In case you missed parts of it as a guest, or want to understand all of the next one that you attend, here is our guide to a Hindu mallu<\/em> wedding.<\/p>\n Podava Kodukkal <\/em><\/strong>(giving of the saree)<\/p>\n The groom\u2019s sister and a small party of women go to the bride\u2019s house the evening before the wedding to hand over the wedding saree. The saree, stitched blouse, and other accoutrements are given to the bride. The groom\u2019s sister gets a gift from the bride. This event is followed by an elaborate dinner.<\/p>\n The Temple Visit<\/strong><\/p>\n On the morning of her wedding, the bride, dressed in a simple mundu-neriyadu<\/a><\/em>, visits her family temple and makes a ritual offering, invoking the blessings of the gods watching over her and her loved ones.<\/p>\n Dakshina<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(thanks or gift)<\/p>\n Following her visit to the temple, the bride offers a simple dakshina <\/em>\u2013 a betel leaf, areca nut and one rupee \u2013 to the elders of the family, including her older siblings and cousins and takes their blessings. Following the dakshina <\/em>ceremony, the bride\u2019s party goes to the\u00a0mandapam <\/em>(hooded, decorated canopy under which a wedding takes place). Sometimes the dakshina<\/em> ceremony is held the night before the wedding.<\/p>\n Nirapara<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n A para <\/em>(vessel) is filled to the brim and overflowing (nirapara<\/em>). This small but significant ritual is performed before the bride or groom enters the mandapam. <\/em>Married women from the bride\u2019s family are invited to fill the para <\/em>with handfuls of wheat, with each handful representing the goodwill and prosperity wished for by the elders of the family. Once filled, a branch of coconut flowers is placed atop the wheat. The nirapara <\/em>is surrounded by three\u00a0vilakkus<\/em> (lamps) and a traditional tambulam <\/em>(betel nuts with spices) is placed next to the lamps, as is a photo of the family deity or spiritual leader.<\/p>\n Carrying the Thalam <\/em><\/strong>(plate)<\/p>\n The younger female relatives of the bride form the thalam<\/em> procession. They carry a lamp and lead the bride and groom to the mandapam<\/em>. The groom is welcomed by the bride\u2019s brother, aunt-by-marriage, and those in the thalam<\/em> procession. The bride is brought to the\u00a0mandapam <\/em>by her maternal uncle and is led to the mandapam<\/em> by the thalam<\/em> procession.<\/p>\n Welcoming the groom<\/strong><\/p>\n Dressed in a cream silk shirt and cream silk mundu<\/a>, <\/em>the groom makes his way to the\u00a0mandapam<\/em> with his wedding party. At the entrance of the mandapam<\/em>, his feet are washed by the bride\u2019s brother who garlands him and hands over a flower bouquet. The thalam\u00a0<\/em>procession leads the groom to the mandapam<\/em> after this.<\/p>\n Welcoming the bride<\/strong><\/p>\n The bride, dressed in her wedding finery \u2013 yes, including copious amounts of yellow gold \u2013 makes her way to the mandapam<\/em> with her maternal uncle escorting her. She carries the\u00a0ashta mangalam<\/em> \u2013 the eight essential items needed for a wedding ceremony \u2013 with her.<\/p>\n Thalikettu\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(tying of the knot)<\/p>\n Horoscopes and timing are an essential part of Malayalee wedding culture. The time for the muhurtam\/thalikettu<\/em> is fixed beforehand and it is important that the time is adhered to. Once the bride and groom are seated on the mandapam<\/em>, the groom is given the thali<\/em>(necklace). The pendant is shaped like the leaf of the banyan tree (this varies from region to region, but the most common shape is the banyan leaf). The groom places the thali<\/em>around the bride\u2019s neck and his sister (or cousin) ties the thali<\/em>.<\/p>\n Kanya daanam <\/em><\/strong>(giving away of the daughter)<\/p>\n The bride\u2019s father places the bride\u2019s hand over the grooms and solemnizes the wedding. After this, the couple walks around the mandapam\u2019s <\/em>periphery thrice.<\/p>\n Blessings<\/strong><\/p>\n After the couple\u2019s wedding ceremonies are done, the bride and groom\u2019s immediate family offers them a spoonful of sweetened milk and bananas. This is sometimes done after the bride enters her married home.<\/p>\n Sadya<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The sadya<\/em>,or meal, is the most important part of the celebrations. It is only after eating the food from the wedding sadya <\/em>that the bride and groom can leave.<\/p>\n Following their meal, the bride and groom depart from the mandapam<\/em>. At the groom\u2019s house, the bride is given a vilakku<\/em> and she enters her new home, as the bringer of prosperity, putting her right foot forward first.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Image courtesy of\u00a0ayejay<\/a>\u00a0via\u00a0Creative Commons<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Editor’s note:<\/p>\n Have you ever been to a Tamil Brahmin wedding, but didn’t know what the rituals were about? \u00a0Here’s a guide:\u00a0Tamil Brahmin Wedding Ceremony<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Kalyana](\"https:\/\/www.jodi365.com\/singledout\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/mandapam.jpg\")
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