WEDDING BELLS

Traditional Indian weddings always relate to vitality and grandeur. Every thriving ethnic group in India observes a set of time-tested wedding customs and traditions. Now we are presenting five types of traditional weddings.

TAMIL WEDDING

A typical Tamil Brahmin wedding involves many of prescribed practices and stretches for four long days. In orthodox families, during “Janavasam”, a majestic male elephant garlands and welcomes the boy. Another extension of the formality is to wash his legs and perform “Padha Pooja” before the Kanyadhaan. The wedding day commences with the “Kaasi Yatra” when the boy attired in a saintly garb goes on a pilgrimage, The bride’s father intercepts his tour and requests him to accept the arrangement, handing over a couple of ripe coconuts. The boy takes vows during “Sapthapadhi” taking his wife around the holy fire. Holding her toe, he then guides the bride along seven steps and shows her the blessed star Arundhathi.

BRAHMIN BELIEF: According to Tamil custom, every bridegroom is considered regal. “Anna” is the honorific used by the Brahmin wives to address their husbands.


MADHWA WEDDING

Except a few add-ons, events and practices in Madhwa marriage are similar in those followed in a Tamil Wedding. The Madhwas’ wedding ceremony begins with a prayer offered by the parents of the bride and bridegroom to the “Pithru” or the ancestry. “Kanganadharanam” is the event that ceremoniously joins the couple. A long string of thread that is consecrated with holy chanting and smeared with turmeric is wound around the wedding couple in three even tiers. This thread is then cut and tied around the hands of the bride and the bridegroom. After the wedding ceremony is over, it is donated too the younger members of the family.

MADHWA SPECIAL; All brides and bridegrooms are considered as Lakshmi and Narayana and there is a traditional wedding song considered auspicious and sung by the Madhwas. The song is a form of prayer offered to increase the lifetime of the couple
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TELEGU WEDDING

The Telugu wedding usually takes place in the evening at the bride’s ancestral home. The bride steps into the matrimonial relationship only after performing “Gauri Pooja”. As per their tradition, the wedding costume is not grand. A simple cotton fabric, exclusively dyed using natural colour is used for the “Muhurtham”.

TELEUGU CUSTOM: The bride is termed as, “Ardhangini” meaning the better half of the husband. The bridegroom wears a “Thalappa” during Muhurtham.


TULU BUNTS’ WEDDING

The Bunts’ wedding is relatively simple with fewer rituals. During the olden days, the “Gandharva Vivaham” was in vogue; as soon as garlands were exchanged between the couple, the wedding got over. The contemporary version has accepted few additions. Escorted by her parental aunt, the bride enters the wedding hall after observing “Thulasi Pooja”. Then, settled in a decorated seat, she accepts the “V” shaped wedding ring, ornaments and assorted gifts. Dressed in formal attire with a “Petas” or turban, the bride’s parents pour water on a new gold coin placed in a plate and give away their daughter.

BUNT SENTIMENT: Unlike other cultural group, the Bunts’ brides always belong to their parents’ family even after wedding.

GUJARATI WEDDING

A Gujarati wedding is fun filled and amusing. The rituals try to facilitate a comfortable feeling between the couple and their respective in-laws. The main event is the “Hastha Milap” during which the bride’s sari is knotted with the bridegroom’s scarf and both go around the ‘pheras’ or the holy fire seven times.

The Gujju touch: Women have prime importance in the Gujarat tradition. The mother-in-law welcomes her son-in-law by playfully pinching his nose.

Article Courtesy: From different matrimonial web sites.