INDIAN WEDDINGS 

INDIAN WEDDINGS

Wedding:-  "Creating bhramas, the festival of two families, which gives a new family to society, the birthplace of love."-                  

                                                                            P.Deepalakshmi

Weddings in India differ according to geography, religion, culture, and the bride and groom's personal tastes. They are joyful celebrations in India and are usually marked by elaborate decorations, colors, gowns, music, dancing, costumes, and customs that vary according to the bride and groom's community, area, and religion, as well as their tastes. Every year, around 10 million marriages are held in India, with Hindu weddings accounting for roughly 80% of the total.

While Hinduism has several festival-related rituals, vivaah (wedding) is the most thorough personal ritual that an adult Hindu would ever do. Typical Hindu households devote a great amount of time and money to planning and celebrating weddings. The traditions and methods of a Hindu wedding differ based on the location of India, local modifications, family resources, and the bride and groom's choices. However, there are a few fundamental rites that are typical in Hindu weddings —

Kanyadaan, Panigrahana, and Saptapadi are the father's gifting of his daughter, willingly holding hand near the fire to signal imminent union, and walking seven steps before the fire, each with a set of mutual vows. The pair is officially husband and wife after the seventh step and Saptapadi vows. Many features are shared by Jain and Buddhist marriages in India, however, they are always based on their unique religious ideas and texts.

WEDDINGS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES

Sikhs in India marry through a rite known as Anand Karaj, which was established by Guru Amar Das, Sikhism's third head. The duo walks four times around the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book.

Nikah, the provision of a cash dower called Mahr by the groom to the bride, the signing of the marriage contract, and a reception are all part of a typical Islamic wedding in India.

Traditional Christian marriage practices are followed in Indian Christian marriages. The betrothal ritual is a Protestant tradition in India that commemorates a couple's engagement with prayers and the blessing of engagement rings by a pastor. The Haldi/Ubtan/Mayun ceremony (as it is known in northern India) or the Rose ceremony (as it is known in the Goa region of India) takes place the day before the wedding, during which "Haldi or turmeric paste is applied to North Indian Christians and coconut paste is applied to South Indian Christians."

After a while, Indian Christians marry at a church wedding, which takes place in the presence of a minister, usually in a church or house of worship. Bible readings are going on. The bride and groom exchange wedding vows. As a symbol of their unending love, the bride and groom frequently exchange rings.

MANGALSUTHRAM, MANGALYAM 

A single golden thread was tied around the bride for protection from other men and evil spirits in the 6th century AD, and the Mangala sutra was born. Mangala Sutra is a social ritual that is practiced widely in India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Mangala Sutra is a Sanskrit word that means "sacred thread."

Mangalsuthram, or Mangalyam, is very important in Indian weddings. It is a sacred thread tied around the bride's neck on her wedding day. It's usually a necklace made of black beads strung on black or yellow thread that's been infused with turmeric. Depending on regional variations, gold, white, or red beads are sometimes added to the Mangala sutram. It is a symbol of their community and the vow of the men to the women in their lives. Along with Mangalasuthrram, both the bride and groom have to wear metti on their toes. Men can remove metti on the third day of the wedding.

 The concept of a sacred thread has been around for centuries, dating back to the Sangam period. However, the nature of these auspicious threads has changed over time and differs greatly amongst groups. Mangal Sutra is worn by non-Hindu religious groups, such as Syrian Christians, but with a cross. The mangal sutra appears to be missing from many Indian cultures, and other forms of marriage mementos have taken their place. In many parts of North India, for example, a woman's toe ring and glass bangles denote her marital status. 

In early Tamil literature, the thaali or Mangal sutram was not mentioned as a symbol of marriage. Kannagi's marriage was described in the classic epic Silappadhikaram as a modest wedding without a thaali. Princes are also mentioned in Sanskrit epics, although none of them wore a thaali in any swayamvaram. As a result, the thaali is neither a symbol of Tamil nor Hindu culture.

We have earlier allusions in Sangam literature to an Aimbadaiththali, a health-promoting pendant for children made of five primary metals. As a result, the thaali was designed for children rather than married ladies.

SOUTH INDIAN WEDDINGS

Nishchitartham, Pandakal, Nalungu, Mappillai azhaippu(inviting groom to bride's house) Lagnam, Kashi Yatra, Sapthapathi, and Kanyadaan are among the approximately twelve different types of South Indian wedding traditions practiced in India. Some rituals are universal, while others are specific to each community. Every state has a unique cultural identity. Apart from wedding ceremonies, all of these states have a wide range of bridal and groom wear, food, music, and ethnicity at different stages of the wedding.

TAMIL NADU

Weddings in India's south are quite different from those in India's north. Tamils are noted for their emphasis on simple living and excellent education, and they constitute the dominant identity of South Indian communities. Typical Tamil weddings are more about adhering to age-old rituals and traditions than they are about throwing a magnificent party. The spiritual connotation of a wedding is more important to Tamilians than all the pomp and circumstance. Sure, Tamil weddings are filled with a lot of fun and light moments, and they are a major occasion with a lot of distant relatives in attendance, but the real ceremony will not be compromised.

Except for Aadi, Purratasi, and Margazhi, Tamil marriages, also known as Kalyanam, take occur on the days of all Tamil calendar months. It may be expansive if one adheres to the traditional wedding traditions of the letter since there are numerous wedding ceremonies that must be followed for the marriage to be considered complete.

 Some Tamilnadu communities, such as the Mudhaliyar, Goundar, Chettiyar, Achari, and Brammin, have Nicchayadhartham, Mappilai Azhaipu, Nalungu, Pandakaal, and Seshu, have common rites. Some of the rites differ depending on the community. The following articles discuss an essential common ritual.

