Hindu Malayalee / Kerala weddings
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| Hindu Malayalee / Kerala weddings |
Malayalee weddings are the simplest and most uncomplicated weddings ever. They last for a maximum of 15 minutes. But it is truly touching and gives a feeling of natural union of two beautiful souls.
Most important rituals
Nirapara - filling a large rice measure with paddy
Nilavilakku - lighting a traditional, oil-burning lamp
Thalikettu - tying the thali around the neck of the bride and
Pudava koda - gifting a pudava by the bridegroom to the bride.
Wedding Ceremony
Wedding Attire: The girls wear a traditional Kasavu Saree (kerala saree).
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| Traditional Kerala bangle |
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| Palakka Mala - www.vadaamalar.com |
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| Mulla mottu mala - www.vadaamalar.com |
Bride : This gorgeous piece of fabric is better known as today, is quite simple in its appearance- the entire body has an off-white or cream coloured shade accompanied by a thin or thic
k gold border which is locally known as the ‘kasavu’. Hindu brides prefer Kerala sarees which are a mix of cotton- silk or even pure silk. They have intricate woven designs such as birds, flowers and other motifs on the pallu and body.
Groom : The bride groom wears shirt with traditional dothi and ankavastram with gold border too.
The thickness of the kasavu or gold border depends on one’s preference although a thick gold border is often considered regal.
Wedding Jewellery : The jewellery of Kerala is
specifically noted for its artistic perfection. Each caste or community
had its typical ornament.he most important traditional ornaments for the
neck are Addyal, Yantram, Avil Mala and Puli Nakham. Cheruthali, Kasu
Mala and Oddyanam are other traditional ornaments. The flora of the
milieu insensibly affected the designs.
Gold is cast in the shape of
pepper seeds or rice flakes and worked into chains. Green and red stones
are delicately cut to the contours of the mango in miniature to form
necklaces.
Gold plated jewelry is available at www.vadaamalar.com
Groom : The Malayalee groom wears very minimal jewelry compared to the bride. Neck-chain, bracelet, finger rings and some times even gold watch.
Venue : Marriages are conducted either in the temple or in the Kalyana Mantapa of the wedding hall. It is also held at ancestorial homes or in a pandal erected on the foreground of the house.
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| Malayalee wedding decorations |
Decorations : The stage is decorated with lamps and
flowers. The decorations are unique and creates a mood of
auspiciousness. Brass lamps and vessels are placed at important points.
The brass lamps are filled with oil and lit. There is no priest or
fire or homam, unless the function happens in a temple. there is a para
– a vessel made of brass and copper filled with nellu (rice grains with
husks).
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| Malayalee wedding diyas |
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| Kerala Wedding Ceremony |
Wedding Ceremony : The girl is brought into the hall accompanied by her aunts and sisters, each of them carrying lit lamps in their hands. The boy arrives the same way.
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| Kerala Wedding Ceremony |
Once they are seated, the boy’s parents will bring a thali (mangalsutra), which is simple gold chain with a leaf like pendant. The boy ties it around the girl’s neck and his sisters help in the process. Then, garlands are exchanged. At this point, the girl’s father holds her hand and gives it to the boy. This symbolises handing over the girl to the boy’s family.
They are showered with fresh flowers by the people present. The couple
exchanges garlands, following which they take their pheras. In a
Malayalee wedding, the pheras (known as pradikshanas) are taken thrice
(instead of the usual seven) around the nirapara (not the sacred fire).
The ceremony comes to an end with the couple seeking blessings from
elders.
They then receive blessings from the oldest members of the family.
Wedding Feast : After witnessing the Kerala wedding rituals, the guests are requested to have food. Sadhya or typical Kerala meal including rice, three varieties of pickle, curries and sweets, Sambhar, Avial, toran, olan, kalan, pacchadi, payasam,pappads is served on plantain leaves to the guests along with payasam like paladaaprathaman or chaka prathaman as a dessert. The newly wedded couple,after receiving and taking the blessings of all the relatives and friends, too join them, along with their parents and close relatives.
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| Wedding Feast Sadhya |
There may be difference in the above customs with changes in the area and the community.
They are showered with fresh flowers by the people present. The couple
exchanges garlands, following which they take their pheras. In a
Malayalee wedding, the pheras (known as pradikshanas) are taken thrice
(instead of the usual seven) around the nirapara (not the sacred fire).
The ceremony comes to an end with the couple seeking blessings from
elders.
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