Decoding Indian Weddings: Customs and Rituals of a Kerala Hindu Wedding
Read the nitty-gritty details of the Kerala Hindu wedding traditions.
Kerala is breathtakingly scenic, with beautiful backwaters and a gorgeous backdrop. This beautiful state has unique wedding customs, too. Here are all the Hindu pre-wedding rituals, wedding rituals, and post-wedding rituals that make the Kerala Hindu wedding a grand affair and one of a kind. Kerala Hindu weddings, known as "Kalyana Samayam," are rich in traditions and rituals that reflect Kerala's cultural heritage and spiritual essence.
Table of Content:
1. Kerala Hindu Pre-wedding Ceremonies
2. Kerala Hindu Wedding Day Rituals
3. Post-wedding Kerala Hindu Rituals
Kerala Hindu Pre-wedding Ceremonies
Muhurtham
In this pre-wedding ritual, an astrologer matches the Kundlis of the bride and groom to see whether the match is viable. If the Kundlis match, then a Muhurath is an auspicious and holy date for the wedding.
Nischayam
This pre-wedding ceremony of the Kerala Hindu wedding is the engagement. Here, both families make an official announcement of the wedding in front of everyone. This formalises the wedding alliance where the elders from both families meet and agree on the marriage. The groom's family presents the bride with clothes, jewellery, and sweets.
Traditional Party
Before the wedding ceremony, the bride's family organises a party for the guests. The traditional party offers a delicious vegetarian meal for the guests to savour.
Kerala Hindu Wedding Day Rituals
Pandhal Ceremony
The wedding venue is decorated with a pandal, or decorative canopy, made of coconut leaves and flowers. This marks the beginning of wedding preparations.
Madhuparkam Ritual
In this ritual, when the groom reaches the wedding venue, he and his family members are warmly welcomed, and the bride's father washes the groom's feet. The groom gives his in-laws a white saree that the bride is supposed to wear during the wedding ceremonies. The groom arrives at the bride's home wearing a traditional attire called Madhuparkam, which consists of a white cloth with a gold border. He carries a bouquet and gifts for the bride.
Veli/Panigrahanam
All the wedding ceremonies are performed before a Veli (holy fire). The couple goes around the Veli three times, and then the groom ties a Taali (yellow necklace) around the bride's neck. After this, the actual Kanyadaanam ritual is done, where the bride's father hands over his daughter's hand in the hands of the groom. This signifies that he is handing over the responsibilities of his daughter to him.
Sparsham Ritual
In this wedding ritual, the groom is made to sit on the floor in a way that he faces the bride, and their foreheads touch. The priest chants and asks the bride to put rice in the Veli. After this, the groom puts the bride's foot on the Ammi (grinding stone) to signify that she is breaking ties with her family and stepping into a new family.
Sadhya
In this wedding ritual, once all the other rituals are over, all the guests sit together to enjoy a grand feast of traditional dishes.
Kanya Daanam
The bride's father gives away his daughter to the groom, signifying the end of her maternal responsibilities and the beginning of her new life with her husband.
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Post-wedding Kerala Hindu Rituals
Kudivep
After all the wedding rituals, the couple ascends towards the groom's residence, where the newlyweds are heartily welcomed by the groom's mother with lit oil lamps. This welcoming ceremony is known as Kudivep.
Grihpravesh
The bride enters her new home and performs rituals to seek blessings for a happy and prosperous married life.
Sadhya Virunnu or Reception
The newlywed couple hosts a reception where they receive blessings and gifts from family and friends.
Tips for Kerala Hindu Weddings
A) Bridal Attire
Most brides of Kerala Hindu weddings keep their bridal attire simple and elegant. The brides adorn a traditional saree and lots of gold jewellery. A Kerala Hindu wedding bride adorns traditional jewellery like the Kasumala, a long necklace made by carefully assembling gold coins. The next piece of jewellery is the Palakka Mothiram, a gold necklace that is typically green and often displays designs like mangoes. Another jewellery ornament that a bride wears is the Oddiyanam. An Oddiyanam is a belt worn by the bride to keep the saree in place. Jhukis are yet another jewellery piece adorned by the brides, and they usually display temple jewellery. To top off the look, Elakkathali is worn by the bride in a gold choker.
B) Groom's Attire
The traditional wedding attire of a Kerala Hindu wedding's groom screams out appreciation for the colours white and gold. The grooms wear a white Mundu with a zari border, the dhoti/lungi, and a matching scarf, the Melmundu. But, with changing times, our Mallu boys are also shifting to other Western outfits for their wedding dresses. Men generally pair the Mundu with a Kurta or a white shirt. But, some grooms have even pulled off Sherwanis, formal suits and even Kurta Pyjamas.
C) Interesting Facts
- The wedding traditions are divided into Hindu, Nair, Christian and Muslim, and each tradition has some roots that are in sync with traditional Kerala.
- Kerala is known for the best mix of traditional and unconventional marriages.
- Monsoon weddings are very famous in this region because of their favourable climate.
- Due to Kerala's splendid natural beauty, several people come from different cities or countries to celebrate their weddings.
Every culture has unique customs that make it special in its way. The rituals of a Kerala Hindu wedding make it a simple affair yet so beautiful and elegant. The bride has her poise, and the groom brings a sense of magnificence to the wedding.
Decoding Indian Weddings with WeddingWire India:
2. Decoding Hindu Punjabi Weddings
3. Decoding Maharashtrian Weddings
