Chettiar Wedding

The Land and the People

Chettiar weddings are held in Tamil Nadu, mainly in the Chettinad region. Chettinad includes towns like Karaikudi, Devakottai and Pudukkottai. The land is dry, but the towns are full of big and beautiful old homes. Many of these homes have tall pillars, carved wooden doors and wide courtyards. They were built by rich traders long ago.

The Nattukottai Chettiar community is well known for its business skills and its grand homes. In the past, many Chettiars traveled to other countries to do business and then returned home to build big houses. Many Chettiar families also live in other Indian cities and in countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore. Their wedding customs are very old, and the community takes great pride in keeping them alive.

How Long the Wedding Lasts

In the past, a Chettiar wedding could last five days or more. The whole family gathered in the ancestral home, and each day had its own rituals and feasts. Today, most weddings are held in one to three days. Even though the wedding is shorter now, the main rituals and the old customs are still followed.

Before the Wedding

The families first check the horoscopes of the bride and groom. A horoscope is a chart made from the date and time of birth. The families believe that a good match of horoscopes will bring a happy marriage. If the charts agree, the families go ahead with the talks.

A lucky date and time are then fixed by a priest. This is very important, as the tying of the sacred thread must be done at the right moment. Before the wedding, the families exchange gifts and sweets in an engagement function. Elders from both sides meet, share a meal and agree on the plan for the wedding. The mood is warm and respectful.

The Wedding Day

On the wedding day, the groom is welcomed with a garland, and the bride and groom sit together. Elders and relatives gather around to see the ceremony. The priest lights a sacred lamp and begins the rituals.

The groom ties the sacred Thali around the bride’s neck at the lucky time, called the Muhurtham. The Thali is a gold ornament, and it is the most important symbol of marriage for a Tamil bride. The sound of drums and the nadaswaram, a long wind instrument, rises at this moment. Elders bless the couple with rice and flowers. They throw the rice gently over the heads of the bride and groom, and they wish them a long and happy life.

In many families, the couple takes seven steps around the holy fire. Each step is a promise of love, care and loyalty. After the rituals, the couple bows to the elders to seek their blessings. Everyone then joins for the wedding feast.

Fun games called Nalangu are played after the wedding to make the couple relax and laugh. In these games, the couple plays with relatives, and there is a lot of teasing. The games help the shy bride and groom to feel at ease. Gifts, called Seer, are given to the bride by her family. They may include vessels, jewelry and other household items. This is a way of helping the bride begin her new home in comfort.

Clothes and Jewelry

The bride wears a silk sari and gold jewelry. Her sari is often bright, with a rich golden border. She wears necklaces, bangles, earrings and a waist belt. The groom wears a veshti and shirt. The veshti is a white cloth wrapped around the waist. He also wears a shawl on his shoulder. The dress is simple but graceful.

Food, Music and Fun

Chettinad food is famous for its strong spices. It uses pepper, fennel, star anise and many other spices, and the dishes have a deep and rich taste. The feast is served on banana leaves. Guests sit in rows on the floor, and the food is served in a fixed order. There are many vegetarian dishes for the wedding, and each dish has its own taste. Sweets and snacks are served at the end of the meal. The music of the nadaswaram and the drums fills the air. A Chettiar wedding is a grand but graceful event, full of pride in family and culture.