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List of ceremonies
1. Pradhanam: The engagement / Exchange of 'Thamboolams'
2. Kalyana Rata: Fixing the first pole of the marriage 'pandaal'
3. Nalugu with Mangala Vyadham: Ritualistic oil bath for the bride and groom
4. Phalikalu Ceremony: Germination of nine grains for prosperity
5. Snathakam: Commencement of all marriage rituals
6. Kanyadanam: Giving away the bride
7. Mangalyadharanam: Tying of the sacred yellow thread
8. Thalambralu: Blessing the couple
9. Sapthapathy: Seven steps around the sacred fire
10. The traditional wedding meal: Wedding feast
11. Laja Homam: Sacrifice offered to the sacred fire
12. Nagavalli: Ceremonies to induct the bride into her
household duties and display of gifts
13. Appagintalu / Vadigantu Biyyam: Bridal send off
/ Formal handing over of the bride to the groom
14. Grahapravesam: The bride enters her marital home
15. The Sari: The bride leaves for her marital home
taking her trousseau with her
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Pradhanam:
The engagement / Exchange of Thamboolams
The engagement ceremony takes place once the horoscopes of the bride and the groom are matched. This functions starts with a 'Ganapathy puja',
in the presence of elders from both families. The couple's parents exchange 'thamboolams' or |
Nadhaswaram - The music group |
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platters filled with betel leaves, betel nuts, fruits, flowers, 'kumkum' (vermilion) and 'pasupu' (turmeric) along with
the 'lagna patrika' (marriage document). The 'lagna patrika' is read aloud by a 'pujari' to the elders, conveying the acceptance of the alliance
between both families, and the date, time and venue for the wedding is finalized at this time. |
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Kalyana Ratha - Putting the first pole of the marriage pandhal |
Kalyana Rata:
Fixing the first pole of the marriage 'pandaal'
An auspicious time is arrived at for fixing the first pole of the marriage 'pandaal' (canopy erected for the wedding rites). A 'Ganapathy puja' (invocation
of Lord Ganesh) is performed to mark this ceremony. The 'kalyana rata' or pole is adorned with turmeric powder, mango leaves and 'rangoli' |
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(coloured rice flour) designs. The 'pujari' performs a 'puja' by sprinkling turmeric, 'kumkum' powder, yellow rice and flowers
amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras. The 'kalyana rata' is then fixed very firmly into the ground and an 'arathi' is performed. Prayers are
offered so that the 'pandaal' should remain strong and firm throughout the ceremonies. |
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Nalugu with
Mangala Vyadham: Ritualistic oil bath for the bride and groom
From this day on the 'nadeswaram' (wind instrument similar to the clarinet, only larger) accompanied by a 'melam' (drum) is played for all
the auspicious occasions till the wedding ceremony is completed.
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A little girl carrying moulded sugar in the form of a bird |
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This is purely a ladies function, and takes place one or two days prior to the wedding. The bride and groom, in their respective
homes, are anointed with oil by the elders, blessed and given an oil bath, after which they are dressed in silks and adorned with the 'Kalyana thilakam'
(a mark made on the forehead with vermilion).
Subsequent to this they are not allowed to move out of their homes until the wedding ceremonies are completed. The same evening, the ladies congregate
once again and the 'sumangalis' (married ladies) pound turmeric. The bride gives 'thamboolams' consisting of bangles, 'kumkum', flowers and fruits
to the ladies and they in turn bless the bride, wishing her a long and happy married life. |
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Phalikalu - placed on the right side of the mandapam |
Phalikalu Ceremony:
Germination of nine grains for prosperity
After the 'nalugu' ceremony, the bride is adorned in silks and a small 'puja' is performed. 'Navadhanyams' or nine varieties of grains are sprinkled
on nine earthen plates (painted white) filled with soil. These are allowed to germinate for sixteen days. The nine grains can be rice, wheat, 'moong
dal', black 'urad dal', gingely, red 'chana', white 'chana', chickpeas, green 'moong dal' and green 'chana'. On the sixteenth day after the marriage,
the 'mangalsuthrams' (108 strings of sacred thread twisted together and dipped in turmeric) are strung together and the germinated grains are
immersed in a flowing stream. |
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Snathakam:
Commencement of all marriage rituals
After an oil bath called 'mangala snanam', the groom, clad in a 'pancha' (dhoti) and 'angavastram' or upper cloth performs a 'puja' before the
"agnihotram" (sacred fire). He then embarks on a mock pilgrimage or 'kashi yatra' carrying an umbrella, wooden footwear and a hand fan.
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Jeela Kaara and Bellam - the Sumuhurtham |
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The bride's brother pleads with him to abandon his plan to become a priest and to take his sister's hand in marriage
and settle down as a family man instead. After much cajoling, the groom agrees and returns to get married.
Meanwhile, the bride is performing the 'Gowri Puja' (worship of goddess 'Gowri Devi') and asking for her blessings.
Her maternal uncles, assisted by relatives carry her to the 'kalyana mandapam' (marriage hall) and the ladies of the household follow this procession.
She is seated opposite the groom, and a curtain is held between them forbidding them to see each other till the 'shubhmuhurtham' (auspicious time for
the marriage rites). |
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Vara pooja and Kanyadhanam - with curtain between the bride and groom |
Kanyadanam: Giving away the bride
The bride and groom perform a 'Ganapathy puja'. The bride's father washes the groom's feet while her mother pours the water.
The bride's father performs the 'kanyadanam' by holding his daughter's hands in which a coconut has been placed and placing them in the groom's
hands and pouring water over them.
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After the 'kanyadanam', the 'pujari' makes the bride and groom tie a 'kankanam' (the sacred thread), on each other's right wrists.
