Tamil Nadar Wedding

The Land and the People

Tamil Nadar weddings are held by the Nadar community of Tamil Nadu. The Nadars live mainly in the southern districts, such as Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Virudhunagar. This part of Tamil Nadu is a land of palm trees, dry plains and old temples. The Nadars have a long history of business, farming and public service.

Many Nadar families also live in Chennai, Mumbai and other countries. Both Hindu and Christian Nadar families hold weddings. They follow Tamil wedding traditions with a few community customs. The weddings are warm, simple and full of family love. The community is known for its hard work and its strong sense of unity.

How Long the Wedding Lasts

A Nadar wedding usually takes one to two days. Some families hold functions for three days. The main ceremony is held on the wedding day, at the lucky time. The family and friends then share a big feast.

Before the Wedding

The families first fix the match, and a priest picks a lucky date. The elders talk about the young couple, and the families meet. They check the horoscopes, and if they match, the wedding is planned.

The engagement is held with an exchange of gifts and sweets. The engagement is a formal event, and the families meet in a hall or at home. The priest reads prayers. The elders bless the couple. The families exchange betel leaves and nuts, fruits, flowers, clothes and sweets.

The Wedding Day

On the wedding day, the groom’s family arrives with a procession, and the bride’s family welcomes him. The groom is greeted with a garland, a tilak and a small puja. The bride’s family takes care of the guests. The mood is warm and friendly.

In a Hindu wedding, the couple exchanges garlands in Maalai Maatral. The friends and relatives of both sides lift them up, and they try to make the other one bend. It is a fun game, and the guests laugh. The couple sits on a swing in a fun ritual called Oonjal. The women of the family sing songs and give the couple milk and bananas. They also wave rice balls and put them in the four directions to keep away evil.

The groom ties the Thali around the bride’s neck at the lucky time, called the Muhurtham. The nadaswaram and the drums play loudly. The guests throw rice and flowers on the couple. Elders bless the couple with rice and flowers. The couple takes the blessings of the elders.

In a Christian wedding, the couple exchanges vows and rings in the church. The priest blesses the couple. The church choir sings hymns. After the church service, the guests go to the reception.

Clothes and Jewelry

The bride wears a silk sari and gold jewelry, and the groom wears a veshti and a shirt. The sari is bright, and it has a gold border. The bride wears a necklace, bangles, earrings and jasmine flowers. Christian brides may wear a white gown. The groom’s veshti is white, and it has a colourful border.

Food, Music and Fun

The feast is served on banana leaves. It has rice, sambar, vegetable dishes and payasam. The food is mostly vegetarian at Hindu weddings, and it is delicious. Christian families may also serve meat. Families often follow the wedding with a reception. At the reception, friends and relatives meet the new couple and give gifts. A Nadar wedding is warm and joyful, and it shows the community’s love of family and hard work.