INDIAN WEDDINGS-FEAST

TAMIL WEDDING

Tamil Feast: The architectural placement of the sumptuous dishes and an array of accompaniments make a Tamil Wedding feast an exciting experience.

It starts with the invitation to the meal, usually morning breakfast, by the host and hostess - who bustle around in a crowd of relatives - to the dining hall. Shiny clean banana leaves are spread in neat rows and guests sit on the floor on mats on rectangular boards, (though tables and chairs are common these days) wiping off their leaves and rolling up their sleeves in preparation to eat.

Morning tiffin

For breakfast, pongal (a spiced and nut-dotted dal-rice melange similar to khichri) is a hot favorite, eaten with a spicy eggplant gotsu or coconut chutney or tamarind sauce. Idly is also served with coconut and onion chutneys, sambhar and gunpowder. Making the start of the day sweeter is kesari (a semolina, ghee and sugar cooked pudding).

Breakfast


• Pongal (spiced and nut-dotted dal-rice)
• Coconut chutney
• Gotsu (spicy eggplant preparation)
• Vadai
• Idli, sambhar, chutney and gunpowder
• Kesari or sweet Pongal
• Hot kaapi (coffee)

Lunch Sweets

• Payasam (kheer made of rice)
• Laddu or mysorepak
• Jangri (South Indian jalebi)

Lunch begins with the pudding.

Lunch is a ballet in precision and placement. Each element of the menu has its special place on the leaf, and its positioning seems to follow a complex architectural blueprint.

It begins with a small smidgen of payasam, or kheer, usually made with rice, which is put on the right top corner of the lower half of the leaf and stays there a scant few seconds before it is gathered up by hungry guests. An equal helping of dal keeps it transient company; ready to be mixed in with the hot rice when it comes.

Accompaniments

• Thair pachadi (raita)
• Pickle and salt
• Lentil salad
• Sweet Salad
• Vadai
• Appalam (papad)
• Moru (Lassi)

An array of accompaniments

The top right side corner of the top half of the leaf becomes home to a dab of thair pachadi (raita) most often made with shredded cucumber and coriander leaves, maybe a small piece of chilli thrown in for spice. Atleast 2 vegetables combined with coconut shreds is a standard fare. Another favourite is the popular avial (a curd based stew composed of over ten to twelve vegetables).

Condiments like pickle and salt dot the left corner of the top half of the leaf joined quickly by a sweet salad and its savoury counterpart, both lentil-based. The left corner is also where the vadai, or fried lentil dumpling, and the fried appalam (large papad) are served, along with the solid sweet, such as laddu or mysorepak. On some rare occasions, jangri (the bright orange flower-like South Indian version of the jalebi) may be part of the dessert selection.

The Rice factor

The main actor in this culinary drama, rice is heaped, steaming and white, on the centre of the banana leaf, with a small puddle of hot ghee dripped into its middle. The dal is mixed in, rapidly followed by the tamarind-water rich sambhar, studded with onions, potatoes, drumsticks or carrots. The next round could be with morkuzhambu (the southern kadhi) made traditionally from yoghurt, coconut and a few watery vegetables like cucumber or pumpkin.

More rice is eaten with the liquid rasam, and diners have to slurp very fast to avoid losing it to the inexorable flow down the midrib of the leaf. Second helpings of payasam are offered; however, it is hard to down any more after steadily savoring each sumptuous round of food! Moru, or buttermilk, or thair, or yoghurt is mixed in with rice as the last course.

But this is only the standard celebratory lunch. In weddings with a high budget, there may be many varieties of rice as part of the meal: thenga shadam, rice mixed in with roasted coconut and spices or lemon rice, with its tang of lemon juice and crunch of nuts and chillies add interest and colour.

Evening tiffin

• Aloo bonda or mysorebonda
• Bajji (Pakora)
• Sev mixture
• Coconut chutney
• Maida barfi or almond barfi
• Hot kaapi (coffee)

Wedding feeding can also encompass evening tiffin, which mandates salty and spicy snacks made with various thicknesses of sev, or chickpea flour fried crunchies, nuts, raisins, coconut and dried peas. Sweets often served include almond cake; the whole washed down with steaming hot kaapi, or coffee, for which the South is so famous.

Dinner (at evening reception)

• Bisibele bath (sambhar rice)
• Chips
• Dahi bath (curd rice)
• Lemon Rice or coconut rice
• Pachadi (Raita)
• Puri and potato vegetable
• Thair vadai (dahi vada)
Badam kheer, ice cream or both

If dinner is the meal at the reception, special dishes like badam kheer, or almond payasam, bisibele bath (sambhar rice with nuts and vegetables) and dahi bath are favorites. These days, however, things are changing. The traditional meals may have the same basic menu, but guests are often limited to close friends of the family and relatives. Which doesn't mean that there is less food!

This message is gathered from a wedding web site.

INDIAN WEDDINGS- SWEETS

Wedding Mithai/Sweets are an inseparable part of Indian weddings. The guests of the wedding are welcomed with a variety of sweets. In India, presenting sweets in weddings is considered as a warm and an honest gesture. There are different types of Indian weddings and the types of sweets that are served in them change with the changing communities.

