Tamil wedding

Tamil wedding includes many traditions that differ from community to community. Still basic details are the same. One of them is the time of year when the wedding is organized. According to Tamil calendar weddings are not organized in the months of Aashad (15th July to 15th Aug), Bhadrapad (15th Sep to 15th Oct) and Shunya (15th Dec to 15th Jan).

In case that the marriage is arrange parents of potential bride and groom meet to exchange horoscopes. The horoscope is usually analyzed by the family priest.

The next step includes writing of marriage agreement. After that there is a meeting in the groom's house when priests from both sides exchange marriage agreement. The agreement is put on a plate. On the plate there are also bananas, coconuts and betel leaf.

Betel (Piper betle) plant

The Betel (Piper betle) is a an evergreen and perennial vine. Its glossy heart-shaped leaves are often chewed by people in the south of Asia. The plant is a mild stimulant.

At the meeting groom's and bride's family exchange presents. The bride usually gets a silk sari. The groom gets some clothes or money.

Few days before the wedding bride's family performs a ceremony called Paalikali Thalippu/ Karappu. With the sounds of music (Gauri Kalyanam), special clay pots are decorated with sandalwood paste and kumkum powder. Little bit of curd and nine types of grain (“nava dhaanyam”) is put in each pot.

Everything is done by five or seven married women from both families. All of these women get presents. On the first day after the wedding bride and groom throw the pots into a nearby pond. It is believed that the fish in pond will eat the grains contained in pots and bless the couple.

Kalyanaponnu or Kalyanappilla is a bathing ritual organized separately in groom's and bride's house. The ritual is usually held on friday before the wedding. Wooden seat or “peedi” is put in front of a kolam. Kolam is traditional sandpainting made with rice powder by female family members.

The bride is given an oil bath with til sesame oil. She gets a green sari. She wears the sari together with green and red bangles. The bride's mother gives her the dowry. After this ritual the bride stays in her house until the wedding. The father of groom pours oil over him. The groom gets clothes and toiletries. The same as bride groom also stays in his until the wedding.

Panda Kaal Muhurtham is a ritual held on the day before wedding. Both families pray to ensure the blessing of family god. A bamboo pole symbolically represents the god.

In the morning of the day before the wedding groom and his family arrive at the wedding hall. They are welcomed with a tray which contains different offerings - flowers, paan supari, fruits and mishri. Paan supari is a betel leaf filled with chopped areca nuts and spices. Rose water is sprinkled on the groom.

The bride's brother applies a tilak made of sandalwood paste and kumkum on groom's forehead. Garlands are also put on the groom. Groom's future mother-in-law offers the groom's parents a delicacy prepared from condensed milk. On this occasion is broken to the ground. It is done to scare off evil spirits.

Naandi Shraartham is a tradition when eight or ten Brahmins are invited. They are symbols of souls of their ancestors. Families seeks blessings of the Brahmins. Brahmins get paan supari, fruits, flowers, coconuts, sweets and dhoti angavastram (traditional clothes).

Nowadays the tradition called Janavasanam is quite rare. The groom, in specially decorated car, is escorted by his family and friends to the place where the wedding will be held. Traditional wedding music is played. When arrived there the groom is welcomed by bride's brother who puts a garland on him.

Nicchiyadharatham is a ritual where bride's parents and the priest perform Ganesh Pooja. The groom's family gives bride a new sari. The bride sits and a tilak of chandan (sandalwood) and kumkum is applied to bride's forehead. The pallav or pallu (loose end) of her sari is filled with fruits, paan supari, turmeric, kumkum and coconut. Flower garland is tied around bride's waist. An arti (aarti) ritual is also performed for her.