Indian Wedding

Kerala, the southernmost state of India, is very different from other Indian states in many ways. Keralites, popularly known as Malayalis, even though educationally and culturally very much advanced, are very simple in every field. This simplicity is visible in their wedding as well.

Pre, during and post wedding rituals are very less and all the traditional rites and rituals will be over within a short time.

A typical Malayali Brahmin wedding begins with the exchange of the horoscopes of the boy and the girl by their parents and their family astrologers compare the horoscopes to see whether they are matching. If the horoscopes agree with one another the astrologer and the elders of both families finalize the “Muhurtham” or the auspicious date and time for the wedding.

The engagement ceremony, popularly known as “Nischayam” is the date fixed by the elders to announce the day of the wedding to the family members and friends. The presence of the prospective bride and groom is not necessary on this occasion.

A dinner, the traditional feast known as “Sadya” is served the day prior to the wedding at the bride’s place where the bride is seated facing the east and she along with her family members is served a five-course vegetarian meal.

The wedding rites are very short with no religious compulsions. The costume of the bride is the traditional two piece sari known as “Mundu” worn in their traditional style or any other expensive silk sari of her choice. The off-white ‘Mundu’ has very thick “kasavu/zari” border and the body also embroidered with golden thread. The blouse is made with a bright costly material, decorated with zari works. The bride wears a line of gold necklaces, specially a “Kasumala” around her neck and a lot of gold bangles in exquisite designs on her hands. Other jewelry includes stone-studded rings for fingers, silver or gold “Padaswarams”/anklets and arm bands. Her hair is adorned with plenty of natural flowers like jasmine. The groom arrives at the bride’s ancestral house in a ‘dhoti’ worn in their traditional style and an ‘Uttareeyam’, a piece of cloth, draped over his shoulders, complimented with gold chain, bracelets and finger rings.

The marriage ceremony is performed in a north-western room. The bride’s father welcomes the groom by washing his feet. The groom gives an off white ‘Mundu’ or sari to him, the groom’s gift to his bride. It is in this sari that the bride appears for the wedding rites.
The wedding ceremony known as “Veli” is conducted around the ‘agni’ or sacred fire. The couple makes three circles around the ‘agni’ after which the groom ties the “Mangalasutra/Taali, strung on a yellow cord, around the bride’s neck. In a ceremony known as “Kanyadaanam” or “Penkodal” the bride’s father gives her hand to the groom, symbolizing the change over of the responsibility.

In the ceremony “Sparsham” the groom sits in front of the bride and tilting his head backwards he tries to touch the bride’s forehead, symbolizing the joining of minds. Then the bride offers puffed rice known as “Laja” to the fire in the midst of chanting of various mantras. Keeping her palms in his hands she does the “homam”, the offering to the fire, after which lifting the bride’s right foot the groom places it on the “Ammi”, a grinding stone, an indication of breaking ties from her family. The groom then with his hand moves her foot seven times forward that symbolizes her entry into his family.

Soon after the wedding an elaborate vegetarian meal is served and then the couple leaves the bride’s house for the groom’s place, preceded by lamps in what is called “Kudicep”. When they reach the groom’s house the bride is welcomed by a ritual termed as “Grihapravesham”.