The bride and groom are then given the 'madhuparkams' to wear by the bride's parents. These are white handloom clothes soaked in turmeric
water with either a red or green border. The bridal couple is also given a pair of camphor garlands, which they have to wear along with the 'madhuparkams'
and proceed to the 'kalyana mandapam'.
An auspicious time is fixed for the 'jeela karra+bellam' - this is a combination of cumin seeds and jaggery crushed together and placed
on a betel leaf. The 'pujari' recites Vedic mantras and the groom places the 'jeela karra+bellam' on the bride's head and she in turn places
it on his.
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Dhanchadam - pounding of turmeric
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Mangalyadharanam: Tying of the sacred yellow thread
Before the 'mangalyadharanam' is tied elderly women remove the curtain separating the couple and hold a yoke between them through which the
'mangalsutras' are passed. The bride now sits on the groom's left and the sacred yellow thread is tied around both their necks by the 'pujari'.
A few drops of milk are poured to purify these sutras. When the mangalyam or mangalsutra is tied by the groom around the bride's neck, the
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first two knots are tied by him and the third knot by the groom's sister. Immediately after this ceremony, the groom
ties a 'dharba' girdle around the bride's waist. This is a sacred thread made of dried grass blessed by the 'pujari', for the bride to seek non-widowhood.
The groom's sister now performs an 'arathi' to mark the culmination of the main wedding ceremony. |
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Thalambralu: Blessing the couple
This is a very beautiful ceremony in Andhra weddings. Rice being the staple food, it is poured in abundance over each other's head by the couple in
a joyful manner conveying prosperity and abundance. |
Thalambralu - pouring of turmeric rice |
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Sapthapathy:
Seven steps around the sacred fire
The end of the bride's sari 'pallav' and the groom's 'angavastram' are knotted together. This is followed by a small 'homam' or 'puja' performed
by the bridal couple. The groom leads the bride to take seven steps repeating the mantras chanted by the 'pujari'. |
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The traditional wedding meal: Wedding feast
The wedding feast is served on banana leaves following a particular method. Cooked 'tur dal' (lentils) is served on the right lower corner of the
leaf followed by 'halwa' (a sweet dish) 'pachadi' (raita or yogurt), chutney, two dry vegetables, gun |
The traditional wedding meal |
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powder or curry leaf powder, fryums made of white pumpkin, rice fryums and pappad, pickle and salt. The above items are
served all around the leaf till the left corner.
Then mixed rice or vegetable 'pulao' is served in the center of the leaf and curd 'vada' next to that. Two dry sweets - 'bobatlu' (pancakes made
of corn flour with cooked 'chana dal' (chikpeas) and jaggery, or boorelu), cooked 'chana dal' and jaggery stuffing made into round balls dipped in
'urad dal' (lentils) batter and deep fried, 'laddus' (round sweets made from gram flour, sugar and 'ghee' or clarified butter) are served in a
cup. This is how the leaf is set and made ready before the guests are seated to enjoy the meal. After this elaborate meal, 'paan' (betel leaves)
and nuts are served. |
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Laja Homam - Bride offering puffed rice |
Laja Homam: Sacrifice offered to the sacred fire
The bride offers puffed rice or 'laja' into the fire, given to her by her brother. The offerings are made three times with the chanting of three
different mantras. The bridal couple is then taken to see the 'arundhati nakshatra' (celestial star named 'arundhati) to inspire the bride to lead
a glorious and virtuous life like the Goddess "Arundhati'.
The 'dharba girdle' is removed after the 'laja homam', thus marking the completion of all wedding rituals. |
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Nagavalli:
Ceremonies to induct the bride into her household duties and display of gifts
The groom ties black beads, threaded by unmarried girls, around the bride's neck. After this the groom holds the right foot of the bride and places
it on a granite grinding stone called 'sanni kallu' as he chants a mantra. The groom then |
Nagavalli - display of gifts |
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adorns each of the bride's second toes with a pair of silver rings (matti). It is during this ceremony that the groom's
family presents the bride with jewellery, sarees, and sweets and these gifts are displayed for all to see. |
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Appagintalu / Vadigantu Biyyam: Bridal send off / Formal handing over of the
bride to the groom
After the wedding functions are over, the bride is formally handed over to the groom's family. This is an emotional and tearful event. Before
the bride is taken to the groom's home, her mother puts some rice in the upper cloth of the |
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'madhuparkam', and ties it around the bride's waist. A small silver bowl, a tiny sandalwood doll, the root of yam and
a sweetmeat called 'chalmidi' (made out or rice flour and jaggery) are added are also put inside the 'madhuparkam'. |
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Grahapravesam:
The bride enters her marital home
At the groom's home, the couple is given milk and fruit by the groom's mother and the bride is made to light the 'venkateswara deepam' (a lamp
made out of rice flour and jaggery and filled with ghee) in the 'puja' room. She is also made to boil milk on the stove. In Andhra Pradesh, the
'Satyanarayana Vratham' (fasting till the 'puja' ceremony in front of Lord Satyanarayana) is very important. This 'satyanarayana vratham' is
observed either in the 'kalyanmadapam' itself, immediately after all the ceremonies are over or a day or two later. Till the 'vratham' is completed,
the couple cannot consummate the marriage. |
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The Saree (The wedding trousseau of the bride) |
The Sari:
The bride leaves for her marital home taking her trousseau with her
As the custom goes, the first three nights are spent in the bride's house by the couple. The girl is then formally taken to the in-laws' home. When
the bride leaves, a bridal trousseau consisting of various gifts, along with a lot of sweets, savories, and turmeric powder and 'kumkum' in large
quantities is sent with her. |
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