North Indian wedding Style

South Indian wedding Style

Wedding Rituals:

1. Edurukollu: The groom and groom’s family is welcomed by the parents of the bride and the
groom is taken to the altar.
2. Ganesha Pooja: The groom enters the Mandapam (the wedding stage), and bows to all the guests with respect. He then performs Ganesha Pooja in the wedding hall just before the marriage ceremony. Ganesha is revered as the remover of all obstacles.
a. The father of the bride arrives.
b. The priests announce the lineage of Bride and groom from 4 generations
3. Madhuparkamulu: Sweet drinks are offered to the grooms family and friends
4. Kanyadanam: (Giving the bride away) is a ritual where the bride is given away by her parents to the groom. In the kanyadanam, the bride’s parents wash the feet of the groom.
a. The bride now enters the mandapam.
b. Bride and groom sits facing each other, but are separated by a curtain the “teresalla”. The bride and the groom do not see each other till they are married (till Jeelakarra bellam ceremony).
As a condition for this offering his daughter for marriage, the father of the bride requests a promise from the groom for assisting the bride in realizing the three ends: dharma, artha,
and kama and request him to never to transgress her rights. With these words, the father of the bride pours water on the hands of the groom through the hands of bride.
Reciprocation By Groom
Dharmecha, arthecha, kamecha nathi charithavyethi. Data vadeth. Nathi Charatavya, — Nathi Charami – I shall not transgress
The groom makes the promise by repeating the above verse three times.
Main Events:

1. Muhurtham/Jeelakarra Bellam: The most important part of the wedding.

• The “Terasalla” (curtain) is then removed. The bride and the groom are instructed to look into each other’s eyes and the place in between eyes.
• The parents of the bride exit the stage briefly. The bride and groom sit side by side.
• Those present at the wedding shower their blessings on the couple by sprinkling flowers and
turmeric-coloured rice (Akshata) on them.

2. Mangalasutra Dharana (Tying of the Mangalsutra with three knots):

While sanskrit verses are being recited, the groom stands, and ties the two strings separately around the bride’s neck with three knots. Each knot signifies a level of marital commitment, manasa (in heart), vacha (in word) and karmana (in deed). By tying the necklace, the groom is offering safety, security, and commitment to the bride.
During this event the groom recites:
Mangalya tantunanena mama jeevana hetunaa: kanthe badhnami Subhage saa jeeva saradam
satam
“O maiden, I tie this sacred thread, essential for my long life, around your neck. Having many auspicious attributes, may you live happily with me for a hundred years”
Having tied the mangala sutra, the couple now exchange garlands. Those present at
the wedding shower their blessings on the couple by sprinkling flowers and turmeric-coloured rice (Akshata) on them.

3. Talambaraalu (rice mixed with saffron & turmeric):

The bride and groom shower one another with talambaraalu, rice mixed with saffron & turmeric, brought on to the stage earlier. This signifies the couple‟s desire for happiness, enjoyment and contentment. Initially they take turns to shower the grains on each other while the priest recites:

4. Brahmamudi & Pani Grihanam :

The priest will tie a knot between the upper garments of the groom and the bride for the next set of events. This is called brahmamudi.
Pani grahanam: This means “holding hands”. The groom holds the hand of the bride. The Mantras say: The gods have offered you to me in order that I may live the life of a householder (Gruhasta); we shall not part from each other.

5. Saptapadi:

This is the most important part of the ceremony that confirms and sanctifies the marriage. Only after this ritual, the bride and the groom are accepted as married religiously socially and legally.
Holding each other’s hands, tied together with upper cloth, the couple takes seven steps. With each step a verse is recited and Lord Vishnu’s blessings are sought. Seven little heaps of rice is arranged in a line. With these 7 steps the bride and groom declare to live as loving, happy couple enjoying each other’s company, listening to each other for a hundred years. The seven steps signifies
1. Maintaining a pure household.
2. Development of physical, mental and spiritual strengths.
3. Enhancing our wealth by righteous means.
4. Acquiring knowledge, happiness and harmony by mutual love and trust.
5. Pray for virtuous, intelligent and courageous offspring.
6. Long and happy married life.
7. Remaining true companions and life-long partners.
The groom slips a toe ring on the second toe of the bride. He ties a necklace with black-beads and god

6. Laja Homam:

Laja Homam is the first ritual sacrifice performed by the couple as husband and wife. This is an offering of food to the celestials through the Agni (fire) for their blessings for a long married life. The brother of the bride provides the parched rice for the offerings. With the first offering to Agni, the wife says to husband “This grain I spill – May it bring to me wellbeing and unite you to me.” They also seek prosperity to their relatives. After each offering the couple performs circumambulation of the fire.

7. Bride & Groom Mangala Harathi:

After the declaration events, their families perform Aarti – a ceremony that involves placing a lit oil lamp or diya on a plate and circling the plate around a person in a clockwise direction. The clockwise movement is followed to imitate the earth’s movement around the sun. The ceremony is significant as it carries with it the family’s prayer that the mind of the bride and groom be illuminated by wisdom.

8. Vedukalu:

Vedakalu (celebrations) act as icebreakers and are conducted for fun. When the couple appears as man and wife before the family gathering for the first time, the big question is who will be the dominant person in their relationship. The game/ritual of ‘ Fishing the Ring’ is conducted to answer this question.

9. Mahadasheervachanam :-

blessings to new couple

10. Arundhati Nakshatram:

After the homam is performed, the couple is taken out by the purohit and the family to spot the Arundhati nakshatram (Alcor star). The groom points out the arundhati nakshatram to his bride. The Arundhati star (Alcor), a star that is in close proximity to Vasista (Mizar). Arundhati, the ideal wife of vasistha maharshi (the great saint), is exemplified as a most virtuous woman and an embodiment of chastity. The event is to inform the bride of marital virtue of Arundhati and to seek her blessings.
The two front stars of the constellation point to the Dhruva Star (Polaris), the brightest star in the Ursa minor. Since this star is stationary, the couple looks at the star as a symbol of stability.

Ashirwad:- ( blessings from parents , relatives and friends