South Indian weddings

South India

South India is the area encompassing the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh,Telangana,Tamilnadu,Karnataka and Kerala and also the Union Territories of  Andaman Nicobar,Lakshadweep and Puducherry(Pondicherry).South is bounded b y the Bay of bengal in the east and Arabian sea in the west.Largest Cities in the South India are Chennai,Hyderabad,Bangalore and Kochi.Majority of the people speaks the four Dravidian Languages namely Telugu,Tamil,Kannada and Malayalam.South India is rich in culture and Community.Lets have a look on the South Indian wedding rituals.

Telugu wedding: Telugu wedding ceremony is the traditional wedding ceremony of the telugu people in India.The ceremony could last up to sixteen days (Padahaaru Rojula Panduga).But now it is last's upto two or more days.The rituals depends upon the Caste of the bride and the groom.The pendli or the wedding ceremony is considered as the strongest social bonds.There is a telugu saying "Marriage is supposed to be family union and not an individual formality.Lets move to the main aspects of the telugu wedding.

Telugu wedding.

Nischitardham/Engagement:A muhurtham(Auspicious day & Time) for the wedding is decided based on horoscopes.The telugu people generally avoids the month of Aashadam,Bhadrapadam and shunya maasam occurs.Because they are considered as the Inauspicious for the ceremonies.The couple is then blessed by the elders and the future in laws gift her a clothes,gold and some silver ware.Formally ending the engagement.And follows the other rituals like Snatakam and Kashiyathra.

Wedding customs:The wedding rituals of the telugu speaking people differs them from the other south Indian states.Telugu people follow their own tradition on wedding ritual.Telugu weddings do not take place in the morning,Close to the midnight.Telugu brahmins wedding customs are different from the other telugu  communities.

Mangala snanam:This is the procedure and custom follow by the telugu speaking people on the wedding day.Mangala snanam where the bride and the groom required to take an auspicious bath on the wedding day.This bath is also called 'Abhyangana Snanama'.Then follows Bridal Make uo and aarthi.

Mangala snanam performing by a groom.

Ganesh and Gauri Pooja:Before the wedding ceremony groom attends the pooja ceremony.Which is conducted at the Mantapam.And the Bride goes to the gauri pooja at her house with the family and the relatives attending before going to the Ceremony.During this time that 'Pravara' a ritual of changing brides gothram(Clan) from her paternal gothram to that of the groom is performed.Elderly couples present this event while bride performs the pooja.

Kanyadanam and Paanigrahanam:Kanyadanam which the girl's family hands over their daughter's responsibilities to the groom.During the ceremony bride sits in the bamboo basket.Her maternal uncle brings her to the Mantapam.Until the completion of Kanyadanam bride and the groom should not to see each others faces.They arrange the curtain between Bride and the groom.Then brides father washes the grooms feet,As a gesture of respect.Because on the wedding day bride and the groom considered as the Lord Vishnu swaroopam and Devi Lakshmi.The groom is made to chant"Dharmecha,Arthecha,Kamecha,Mokshecha and Nati Charami.Three times and assure the brides father three times that he remain her companion in joy and sorrow for ever.Paanigrahanam means 'Holding Hands'.The groom holds the hands of the bride.

Panigrahanam.

Jilakarra Bellam to Appaginthalu:The priest recites slokam from vedas,Then the couple is asked to place the paste made from cumin seeds and jaggery on each other's head.This ritual is known as Jilakarra-Bellam in telugu.This ceremony is observed to communicate that the couple's relationship is unbreakable and insaparable.This is the actual muhurtham time.As the part of 'Madhuparkam' ritual the bride dresses up in the white sari with red border.The groom wears a dhothi with a red border.White symbolizes purity and red for strength and then mangalasuthra dharana which means tying mangalasuthram (Holy thread) in order to perform ritual the partition between the bride and groom removed,then the groom ties the two strings of the mangalasuthram,each with a golden disc,around the brides neck,this represents the physical, mental and spiritual union of the couple.Then akshinthalu follows which means also talambralu where the rice coated with turmeric powder.Stalipakam is the ritual where the groom adorns the feet of the bride with silver toe rings.And next comes to Arundhati Nakshatram is the ritual where bride and groom are shown the stars known as arundhathi and vasistha.These stars represent the perfect couple complementing each other.Appaginthalu takes place at the end of the wedding ceremony.This is when the bride traditionally handed off to the groom and his family.

Jilakarra Bellam.

Post wedding rituals:

Gruhapravesam:After the culmination of the wedding ceremony,The bride formally taken to the groom's house,This is called gruhapravesham of the bride.