NICHAYADHARTHAM OR ENGAGEMENT

NICHAYADHARTHAM

The groom's family is usually the one who pays a visit to the prospective bride's home. The families have an engagement or Nichiyathartham if the groom likes the bride. The families come to an agreement on a wedding date and a Nichyathartham. The bride and groom's parents sign the Lagna Pathrikkai. The groom's family presents the bride's family with 21 plates packed with gifts and auspicious items like coconuts, fruits, flowers, sweets, betel leaves, and nuts. The bride's family may additionally announce the jewelry, property, automobile, or house she will bring to her married home as gifts.

The bride's family gives the groom's family a signed Pathrikkai on a plate along with gifts. This is the Thambulam Mattruthal, which marks the engagement's confirmation. Following this, both families begin their wedding preparations.

PANDAKAAL AND PANDAL

In the Pillayar Pujai, the families worship Lord Ganesh and ask for His blessings on the marriage. They also create a Kalyana Pandhal in front of the house, which is a four-legged structure that signifies the start of the wedding rites. The pillars of the Pandhal are decorated with Kumkum and Majal by nine Sumangalis (older married women living with their husbands) (turmeric). They cover nine vessels with various pulses that have been soaked in water. Until the seeds germinate, the vessels are turned upside down. The jars are rotated upright after a few days, and the sprouts are maintained until the wedding date.

NALUNGU

The Nalungu is a ritual that is attended by the women of the bride's and groom's families. The bride is seated on a banana leaf-covered wooden board with uncooked rice. The bride is smeared with sandalwood paste and a dot of vermilion is placed on her forehead by the married woman. They shower her with rose water before performing Arthi for the bride.

MAPILLAI AZHAIPPU

The groom is welcomed by the bride's uncle or brother in the Maapillai Azhaippu. The groom is escorted to the wedding mandap, garlanded, and led inside while musical instruments are played. Arthi is greeted by the women of the bride's family. Before the marriage, the groom and the bride may each have a modest Nalungu.

MANGALA SNANAM

The bride and groom's families construct and adorn a Pandaal or Pandakal with four bamboo sticks in front of the wedding hall. Banana tree stalks, tender coconut, mango leaves, and flowers are used to decorate it. Before the Tamil Mudaliar wedding rites, the bride and groom separately arrive at this Pandal before daybreak on the wedding day. Both families' chiefs apply a mixture of sesame oil and green gram flour to their foreheads, as well as turmeric to their hands. After that, they are given an oil bath. The garments that the bride and groom wore are given to the washerwoman or washerman.

ARASAN KAAL

The fig tree (Arasu) and the monarch or ruler are both honored in this ritual. In front of the wedding hall, a bamboo stick is built. The fig tree is worshipped by five Sumangalis, who then clean the bamboo staff with milk. They apply sandalwood paste and vermilion to it. The stick is wrapped in a cloth and Arati is performed for it. This custom dates back to when the King would attend the wedding and bless the newlyweds.

PAADAPUJAI

The groom washes his parents' feet and asks for their blessings. In addition, the bride washes her parents' feet and asks for their blessings. The Mangalyam is thought to be a manifestation of Goddess Lakshmi, and the bride performs Mahalakshmi Puja on it.

KASI YATRA

This is a tradition in which the groom says he does not want to marry and instead wishes to travel to Kashi as a Sanyasi. He pretends to go for Kashi with a Visri (fan), umbrella, and slippers. After that, the bride's father or brother intervenes and persuades him to stay and marry the bride. He'll grudgingly return to the marriage hall, where he'll be met by another Arthi.

MANAI PONGAL

The parents of the couple make rice in five or seven pots and offer it to the deities who are symbolically present and bless the couple before the Tamil Mudaliar wedding rites begin.

• KANGANAM
• KANNIKADHANAM
• MANGALYADHARANAM
• PATTAM KATTUDAL
• HOMAM VALLARPU
• SHESHU ( ASHIRVAD)
• SAMANDHI MARRIYADAAI
• GRIHAPRAVESAM

 The bride ties the Kanganam, a yellow thread, around the groom's wrist, granting him permission to touch her. He also ties the bride's Kanganam.

With the chanting of Vedic hymns, the bride's father accepts to give his daughter in marriage. The bride is holding a coconut and placing her hand on the groom.

Mangalya Dharanam - Tamil Mudaliar Wedding Rituals

The most essential component of the Tamil Mudaliar wedding customs is the tying of the Mangalyam. The Mangalyam is strung on a 108-strand turmeric-dipped thread. The Mangalyam is formed like a tiger's tooth. It used to include a tiger tooth from a tiger that had been killed by the groom. The Mangalayam is knotted at the exact Shubh Muhurtam determined by the priest, with Mangala Vadhyam music playing in the background. The elders present bless the newlyweds by showering them with Akshat (turmeric-coated raw rice).

Three garlands are exchanged, and a piece of gold, or Pattam, is attached to their foreheads.

The bride and groom circumambulate the Homam fire three times because Agni, the Fire God, is a witness to the marriage (Agni Saakshi). The bride and groom are given puffed rice by the bride's brother, which they pour into the Homam fire. The priest instructs the couple to gaze up into the sky in the direction of the Arundhati star, which is the home of Arundhati, the Goddess of Morals and Holiness.

SESHU-Before the wedded couple, a white cloth is spread, and uncooked rice is placed on it. While holding the rice, the elders present bless the couple and place a handful in front of them.

SAMANDHI MARRIYADAAI

After the Tamil Mudaliar wedding rites, the bride and groom's family exchange garments and presents as a show of bonding and goodwill.

GRIHAPRAVESAM

The bride and groom are welcomed into their new house with Arthi by the groom's relatives. Lunch is offered to everyone who is present.

Share this post