South Indian weddings are all about ancient traditional rituals and vibrant celebrations bonding two souls. Compared to all Indian weddings, South Indian wedding rituals are truly exceptional and rich. The wedding ritual starts from Nichayathartham and goes to Griha Pravesham. If you are interested in exploring the traditions of South Indian weddings, this guide offers a comprehensive look at them. Moreover, it also highlights the bride and groom’s costumes during these celebrations.
Explore the South Indian Wedding Rituals
1. Nichayathartham
Nichayathartham is the beginning of Tamil wedding rituals step by step. This is the engagement ceremony, the foremost pre wedding ritual.
2. Haldi
The Haldi ceremony, a lively pre-wedding celebration, showcases the richness of South Indian tradition. The bride wears a beautiful yellow saree, lehenga, or half-saree, while the groom opts for a simple kurta set.
3. Mangala Snanam
The Mangala Snanam ceremony reflects the purity of South Indian wedding customs. During this ritual, the bride and groom receive a purifying bath to cleanse any negatives and prepare them for a fresh start.
4. Ganapati and Gauri Puja
The bride and groom perform the Ganapati and Gauri Pooja to seek blessings for a happy life ahead. Here, the bride wears a Kanchipuram saree, while the groom opts for a kurta or traditional dhoti.
5. Nandi Devata Puja
Next is the Nandi Devatas pooja, honouring God with the branches decorated with pipal tree leaves. In this ritual, five married women from the family perform pooja in traditional attire.
6. Navagraha Puja
In the Navagraha Puja, an important South Indian wedding tradition, the couple appeases the planets to receive their blessings.
7. Vratham
After all the pre-wedding rituals, from here, the wedding ceremony begins. In this step, a holy thread is tied around the bride’s hands to protect her from evil eyes and spirits.
8. Jana Vasam
The bride and groom’s family arrive at the temple near the wedding hall. Furthermore, the bride’s parents offer the groom a new outfit and then lead him to the Kalyana mandap.
9. Pada Puja
In this sacred ceremony, the bride’s mother washes the groom’s feet with water and pure ingredients like sandalwood and kumkum. At times, the groom’s mother may perform this ritual instead.
10. Vaaku Nichaya Muhoortham
Now, in South Indian wedding rituals, the fathers of the groom and bride face one another, and the priest recites hymns.
11. Malai Maatral
The wedding ceremony proceeds with the Malai Maatral, where the bride and groom exchange garlands three times in the wedding mandap. In addition, it symbolises the bride’s acceptance of the groom. Dressed in a Kanchipuram saree and a traditional dhoti, they celebrate this joyful moment together.
12. Oonchal
And then, Oonchal is a sacred swing ceremony where the bride and groom swing together in a beautifully adorned swing. The women sing songs to cheer the couple and present them with bananas and milk.
13. Vara Puja
Furthermore, in the ritual, the bride’s family conducts a puja for the groom, offering food, clothes, and other gifts to him and his family. Moreover, the bride’s parents wash the groom’s feet with milk and clean them with silk.
14. Kanyadanam
In the Kanyadanam ritual, the bride’s father gives the bride’s hand to the groom, and the priests recite the hymns.
15. Kankanam Dharanam
In this ritual, the bride and groom tie a thread around each other’s hands. Additionally, it symbolises their commitment to be together forever.
16. Maangalya Dharanam
The Maangalya Dharanam ceremony holds great significance in South Indian weddings. During this ritual, the groom ties the Thaali or Mangala Sutra around the bride’s neck. Moreover, it signifies lifelong commitment and protecting the bride from evil eyes.
17. Paani Grahanam
In this Paani Grahanam ceremony, the priest chants the mantras while the groom holds the bride’s hands. For the bride, it signifies her willingness to surrender her heart. Then, for the groom, it represents his lifelong promise of togetherness.
18. Saptapadi
Next, in the Saptapadi ceremony, the bride and groom take seven steps together, with each step representing a vow of marriage.
19. Pradhaana Homam
After Saptapadi, both bride and groom perform this ritual to show their respect to Agni (fire). This is a spiritual witness of all auspicious events. Additionally, they take steps around the fire, offering ghee and twigs from nine types of trees.
20. Ammi Midithal
Next, during the Ammi Midithal ritual, the groom places the bride’s left foot on a grindstone while chanting a mantra. Moreover, this ceremony gives the groom the strength to face the challenges of married life.
21. Spotting the Arundhati Star
During this ceremony, the groom shows the bride the star Arundhati from the Saptarishi constellation. Additionally, this specific ritual holds mythological significance, as Arundhati was the ideal wife of Sage Vasishta.
22. Laaja Homam
In the Laaja Homam, the bride offers rice grains to Agni and prays for the well-being of her husband. Besides, the bride’s family, especially her brother, also takes part in this ritual.
23. Akshadai Shower
The older members of the family bless the happy couple by showering them with rice grains coated in saffron and turmeric.
24. Mangala Aarthi
The Mangala Aarthi ritual is performed to remove all evil eyes from the couple. A plate with a lamp, turmeric, vermilion, and sandalwood is circled around them to eliminate negativity.
25. Griha Pravesham
As the special rituals conclude, the bride leaves her home and, upon entering her husband’s house for the first time.
Final Thoughts!
This was your comprehensive guide to South Indian wedding rituals. If you are waiting for the big day, get ready to witness all these beautiful and joyful rituals.