Be it Bengali, Gujarati, Rajasthani, Telugu or Maharashtrian wedding, the ceremony will not be completed without sweets. The wedding mithai/sweets are made with all the perfection and precision as the guests will always remember the wedding for the sweets they were offered. The hosts always feel delighted to choose a variety of sweets for their son's or daughter's wedding.

India Wedding Planner.com is happy to guide you with the details about Wedding Mithai or sweets.

One can taste different wedding sweets in different wedding occasions. In a Tamil wedding Payasam that is the sweet liquid made up of rice is presented to the guests. The menu also includes Laddu, a sweet ball and jangri, a circular sweet. A Maharashtrian wedding comprise of the sweets like Jalebi and Gulab Jamun, Shrikhand and Basundi. A Bengali Wedding will comprise of the Bengali wedding/mithai sweets like Rasgulla, sandesh and rasmalai. The Gujarati wedding mithai/sweets comprise of the SonPapadi. Marwaris have special badam katlis, sweets made of fresh almonds, made for the weddings. Sindhis have different wedding mithais/sweets that are either made of white grams or pumpkins that have been enriched in flavor by adding a lot of dry fruits to it.


Be it any occasion, wedding mithai/sweets have always played a major part in Indian weddings. It is sort of compulsion to add sweets in the wedding feast's menu because it is a joyous occasion and people want to express their happiness by distributing sweets.

This information is gathered from a wedding web site.

TRAVEL TIPS FOR HONEYMOON TRAVELLERS

It is the best time for a couple, when they get to know each other and from the bond of a lifetime. Here’s how you can make your honeymoon a memorable one.

TIME IT WELL

Preferably, avoid putting off your honeymoon for later. The period after marriage is usually the best.

PLAN IN ADVANCE

That way, you can take into account each other’s desires and decide on a location accordingly. Whether it is sandy expanses, snow-clad hills or beaches.

GOING SOLO

While it is fun to be on your own and explore a city and discover each other, going as part of a group can be a great experience too, especially it it’s a bunch of recently married friends.

THINGS TO REMRMBER

• In all the hustle-bustle of the wedding, don’t forget to make a proper packing list so that you travel in peace.

• If you’re the romantic sort, carry along music that you both like.

• Despite all the planning, things can go wrong. Take it in your stride. Something unplanned can be memorable too.

• Ideally, use the services of a travel agent. That gives you enough breathing space to focus on just the essentials.

• You might be on a budget honeymoon, but carry a little more money than needed. Add, ideally choose all-inclusive accommodation – food, transportation, activities, etc.

This information is gathered from daily news paper.

INDIAN BRIDAL JEWELRY

Indian brides wear jewelry sets that are made in gold, be it necklaces, bangles, anklets and earrings. Many a time, the bridal jewelry is set with diamonds and other precious stones. The modern day bride prefers to have some modern wearable items of gold jewelry in her trousseau. Not many would like to be weighed down by heavy jewelry that cannot be worn often and will be more an invitation for thieves. Come the wedding season and you can see crowds thronging the jewelry stores. Indian bridal jewelry has always been considered her 'streedhan' - personal wealth that would stand in good stead in times of need.

Indian jewelry for brides is created to enhance the beauty of the woman. The gentle tinkle of the anklets around delicate feet, a set of jingling bangles on her hands and an exquisitely crafted necklace round her neck - the Indian bride looks resplendent in her finery and colorful profusion. Some bridal ornaments such as waistbands and armlets are seldom worn these days.

Indian bridal jewelry varies from region to region as well as different communities. Precious stones such as jade, garnet, emerald, amethyst, pearl and coral are widely used in Indian bridal jewelry. Stones are said to pass their own special healing touch to the wearer. The precious stones are said to have an effect on one's blood vessels and temperament. Use of navarathnas or nine precious stones can be seen in finger rings and earrings.

The mangal sutra is an important item in the bridal jewelry. This necklace is tied by the husband around the wife's neck as a symbol of their union. This is usually created on a necklace strung with black beads. It is considered a protection against the evil eye. Many a bride makes a few changes to suit her tastes, keeping well within the prescribed parameters.

The conventional gold pendant is often replaced with a diamond. The length of the mangal sutra is one of personal preference. Black beads are sometimes interspersed with gold beads. South Indian brides wear silk saris that are offset by exquisite jewelry in gold. Bridal jewelry encrusted with rubies, emeralds or pearls is popular. The south Indian women wear a thaali as a symbol of their marriage. This is usually in the form of a thick yellow thread with gold pendant.

This information is gathered from a wedding site for the benefit of the parents who are intending to plan a marriage.

GET FREELANCER

MARRIAGE PROCEDURES IN INDIA- FOR REGUSTRATION OF MARRIAGE

Marriage is regarded as one of the most important and sacred institution in Indian society. Though it is observed differently by people belonging to different sects of the society, its sanctity and purpose remains the same. Marriage is basically an interpersonal relationship between a man and a woman, with social, religious and legal recognition. Moreover, there are many names given to a Marriage such as Civil Marriage, which is the legal name of the tradition. A wedding ceremony is referred to as the ritual performed by a religious officiator.