Satyanarayana vratham:Satyanarayana vratham is very popular in Andhra pradesh.It is mentioned in Skanda purana.Where as Satya means 'Truth' and Narayana means 'The highest being' which means the highest being which is embodiment of truth.Then the ritual known as Uniting the managalasuthram continues,As a customary,Telugu people unite the two managalasuthras.

Wedding in Kerala:

Nakshatra porutham:Matching of the stars as per the horoscopes of the boy and the girl.It is essential in the marriage where as an astrologer confirms the matching of both the horoscopes.After the stars matching is confirmed,the elder members of the boy visits and formally approaches the girl's.The broker who is bridge between the two families approaches the girls family.Equipped with complete details about the boy,His education,family, and financial details.If the broker gets the node from the girls family,He will report back.Then the elders visits to the girls house and then boy visit's girls house with his friends.If the boy approves the girl,The girl is requested to visit the boys house.The visits follows The next step is of fixing the date for visiting the girls house by close relatives and neighbours .This is called 'Virunnu'.On this visit they fix up a day with the girls family for betrothal which is jathakam vangal in local parlance.

Malayali Bride.

Mothiram maral:Exchange of the ring between the boy and the girl as a token of marriage fixation.has been agreed upon,the groom,his father and mother will also accompany others.The important function during the betrothal is receiving the girls horoscope.The horoscope is accepted by the elder uncle (Mothers brother)from the father of the girl.The horoscope is handed over standing before a 'Nilavilaku'(Traditional kerela oil lamp made of bell metal) in which six cotton wicks are lighted and 'Nirapara'(A full measure of paddy) with flowering coconut bunch on,betel leaves and areca nut and burning incense sticks.The receiver stands facing east,And giver stands on the west.

A malayali Couple hanging out.

Muhoortham:The day and the date auspicious time for thalikettu -Tying of the nuptial knot.will be prescribed by an astrologer.A slip containing these details will be given to the family of the would-be bride by one or two elder members from the family of the would be groom few days before the marriage.This  is in spite of having intimated them these details earlier.Because it is a custom.

                            On marriage day the groom and the party numbering 200 to 1000 arrive at the marriage venue before the Muhoortham.The elder of the bride prospective brother in law with banquet by holding the right hand of the groom by his right hand.The prospective mother in law of the groom showers raw rice mixed with tulasi leaves while a nilavilaku is held by the  wife of the elder brother of the brides father.It is her right to do so.All the three then lead to the 'kalyana mandapam'.Decorated with the flowers and request him sit in the right side chair facing east.And there will be Nirpara with flowering coconut bunch on,Three traditional kerala nilavilaku,Betel nut,Areca nut,Tender coconut;Burning incense sticks,Camphor,Sandal paste. And a pooja will be done by the priest.And the girl worn by golden ornaments as a dowry from her parents and the costly 'Kalyana saree' bought and presented by the elder sister of the boy.Along with the kalyana saree  complete dresses for at least one year of use,Cosmetics and Foot wear also bought along with the wedding saree.The elder sister comes along with 20 to 25 other women to the mandapam with banana filled thalam.then the bride and the small entourage encircle the mandapam three times and the bride seated left to the groom.on the muhoortham priest hands over to the groom thalimala.The next next procedure is garlanding each other .During this time the priest recite some marriage connected versus from vedas for the happy and long prosperous wedding life.The father of the girl re-recite the same versus.After this groom holding the right hand is required to the encircle the mandapam three times.With this ,The ceremony is over.As a thanks giving bride and the groom separately gives dakshina to the poojari in betel leaves.The amount of dakshina should be entrusted to the couple by thier respective brother in laws as a custom.A full course sumptuos meal is served to all present thereafter.
After the meal is over,the groom and party prtoceed to his house with company of the bride.The departure from here is at the muhoortham.The bride has enter the house of groom by holding a Nilavilakku and she has to put her leg into the house.Soon a group of people consisting relatives neighbours and friends numbering 100 to 150  from brides family end come to the grooms house for bring back to the couple.They will served with a posh tea party.To the return journey the bride and the groom change their dress and wear a new set.
The next day the groom accompanied by a brother visits his house and returns same day.He will remain 4 to 5 days at bridal house and thereafter the couple returns to his house.

Malayali Bride with Gold.

Finally:Dowry is rampant amongst all the religious and all sections of society in kerala.Gold ornaments are a major part of dowry.Every class of society try to give a large quantity of gold to their daughters as a dowry.It is also a prestige issue now a days to give more gold ornaments.Other than that car,The home appliances are also common forms of dowry.