Tamil Vedic Wedding

Tamilians lead a very simple life and their this simplicity also reflects in their weddings. Their wedding ceremonies do not involve much of extravaganza. Their marriages dates are decided according to the Tamil Calendar which regards July 15th to August 15th, September 15th to October 15th and December 15th to January 15th unfit for the wedding bells. With Holiday in India explore the various Tamil matrimonial customs and traditions...

Pre – Wedding Rituals
There are a number of pre-wedding rituals performed by the Tamilians. These rituals though not very colorful and vibrant showcase the complete faith of Tamil people on God. The wide variety of the customs and traditions attracts many towards this great style of wedding.

Have an eye on the Pre-Wedding Rituals -

Panda Kaal Muhutatham – This ritual is performed one day before the wedding where both the families of bride and groom seek the blessings of their family deity. The God is symbolically represented by a bamboo pole. “Vratham” is also a similar ritual practised before the actual wedding day.

Pallikai Thellichal – This ceremony is carried out at the bride's place where the women fill the clay pots with about nine varieties of grains and sprinkle water on them from both sides. Other invitees sing traditional songs with the music on. The very next day when the grains sprout they are dipped in the pond for the fishes to eat in order to seek the blessings from the fishes.
Naandi – In this ceremony gifts and sweets are offered to the Brahimins. This is all done in order to get the blessings of them before starting the proceedings of the marriage.

Jaanavassam – This tradition is not very much in to practice these days. In this tradition the groom sits in a decorated car and gets escorted by the family members to the marriage venue. A group of musicians also accompany the entire procession.

Wedding Rituals
Mangala Snannam – The Mangala Snannam is the auspicious bath that the couples have to take at the dawn of the wedding day at their respective places.

Kasi Yatra – This is one such ritual that has a lot of colour and drama element to it. Here the groom pretends to leave for Kashi, the pilgrimage destination to devote himself to God. The bride's father intervenes and compels the groom to marry his daughter and remain in the material world. The bride and groom are then lifted to exchange garlands with each other.

Oonjal – When finally married they are made to sit on the swing. The women circle around them and it is believed that this stops the evil spirits from disrupting the marriage processions.

Well then, how about getting wed in the Tamil Vedic Indian Style?