Malayali Hindu Wedding

The Land and the People

Malayali Hindu weddings are held by Hindu families in Kerala. They take place in temples, halls and homes across the state. Kerala is a land of backwaters, coconut palms, green hills and beaches. It is known for its high literacy, and its people are proud of their culture.

Many Malayali families in the Gulf, the USA and the UK also hold them. Different Hindu communities in Kerala have small changes in their customs. The main ceremony is simple and short. Kerala weddings are known for being neat and quiet, and for their fine sense of order.

How Long the Wedding Lasts

The main wedding is usually held in one day and takes about an hour. Small functions before and after the wedding can add one or two more days. The wedding starts at the lucky time, and the ceremony is finished in a short time. The feast follows.

Before the Wedding

The wedding starts with Pennukaanal, when the groom’s family visits the bride’s home. The word means seeing the girl. The groom and his family meet the bride and her family, and they talk and share tea and snacks. It is a polite and friendly meeting.

The families then agree on the match in a function called Nischayam. The families exchange gifts and share sweets. The elders bless the couple. A priest picks a lucky time, called the Muhurtham. The time is chosen with the help of the stars and old books. This is the most important part of the planning, because the Thali must be tied at this exact time.

The Wedding Day

On the wedding day, the couple sits before a lit lamp called a Nilavilakku. The lamp is a symbol of light, knowledge and prosperity. It is a tall brass lamp with many wicks. It stays lit throughout the ceremony. The family sits around it, and the priest says a short prayer.

The groom gives the bride a new sari in a ritual called Pudava Kodukkal. This is a sign that the groom will look after the bride. She takes the sari and wears it later. He then ties the Thali around her neck. The Thali is a small gold pendant, and it is the sign of marriage. The music of the nadaswaram and the drums rises at this moment.

The bride’s father puts her hand in the groom’s hand. The couple then walks around the lamp. They also exchange garlands. The elders bless the couple with flowers and rice. The couple bows before the elders.

After the wedding, the couple is welcomed into the groom’s home. His mother greets them with a lamp and a plate of rice. The bride steps in with her right foot and enters her new home. The family gives her sweets and milk.

Clothes and Jewelry

The bride wears a white and gold sari called a Kasavu sari. The sari is cream in colour and has a gold border. She wears gold jewelry and jasmine flowers in her hair. The groom wears a white mundu and a shirt. The mundu is a white cloth with a gold border, and it matches the bride’s sari. The dress is simple and beautiful.

Food, Music and Fun

A grand feast called Sadya is served on a banana leaf. It has more than twenty dishes and two kinds of Payasam. The dishes include rice, sambar, avial, thoran, pickles, papad and banana chips. Each dish is placed in its own place on the leaf. The meal is completely vegetarian. It ends with sweet Payasam and buttermilk. The Sadya is loved by everyone. A Malayali Hindu wedding is short, neat and full of meaning.