Wedding is one the most important day in the life of every individual. Ritual and customs form an integral part of the Indian wedding. Tamil weddings also involve several rituals and customs. Their weddings are very simple and elegant. The month of aashad, bhadrapad and shunya are considered inauspicious for the wedding. Tamilian weddings are very colorful and are filled with enthusiasm.

Simplicity is the main element of the Tamilian wedding. They are short and are completed in two days. The pre-wedding rituals begin with the Panda Kaal Muhurtham that is carried out to seek blessings from the Almighty. The groom and his family are welcomed by the bride’s family and are offered fruits, flowers, mishri etc as a token of respect. Tilak is applied on the groom’s forehead and a dessert is served. Vratham is a ritual where both the family fast one day before the wedding whereas Pallikai Thellichal is a ritual that is performed before the wedding. According to this ritual, a clay pot is filled with nine varieties of grain. Water is poured in it and the grains are allowed to sprout. This clay pot is then placed in the pond so that the fishes can feed on it. Rituals like Naandi, Nicchiyadharatham and reading the Lagna Pathirigai are the next to follow. These rituals are a way of blessing the couple for their new life.

Tamil wedding rituals are very elaborate. There are many rituals and customs that are performed on the day of the wedding. They begin with the Mangalasnaanam which involves a holy bath for the couple. This ritual is carried out early in the morning. This is followed by the Gauri Pooja which is done by the bride. The bride then drapes a kanjeevaram sari. An interesting ritual called the Kashi Yatra is then carried out. Once this ritual comes to an end the groom walks towards the pandal where the bride and her family waits for him. The bride and the groom exchange garlands with each other three times. This symbolizes their union. In the ceremony called Oonjal the couple is made to sit on a swing where married women’s feed them spoonful of milk and banana pieces. Rice balls are thrown in four directions to keep away all the evil spirits.

The most important ritual in every wedding is the Kanyadaan. The bride’s father hand over’s his daughter’s responsibility to the groom. The bride’s father welcomes the groom by washing his feet. The bride is then made to sit on her father’s lap and groom is offered a coconut. This symbolizes that the bride is now a part of the groom’s family. The bride is presented a nine-yard sari by the groom’s family. The bride drapes the sari and sits on her father’s lap. The bride’s father is made to sit on heap of paddy. This is done so that the couple gets prosperity in their life. The groom then ties the mangalsutra around her neck. This is followed by the saptapadi. This is the last ritual that is performed on the wedding day.

Rituals continue to follow even after the wedding. The bride receives a warm welcome when she reaches her new house. Rituals like the Sammandhi Mariyathai, Grihapravash, Valeyadal, Reception and Sadva pooja are the carried out. All this makes Tamil weddings an enjoyable experience.