| Tamils believe in simple living and high thinking and | | | | with a new sari by her would be in laws. A garland |
| their marriages are also a simple affair. Tamil | | | | of flowers is tied around her waist and aarti is |
| weddings are usually attended by near and dear | | | | also performed for her. |
| ones. Hence their weddings are not necessarily | | | | |
| extravagant affairs. Tamils consider matrimony | | | | Reading of Lagna Pathirigai |
| very auspicious, so, they are very cautious at | | | | |
| every step. Tamil marriages involve many rituals | | | | The priest formally reads out the wedding |
| and customs like all other Indian marriages and | | | | invitation. Details on three generations of the boy |
| matrimonials. The date for the wedding is usually | | | | and the girl and other information on the |
| fixed after consulting the Hindu calendar. | | | | muhurtam is announced. This is followed by an |
| According to the Tamil calendar, the months of | | | | elaborate dinner. |
| Aashad (July 15th to August 15th), Bhadrapad | | | | |
| (September 15th to October 15th) and Shunya | | | | Wedding rituals and ceremonies: |
| (December 15th to January 15th) are considered | | | | |
| inauspicious for weddings and hence, Tamilian | | | | Mangala Snaanam |
| weddings are not held in these months. | | | | |
| | | | | The mangala snaanam is the auspicious bath that |
| Before the wedding celebrations: | | | | the bride and groom must have in their |
| | | | | respective homes on the dawn of their wedding |
| Panda Kaal Muhurtham | | | | day. Before the bath they are anointed with |
| | | | | some oil and a tilak of haldi-kumkum. |
| To ensure that the wedding preparations and | | | | |
| wedding pass off successfully, it is customary to | | | | Kashi Yatra |
| invoke the blessings of the family deity. The | | | | |
| family of the bride and the groom pray to the | | | | It is a very dramatic ritual and adds humor to the |
| deity who is personified by a bamboo pole. More | | | | occasion. After the mangala snaanam, the groom |
| often than not, this ritual is performed a day | | | | pretends to leave for Kashi to devote himself to |
| before the wedding. | | | | God and a life of prayer. He enacts as if he is not |
| | | | | interested in becoming a householder. Then the |
| Receiving the Groom | | | | girl's father intervenes and requests him to accept |
| | | | | his daughter as his Jeevansathi (life partner).The |
| When the groom and his family visit the wedding | | | | groom changes his mind and returns to the pandal |
| hall a day before the marriage, they are | | | | where he is received by the bride. |
| welcomed with a tray containing offerings of | | | | |
| flowers, paan supari, fruits and mishri. Rose water | | | | Exchange of Garlands |
| is sprinkled on the groom. A senior female | | | | |
| member of the Tamil bride's family performs aarti | | | | This ceremony is full of excitement. The bride and |
| and welcomes them. To ward off evil spirits, it is | | | | the groom exchange garlands thrice and are |
| customary to break a coconut to the ground. | | | | teased by their relatives. For instance, they pull |
| | | | | the girl away when the boy reaches forward to |
| Pallikai Thellichal | | | | be garlanded by her, and vice versa. The bride |
| | | | | and the groom's uncles have to lift them. |
| This ceremony is also performed a day before | | | | |
| the wedding. In this, clay pots are filled with grains. | | | | Kanyadaanam |
| Married women from the bride’s and | | | | |
| groom’s side sprinkle water on the pots filled | | | | The groom is welcomed by bride’s father to |
| with nine different varieties of grain. On the | | | | the mandapam (place where the wedding rituals |
| wedding day when the grains sprout, these pots | | | | are carried out). The bride's mother applies kajal in |
| are immersed in a pond so that the fish in the | | | | the groom's eyes and father washes his feet. |
| pond may feed on the grains and give their | | | | Through this gesture the father conveys that |
| blessings the newly-weds. | | | | that the boy is a personification of Lord Vishnu |
| | | | | and believes that he will take care of his daughter. |
| Naandi | | | | The father and bride offer the coconut to the |
| | | | | groom while the bride's mother pours water over |
| During this ceremony, some Brahmins are invited | | | | the coconut which symbolises the 'giving away of |
| to represent the souls of the ancestors of the | | | | their daughter.' Then the groom's parents gift the |
| bride and the groom. They are presented some | | | | bride a nine-yard sari and a blouse to be worn for |
| sweets and gifts and the families seek their | | | | next moment, the auspicious occasion of tying |
| blessings before beginning the marriage | | | | the mangasultra |
| proceedings. | | | | |
| | | | | Muhurtum |
| Jaanavaasam | | | | |
| | | | | The priest and relatives bless the mangalsutra or |
| These days, people hardly practise this custom. | | | | sacred thread and then the groom ties it around |
| The groom is escorted to the wedding venue by | | | | the neck of his bride with two knots. His sister |
| a large and joyous procession of family and | | | | ties the third knot much to the jubilation of |
| friends. Professional musicians are invited to | | | | everyone accompanied by the drums of the |
| accompany the procession and to play traditional | | | | melam. These three knots symbolise the marriage |
| wedding music. At times there are also fireworks | | | | of the mind, spirit and body. |
| to celebrate the occasion. Then the groom is | | | | |
| welcomed in the wedding hall after the girl's | | | | Saptapadi |
| brother garlands and receives him. | | | | |
| | | | | The groom takes the right hand of the bride in his |
| Nicchiyadharatham | | | | left hand and leads her around the sacred fire |
| | | | | seven times. Each round is begun by the bride |
| In the presence of the officiating priest, the | | | | only after touching the grinding stone. This signifies |
| bride's parents perform Ganesh Pooja. The bride | | | | her hope of a steadfast and forever union. |
| is also present during the ceremony. She is gifted | | | | |