Tamil Wedding Rituals Customs

Tamil Wedding Rituals

Here is provided information on Tamil wedding rituals:

Mangala Snaanam & Kashi Yatra
On the dawn of the wedding day, the bride and groom have Mangal snaanam (auspicious holy bath) in their respective homes. Before the bath, oil and tilak of haldi-kumkum is applied to them.

After having the mangala snaanam, the bridegroom pretends that he is leaving for Kashi and he is no more interesting in performing the role of a householder. He stops only when the girl's father persuades him to take the responsibility of his daughter. Then the groom heads his way for the wedding pandal, where the bride receives him.

Exchange Of Garlands & Oonjal
It involves the exchanging of garlands between the bride and groom three times. This ceremony is full of fun and frolic.

After the couple has succeeded in exchanging their garlands thrice, they are seated together on a swing. Married ladies give the newly weds spoonful of milk and banana pieces to eat.

Kanyadaanam & Muhurtum
As the groom reaches the mandapam, the bride's father welcomes his son-in-law. The groom's mother-in-law puts kajal in his eyes. Thereafter, his father-in-law washes his feet, considering him to be a form of God. The bride is then seated in her father's lap with a coconut in her hands. Thereafter, the bride and her father offer coconut to the bridegroom. In the meantime, the bride's mother puts water over the coconut. This gesture symbolizes the giving away of their daughter. The bridegroom's family presents their daughter-in-law a nine-yard sari that she has to wear at the time of tying of Mangalsutra.

Seeking the help of her sister-in-law and aunts, the bride wears the nine-yard sari and enters the mandapam. A sack of paddy is kept on the floor and the bride's father is made to sit on it. The bride is asked to sit on her father's lap. Paddy represents abundance and good fortune. The yoke of a farmer's plough is taken and touched to the forehead of the bride. It is done with the hope that the couple will always walk together. The priest and the relatives touch the Mangalsutra and thereby bless the couple. After that, this sacred thread is handed over to the bridegroom. He puts it around his wife's neck and ties two knots. The third knot is tied by the groom's sister. The three knots represent the union of mind, spirit and body.

Saptapadi
The bridegroom takes his wife's right hand in his left hand and leads her around the holy fire seven times. In every round, she touches her feet to the grindstone hoping that their union will be firm forever.