3. The Hindu wedding ceremony has a number of rituals and customs, each symbolic
of beautiful and noble sentiments. As one enters the place or venue of ceremony of
a South Indian wedding, one notice things such as full-grown plantain trees tied to
both the gateposts, festoons overhead of mango leaves, and screw-pine petals that
never fade, notes of the Nadaswaram, the South Indian Shehnai, Kolam or Rangoli
designs at the doorsteps and the like.
4.
5.
6. Wedding invitations are distributed to
relatives and friends few months before the
.actual wedding day They are presented on
,a plate filled with betel leaves saffron and
.turmeric powder
9. Indian weddings are held in temples
.or temple halls Well decorated
Pallanquin is then set up for the
.bride and groom
10. , ,Auspicious things like flowers turmeric powder
, ,saffron betel leaves rose water are used to decorate
.the wedding stage These things symbolically
represent the happy life the couples would live in
.future
11. Wedding is officiated with customary
practices by a temple priest chosen for
.the wedding
12. Oil lamps are lit on the wedding stage to win
.over darkness with brightness This
symbolically represents the bright marriage life
.for the couple
13. Special wedding hair styling and
bangles on both hands brings out the
.outstanding beauty of the bride
19. At the marriage hall, the bride's father and the bridegroom's
father facing each other, formalize the final betrothal
ceremony, as the Vedic priest chants the appropriate hymns
in which the names of the bride, the bridegroom, as well as
the names of their 3 generations of ancestors, are cited in
presence of all the friends, relatives, and guests
20. The Marriage
"MUHURTHAM" IS THE ACTUAL MARRIAGE WHERE THE
GROOM TIES A MANGALASUTRA(A GOLD PENDANT IS
THREADED ONTO A THICK TURMERIC THREAD)
AROUND THE NECK OF THE BRIDE AMIDST THE
CHANTING OF MANTRAS BY THE HINDU PRIEST
SEATED IN FRONT OF A FIRE IN THE FLOWER
BEDECKED MANDAP AS FAMILY AND FRIENDS SHOWER
THEM WITH RICE MIXED WITH TURMERIC(SIGNIFIES
BLESSING THE COUPLE).NADASWARAM(TRADITIONAL
LIVE MUSIC TO HERALD THE EVENT) IS BELTED OUT TO
SIGNIFY THE TYING OF THE MANGALASUTRA.
21. The auspicious string is tied around the neck of
, .the bride to the beat of a traditional music The
traditionally married couple are then blessed with
-the showering of flowers and yellow rice by well
.wishers
32. Wedding
feast
THE MARRIAGE FEAST IS EAGERLY AWAITED BY ALL BECAUSE OF
THE VARIETY OF EATS WHICH ARE TRADITIONALLY PREPARED FOR
A MARRIAGE.THREE TO FOUR VARIETIES OF SWEETS IS A MUST
ALONG WITH DELICIOUSLY PREPARED RICE ITEMS SUCH AS
PULAV,PULIYOGARE(TAMARIND
RICE),POORIS,CHUTNEYS,VEGETABLE
PALIYAS,PAPPADS,VADAS,KOOTUS,CURD
RICE,PICKLES,ETC,...COURSE BY COURSE IS SERVED ON A LARGE
PLANTAIN LEAF AND EVERYONE EATS WITH THEIR HAND.TOWARDS
THE END OF THE MEAL,A DESIGNER PACKET CONTAINING A LARGE
COCONUT,BETEL LEAVES AND NUTS ARE HANDED OVER TO
ELDERS PRESENT TO BE TAKEN HOME.