Tamil Wedding Traditions

Married women sprinkle water on nine clay pots filled with different varieties of grain. Traditional songs are sung and the next day the pots are immersed into the pond so that fishes fed on them could bless the new couple. The ceremony of 'naandi' involves honoring few Brahmins with gifts and sweets. Then the bride's parents perform ganesh puja in front of the officiating priest. Then the priest formally reads out the wedding invitation and this is followed by an elaborate dinner.

On the wedding day, the 'mangal snanam' is the auspicious and purifying bath that the bride and the groom have in their respective homes. This is followed by kashi yatra where the groom pretends to go into pilgrimage and the bride's father requests him to accept his daughter.

The groom's parents gift the bride a nine-yard sari and a blouse to be worn for next moment, the auspicious occasion of tying the mangasultra. The priest and relatives bless the mangalsutra or sacred thread and hand it to the groom who ties it around the neck of his bride with two knots. The groom's sister ties the third knot. The three knots symbolize the marriage of the mind, spirit and body.

Then the ritual of 'saptapadi' is performed where the groom takes the bride's right hand in his left hand and leads her around the sacred fire seven times. The bride begins each round by touching her feet to a grinding stone.

After the wedding the two families exchange clothes and gifts. The bride and groom seek the blessings of the senior members of the family by prostrating in front of them. They also offer them a gift of fruits and a token rupee.

After this the bride is escorted to the groom's house and lunch is served at that venue. In the evening the reception takes place.

Travour.com describes and provides information on the wedding traditions of the Tamils and around the world.

Here are some Wedding Traditions performed around the world