Tamil Wedding

The Land and the People

Tamil weddings are held in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, in southern India. They are also held by Tamil families in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries. Tamil Nadu is a land of grand temples, green fields and a very old language. The Tamil people are proud of their culture, their music and their literature.

Different communities have small differences in their customs. Most Tamil Hindu weddings follow old Vedic rituals with local touches. The weddings are colourful, joyful and full of meaning. Every ritual has its own reason, and the elders explain it to the young.

How Long the Wedding Lasts

A Tamil wedding usually takes two to three days. In the past, it could take up to five days. Today, many families hold the main ceremony in one morning and the other functions on the day before. The wedding starts early in the morning at a lucky time.

Before the Wedding

The wedding begins with Nichayathartham, when the families fix the match and the date. The families meet, exchange gifts, fruits, flowers and sweets and read the wedding letter aloud. The elders bless the couple. The date and the lucky time are chosen by a priest, after checking the horoscopes.

Pandhakaal Muhurtham is a puja to bless the wedding. A bamboo pole is planted in the ground, and it is decorated with mango leaves and flowers. It is a sign that the wedding preparations have begun. The family prays for a smooth wedding.

The groom’s procession, called Janavasam, is held on the evening before the wedding. The groom is taken to the wedding hall in a decorated car or a chariot. The band plays, and friends and relatives walk along. The women of the family wave a lamp and welcome him. The groom is treated like a prince.

Nalangu is a fun game night for the bride and groom. The relatives play games with them, such as passing a ball or rolling a coconut. The women sing songs and tease the couple. The bride and groom laugh and become friendly with each other. It is a happy and light-hearted evening.

The Wedding Day

On the wedding day, the groom performs the Kashi Yatra, and the bride’s father stops him and offers his daughter. The groom pretends to leave for Kashi. He takes an umbrella, a walking stick and a fan. The bride’s father stops him, and he offers his daughter’s hand. The groom agrees, and the guests laugh.

The couple exchanges garlands in Maalai Maatral and sits on a swing in Oonjal. The friends and relatives lift the bride and groom in a playful way. The women of the family sing songs, and they give the couple milk and bananas. They wave rice balls in four colours around the couple, to keep away the evil eye.

The groom ties the Thali, and the couple takes seven steps around the holy fire. The priest chants mantras, and the nadaswaram and the drums play. The groom ties three knots. The sister of the groom helps with the last two knots. Each step is a vow.

At night, the groom shows the bride the star Arundhati. Arundhati is a star that is a sign of a loyal wife. The couple looks at the star and asks for a happy life. It is a sweet and quiet moment.

Clothes and Jewelry

The bride wears a Kanjeevaram silk sari with gold jewelry. The Kanjeevaram sari is very rich, and it is woven with gold thread. It is often red, maroon, or a bright colour, with a wide border. She wears a necklace, bangles, earrings and jasmine flowers in her hair. The groom wears a veshti and an angavastram. The veshti is a white cloth with a golden border. The angavastram is a shawl worn over the shoulder.

Food, Music and Fun

The feast is served on a banana leaf and has many dishes. It has rice, sambar, rasam, curd, vegetable dishes, papad and pickles. Sweet Payasam ends the meal. The food is served in a fixed order, and the servers walk along the rows with big pots. The meal is completely vegetarian in most Tamil Hindu weddings. The music of the nadaswaram and the tavil fills the hall. A Tamil wedding is a rich and joyful celebration of faith and family.