part of the whole wedding ceremony. The groom takes his bride's right hand in his left hand and leads her around the sacred fire seven times. The bride begins each round by touching her feet to a grinding stone. This signifies her hope in their union will be as firm as a grinding stone. Saptapadi completes the marriage ceremony.
Grihapravesham - entering the marial home
The wedding rituals are over; the bride is escorted to the groom's house. She is now welcomed into her new home with an arti. She is presented with a sari by her in-laws and asked to light up the 'Kuttuvilakku' (sacred lamp in the puja room).
Nalangu - the icebreaker
This event is the time to relax and play. the couple is seated opposite each other and a series of playful games follow. Traditional games include the newly-wed putting their hands into a small bowl to find a small object; with the first person finding the object first being declared as the winner. Another game consist of breaking papads over each others' heads. They also roll a coconut towards each other like a ball. These events bring out the qualities of the bride and groom's sporting spirit, kindness, co-operative nature thus bringing about better understanding and compatibility.
Reception - informal meeting with the couple
After the series of religious ceremonies, the evening reception marks a tone of informality with the guests meeting the couple and conveying their best wishes for their future.