Pellikuthuru

Marriage in India is once considered as the biggest event of life, which is full of fun, rituals and enthusiasm. Telugu marriage is bound by seven pledges made by the bride and groom. Once married, the bridegroom completed seven revolutions around the fire. Some symbolic gestures and rituals include marriage ceremonies and ensure that couple are united in the presence of Panchabuthaalu (five essential elements for life) i.e.  Agni (fire), Bhumi (earth), Akaasham (sky), Neeru (water) and Vaayuvu(air).

Although there is a separate set of rituals and traditions in every area of ​​the country, which they follow in their weddings, the traditions of Telugu marriage are similar to the Tamil people. A unique feature of Telugu weddings is that they mostly concentrate on spirituality, not only on religion. In a Telugu marriage, functions and rituals are accomplished only when women participate in them. Here are some basic rituals that are included in a traditional Telugu wedding.

Pre-Wedding Ceremonies

Nischithardham

To decide the date, both families come to an astrologer. As soon as the date is fixed, the boy’s mother offers clothes, gold and silverware to the girl.

Pellikuthuru

Pellikuthuru is like haldi ceremony in North Indian weddings. On the prefix day, all relatives and well-wishers gather in the respective houses on either side and apply Nalugu (flour, turmeric powder, and a mixture of oil) to both bride and groom. The actual ceremony starts with this. A new set of clothes will be given to close relatives and the elderly and everyone will bless the event.

Snaathakam

On the eve of marriage, at the bride’s residence, there will be a ritual in which the groom wears a holy silver thread on his body. It is a mark that he is now ready to leave bachelorhood and become a family man.

Kaashi Yatra

This is a fun ceremony. The groom pretends as he is off to Kashi and no longer interested in worldly pleasures. The bride’s brothers and cousins ​​stop him and request him to take the household responsibility, which is accompanied by many fun moments.

The Wedding

The Muhurtham in Telugu marriages, opposite to others, will be close to midnight.

Mangala snaanam

On the wedding morning, the bride and groom are asked to take a a purifying holy bath before performing sacred rites.

Aarti

Family members gather at their homes and pray for a happy married life.

Ganesh and Gauri Pooja

Prior to the wedding ceremony, a groom participates in a Ganesh worship in mandap while the bride is involved in Gauri Puja at her house. The bride will be wearing a red border white sari, while the groom wears white dhoti with red border. White and red representation of purity and strength. Soon after this, the bride will be welcomed on the stage with her relatives.

Kanyaadaanam

This is an official handing over ceremony of the bride’s family, where they entrust their girl to the groom. The bride sits in a bamboo basket during this and her maternal uncle takes them along with others to the Mandap and will be separated by a curtain because they are not going to see each other at that time. The bride’s parents wash the groom’s feet as a welcome.

Jeerakalla-Bellamu

Here, the couple apply the paste made from cumin and jaggery on each other’s head. This ritual shows their inseparable and unbreakable bond.

Sumangali

Ten married women (Sumangals) come to the bride who holds a lit lamp and a mixture of rice and turmeric powder in silver plates. The rice represents abundance, while the lit lamp is a symbol of light.

Mangalsutra ritual

The curtain between the groom and the bride is removed and the groom ties Mangalasutra, around bride’s neck with three knots. This indicates their mental, physical and spiritual union with each other.

Akshintalu

The groom and the bride exchange the flower garlands and the married people of both sides come forward to bless the couple by showering flowers and turmeric coated rice.

Saptapadi

In this ceremony, couples take seven rounds around the sacred fire while taking their marriage vows.

Sthaalipaakam

The groom adorns the bride’s feet with silver toe rings. The bride will also be adorned with a string of black beads, which is believed to remove all the evil eyes. Beads and silver-footed ring shows that a woman is married, According to Telugu tradition.

Apaginthalu

It is the end of the wedding ceremony when the bride traditionally handed over to the new family. This is a bittersweet moment for the both bride and her family.

Although many in number, but each ceremony is encrusted with considerable spiritual reasons and beliefs in most Hindu weddings. Marriages although manifold in its layers, it can be very fun. After all, this is an opportunity to meet your dear and near ones.