Registering the marriage:”Legal agreement between both the families”
Three days prior to the marriage, both families go to their respective family temples to register the marriage details. The couple is then accepted as a unit of the temple.

Padaipu: “Ancestor worship”
Also known as ‘koodai akki unmuthal’ this ritual is performed in honour of the ancestors. Food is cooked and offered to the ancestors and then eaten by family members.

Manai Poduthal:“Constructing the brick platform for the couple to sit on during ceremonies”With the help of a mason, married women help in constructing this brick platform. Wooden seats are placed on this platform and the couple is made to sit on thiduring different rituals during the wedding.
Arasanikkal  “Erecting the bamboo stick in front of the marriage platform”
In the home of the bride, the relatives tie the bamboo stick, decorated earlier (during the erecting of the ‘pandaal’) in front of the marriage platform. This is said to represent the presence of a king at the wedding.
Lighting the lamp ”A lamp is lit next to the arasanikkal”
Next to the ‘arasanikkal’, a pole is tied horizontally from which a traditional lamp is hung. This is lit on the morning of the wedding and extinguished only after all the ceremonies are over. This indicates a future full of brightness and prosperity for the newly weds.

Mattru Kattuthal: “Making the protective cover for the marriage platform”
A cloth ceiling is made to cover the top of the marriage platform, which acts as a protective cover for the couple.

Kolam: “The homes are decorated with rice flour paste”All the ladies from both families decorate the homes with colourful designs made from rice flour paste.

Minji: The groom’s maternal uncle adorns his nephew’s feet with toe-rings
The groom’s toes are adorned with silver toe rings called ‘minji’ by his maternal uncle.
Receiving garlands from the temples: The bride’s family receives the auspicious garlands
Family members bring the auspicious garlands from the temples patronized by both families and hand them over to the bride’s family. These garlands are used in the marriage rituals.
Pooram Kazhithal: “Virgin bath for the bride” The bride is bathed early morning and then adorned with golden chains. Neem leaves are placed on her head, shoulders, waist, and feet, and later removed with a stick. The purohit conducts the ‘Vinayaka Puja’, after which the bride bathes again. This bath is known as the ‘Kanni Neeradal’ (virgin bath). The ‘arasanikkal’ is decorated with kolams during this ceremony.

Thumbu Pidithal: Invoking the presence of deities through kolam decorations
The centre of the house is decorated with ‘kolam’ in the shape of a ‘gopuram’ (dome). This is to invoke the presence of God.

Saptapathy: “Seven steps around the sacred fire”
The couple goes around the sacred fire seven times while the ‘pujari’ chants the marriage rites.

Thiru Pootuthal: “Matrimonial blessing”
The bride wears the clothes brought by the groom’s mother and stands on the platform.

Isaivu Pidimanam: “The marriage agreement is signed”
After the ‘taali’ is tied, the fathers of the bride and the groom sit in the hall and sign the marriage agreement; this is called ‘isaivu pidimanam’ and only after this is the marriage truly official. The agreement is made by the ‘pujari’.
Thirupootu ceremony: Welcoming the bride in her marital home

Kalyana vevu and Mama vevu: The bride’s maternal uncle presents her with gifts
The maternal uncle’s family brings gifts, normally 5,7 or 9 in number for the bride. This is considered their contribution towards the marriage.
Manavarai: The couple is blessed and the bride is initiated into her marital duties
The ‘vevu’ is followed by the ‘manavarai’. Literally translated ‘mana’ is the wooden seat and ‘varai’ means groom. Both the maternal uncles escort the couple to a wooden seat. A ‘pujari’ performs the Ganesha puja, ‘Kumbharapana’ puja with sacred fire (puja of the coloured and decorated pot), ‘navagraha’ puja (puja of the nine planets).

The turmeric bath: “Ritualistic bath for the couple”
After all the ceremonies are over the couple change into ordinary clothes and seat themselves on the wooden seat and oil is applied to both separately. This is followed by a bath after which, they wear new clothes given to them by their respective in-laws. The turmeric bath signifies cooling of the bodies after having gone through so many functions.

Kulam Vazhum Pillai: Handing over of household responsibilities to the bride
In the groom’s home, the ‘kulam vazhum pillai’ (small silver statue of a baby) is kept in a water pot. The bride and groom circle the pot and pick up the statue. An ‘arathi’ is performed with turmeric water; the ‘kappu’ is removed and the bride’s toes are adorned with a ‘minji’.

Thumbu Kattudal:”Tying of the matrimonial thread on the bride”
The bride is made to stand on the wooden seat and the mother, sister or aunt of the groom tie the ‘thumbu’ string (matrimonial thread) around her neck. She is then fed with food brought from her mother’s house. Visiting relatives eat fruit and milk and gifts are given to the couple by one and all.

Kaichi Utrrudal:”The Feast”
Once all the functions are completed the bride’s maternal family hosts a feast in honour of her marital family, which is known as ‘kaichi uttrudal’.

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