Telugu Wedding

The Land and the People

Telugu weddings are held in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. They are also held by Telugu families in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and countries like the USA. The Telugu people are known for their love of music, dance, poetry and spicy food. Telugu is one of the oldest languages of India, and it is spoken by millions.

Telugu weddings follow Vedic customs and are full of fun rituals. Traditionally, the wedding lasted for five days. Today, many families hold a shorter wedding. But the main rituals are still done with care. Each ritual has a meaning and a story.

How Long the Wedding Lasts

A traditional Telugu wedding takes up to five days. Most modern weddings take two to three days. The wedding is held in a hall or at home, and it starts at the lucky time. The families work together to plan every step.

Before the Wedding

The wedding begins with Nischitartham, when the families fix the match. The families meet in the home of the bride or the groom. They exchange gifts, betel leaves, fruits, flowers and sweets. The priest reads the wedding details, and the elders bless the couple. The date is fixed.

Turmeric and oil are applied in Pelli Kuthuru and Pelli Koduku. The married women of the family apply the turmeric paste on the bride and groom. They sing songs of joy. The bride and groom are given a bath. It is a happy time.

The Wedding Day

The groom performs the Kashi Yatra, and the bride’s father stops him and offers his daughter. The groom pretends to go to Kashi with a walking stick, a fan and an umbrella. The bride’s father stops him and offers his daughter’s hand. It is a light and fun custom, and the guests enjoy it.

In Jeelakarra Bellam, the couple puts a paste of cumin and jaggery on each other’s head. This is done at the lucky time. The two hands are placed on each other’s head at the same time. It is a sign that they are bound together for life.

The couple sits with a screen between them until the lucky time. The screen is a cloth held by the priests or the family. The couple cannot see each other. When the time comes, the screen is removed, and the couple looks at each other for the first time as husband and wife. It is a very special moment.

The groom ties the Mangalsutra with three knots, which is called Brahmamudi. The three knots are often said to stand for the bond of the mind, the body and the spirit. It is a holy moment. In Talambralu, the couple showers rice on each other. The couple takes seven steps around the holy fire, and the bride is sent off in Appagintalu. She leaves with the groom and his family.

Clothes and Jewelry

The bride wears a silk sari, such as a Kanjeevaram or Uppada sari, with gold jewelry. The Uppada sari is light and rich, and it is woven in the coastal town of Uppada. She also wears jasmine flowers and a waist belt. The groom wears a dhoti and a shawl. The dhoti has a golden border. The dress is bright and simple.

Food, Music and Fun

The feast has Pulihora, Pappu, curries and sweets like Payasam. Pulihora is a tangy rice dish with tamarind. Pappu is a lentil dish. The feast also has vegetable curries, pickles, curd and papad. The food is spicy and full of flavour. Guests enjoy the food served on banana leaves. The nadaswaram and the drums play throughout the wedding. A Telugu wedding is a joyful and colourful festival of family and tradition.