Religious Marriage Ceremony

Religious marriages are conducted following a number of customs and rituals and are deemed legal in India. Usually, the marriages are observed with great pomp and show, along with a procession. After the marriage ceremony is over, the most important thing to be obtained is the marriage certificate. For Christians, Muslims, Parsis, Jews, and Baha’i followers, a marriage certificate issued by the religious authority is considered a legal proof of marriage. Therefore, no certificate is required from the Marriage Registrar. However, in the case of Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists, the certificate issued by the religious organization is not sufficient. These people need to obtain a formal marriage certificate from the Registrar.

Civil Marriage Ceremony (Registered Court Marriage in India)

All those people, who want to escape the grandeur of religious marriages, can opt for civil marriage ceremony. These ceremonies are strictly formal without any exaggeration. In civil marriages, no additional effort is required to be put to register the marriage because the registration procedure itself is the marriage ceremony. However, the couple needs to drop an application well in advance, approximately one month before hand. This time is utilized by the marriage officer, who publishes an ad in the newspaper, giving a chance to raise any objections against the marriage. The marriage registrar office is usually located in the complex of local court or municipality.

Special Marriage Act, 1954

Special Marriage Act allows any two individuals to marry (including intercast marriages), irrespective of their religion, caste and nationality. It even applies to people living abroad, with Indian nationality. Therefore, any marriage under the Special Marriage Act is a Civil Marriage by registration. However, there are some conditions to be fulfilled under this act.

• Neither party should have a living husband or wife.
• Neither party should be a lunatic or insane.
• The bridegroom should not be less than 21 years of age whereas the bride must be 18 years old.
• The parties should not be involved in any prohibited relationship.
• Both parties should be the citizens of and domiciled within the territories mentioned in the Act.

Marriage Ceremony

• Notice must be given by the bride and bridegroom to the Marriage Officer of the district, with one of them residing immediately previous to the notice for at least 30 days.
• Marriage Officer records the notice and sends a copy to the Marriage Officer of the District.
• 30 days time is given for any person to raise any objections to the intended marriage.
• From the date of receipt of any objections, the Marriage Officer should enquire into the same, within 30 days.
• If the objections are found valid, either party to the intended marriage may appeal to the District Court, whose decision shall be binding.
• In case there is no objection or the objection is rejected, the parties with 3 witnesses sign in presence of the Marriage Officer, declaring they are unmarried and are not related within prohibited degrees.
• The marriage is then solemnized in any form which parties choose to adopt. The form must have the following declaration by each party to the effect; "I take thee to be my lawful wife (or husband)." The parties and 3 witnesses then sign the certificate of solemnization. This certificate is conclusive certificate of solemnization.
• The solemnization should be completed within 3 months from the date of notice, failing which the notice lapses and a new notice needs to be issued.

This information is gathered from a marriage registration we site for the use of parents and others.

HONEY MOON IN INDIA - DALHOUSIE

If you want to spend your honeymoon amidst the nature, then Dalhousie is the ideal destination. The region is full of emerald green mountains, valleys and gushing rivers. Your honeymoon in Dalhousie will be a memorable event for you due to its magnificent scenic beauty.

Most of the places in Dalhousie are surrounded by dense greenery and forests. In the winter time, the green valleys pull over the thick blanket of snow. However the best time to pay a visit to Dalhousie is summer. Dalhousie is the perfect example of Himalayan beauty.

There are many places in and around Dalhousie. You can visit the ancient Chamba valley. You can visit to the ancient temples and monuments in this valley.

HOW TO REACH

By Air

The nearest airports are at Gaggal near Dharamsala, Amritsar and Jammu, all of which are within a circuit of 130 km to 190 km. Tourist taxis and buses are available from the respective three destinations for transfer to Dalhousie.

By Rail

Catch the Jhelum Express, Jammu-Delhi Express or Himachal Express to Pathankot. Railway station: Pathankot, 80 km away, is the nearest railhead for Dalhousie. From here, it is a two-hour uphill drive by taxi, car or bus.

By Road

Himachal Pradesh Tourism runs deluxe buses from Simla and Dharamsala to Dalhousie. Fares range between Rs 150 and Rs 500. Road routes are good via Ambala or Patiala to Pathankot. Even though the roads are not very broad, the drive upto Dalhousie is quite comfortable. Bus terminus: The bus stand is a 10-minute walk down the road from Subhash Chowk, near the Tourist Information Office.

PLACES OF VISIT

Khajjiar
Subhash Baoli
Panchpula
Kalatop wildlife sanctuary
Churches
Laxmi Narayan Temple

WHAT TO BUY

The roads along Gandhi Chowk are dotted with tiny shops selling ethnic trinkets and other souvenirs. The Himachal Hand loom Industry Emporium on Thandi Sarak is a good place to buy a woollen shawl. The Tibetan Handicrafts Centre is about 3 km from Gandhi Chowk along the Khajjiar Road. The best thing about this place is that it has Tibetan carpets made to order. Other things to buy include bags and purses.

The news gathered from travel and tourism websites.