Telugu Wedding Ceremony

Telugu wedding ceremony

The Telugu wedding ceremony( తెలుగు వివాహ వేడుక) is the traditional weedingeremony of the Telugu people of Andhra. In the 19th century, the ceremony could last up to 14 days. In modern times, it can last 5 or more days, depending on the familie's fiancial and social status.

              Weding considered the strongest of social bonds, is said to spiritually merge two souls opening the doors to "Gruhastaashramam" .

              Telugu Marriage is sanctified by seven pledges made by the bride and commences when the bride and groone are united in the presence of panchabhutaalu namely Bhumi(Earth), Akkasham(sky), Agni(fire), Neeru(water) and Vaayuvu(air). The ceremony is held under the Kalyana Mandapam or wedding pavilion decorated with fresh flowers. "Nadasvaram(also called Shehnai in North India) an Indian Musical instrument traditionally accompanies most Telugu weedings.

             Earlier Groom rides an elephant to Bride's place where wedding is sopposed to take place. This process is called "Gajaarohana". Nowadays this tradition is fading out.

             After every ceremony they serve food to all the guests which is also the main part of the culture of offering food to anyone who comes on an auspicious day. All the rituals conducted throughout the Telugu wedding ceremony hold religious significance. Each element in the ceremonies is connected with the other and is given special importance. Weddings reflect the customs and the culture of Andhra.The decorations mostly consist of flowers and mango leaves in rich colors. The families renovate their houses and invite all the guests going to each of their houses with the kumkuma.

Pre- Wedding customs

The rich and varied cultural of Andhra Pradesh., is reflected in the ceremonies conducted there. Andhra pradesh., is reflected in the ceremonies conducted there. Almost all festivals are celebrated with religious observances, holding supreme importance in the lives of residents of the state.

Engagement (nischitortham)

This is the custom where two families meet to perform rituals to make the engagement official. An auspicious date & time(muhurat) for the weeding in decided based on horoscopes. The couple is then blessed by elders of both families and is given gifts including jewelry and clothing by their new family. During this ceremony the future mother-in-law of the bride
present sher with clothes, gold and also silverware, formally ending the engagement.

Snaatakam

Snaatakam means Graduation or Bath Graduate or Post graduation. It is usually performed before house-holder responsibilities are handed over to the groom. Snaatakam ritual takes place at the bridegroom's residence before the muhurtam.

Kashi Yaathra

Traditionally, after snaatakam, groom will be eligible for higher studies and he will be eligible to go to Kashi and study further or become sanyasi. However, as a pre-wedding ceremony, the groom just pretends to go to Kashi and says that he has discarded the worldly pleasures (such as marriage, relations and properties) and is no more interested in leading a family life. He will then be stopped by the brother(cousins) of the bride, who persuade him to assume the responsibility of a household as in they tease each other quite a lot and groom readily agrees for it in the end.

Wedding Customs

The rituals conducted by the telugu people during the ceremonious occasion of wedding are different from those conducted in neighbouring southern state of India. The bride's maternal uncle and her brother play a prominent role at the time of her marriage unlike south Indian weddings, the muhurtham in Telugu weddings does not take place in the morning, but close to midnight. Telugu Brahmin wedding customs differ from the wedding customs of the other Telugu communities. In addition to the rituals mentioned below, their weddings start with rituals common in South Indian Brahmin weddings like punyahavachanam, nandi shraddham, matruka pujanam, eyc.

Mangala Snaanam

As a part of mangala snaanam custom, the bride and groom are required to take an auspicious bath on the wedding day. The aim is to purify them and make them prepared to perform scared rites. This bath is called Abhyangana  snaanam.

Bridal Makeup

At the bride and groom's respective houses. All the relatives and well wishers gather and they smears them with turmeric paste(nalugu - which is a mixture of flours and turmeric powder) and oils. This is dine to cleanse their skin, so that a natural glow is radiated after they bathe. This is where the actual ceremony starts. They are given a new set of clothing to wear and blessed.

Aarti or Harati 

Oil is applied to the bride and groom at their respective houses. Thereafter, the family members get together to perform aarti. They pray for the bride and groom to be granted the wisdom to lead their life happily.

Ganesha and Gowri pooja

Before the wedding ceremony, the groom attends the Ganesha and Gowri pooja, which is conducted at the mandapam and the bride does the Gowri pooja at the house with all the family members and relatives attending before going to the ceremony. It is during this time that "pravara" a ritual of changing Bride's Gotram, from her paternal Gotram to the Groom's Gotram is performed. Elderly  couples from both families are required to attend and witness the "pravara" while the bride is performing Gowri pooja.

Kanya Daanam

Kanya Daanam is the ceremony in which the girl's family hands over their daughter's responsibility to the groom. During the ceremony, the bride sits in a bamboo basket. Her maternal uncle brings her to the mandapam. Until the completion of the Kanya Daanam, the bride and groom are not allowed to look at each other and therefore, they are separated by a curtain that is place between them, as a partition. Thereafter, the bride's parents wash the groom's feet, as a gesture of respect became on the day of wedding the bride grown is comindnt as "Lord Vishnu Svarupam" or incarnation of lord Vishnu who has come to marry their daughter who is comidnt as "Devi Lakshmi".

Panigrahanam (పాణిగ్రహణం)

This means "holding hands". The groom holds the hand of the bride. The Mantras say: The Devas have offered  you to me in order that I may live the life of a householder (Gruhasta); we shall not part from each other.

Jeelakarra Bellam & Madhuparkam (జీలకర్రాబెల్లం ; మధుపర్కం)

 The priest recites the shlokaas from the Vedaas. Thereafter, the couple is asked to place a paste made from cumin seeds and jaggery on each other’s head. This custom is referred to as Jeelakarra-Bellamu. This ceremony is observed to communicate that the relationship of the married couple is unbreakable and inseparable. This is the actual muhurtam time if this ceremony is done all relax and complete the other ceremonies slowly. The ritual of changing Bride's Gotra,"Pravara" is once again performed on the marriage dais in the presence of groom and everyone attending the ceremony. Henceforth, the bride no more belongs to the father's gotra and belongs to Groom's gotra.  As a part of Madhuparkam ritual, the bride dresses up in a white sari with a red border.The groom wears a   white dhoti with a red border. White symbolizes purity and red represents strength

Sumangali (సుమంగళి)

Ten married women (Sumangalis) accompany the bride. Six out of the ten women hold plates containing sacred rice(a mixture of rice and turmeric powder), while the rest of the four hold small lit lamps on their respective plates. Rice represents abundance, while the lit lamps symbolize light.

Mangalasutra Dharana (మంగళసూత్రా ధారణ)

 Mangalasutra Dharana means tying Mangalasutram. In order to perform the ritual, the partition between the   bride and groom are removed. After removing the partition, the groom ties the two strings of the Mangalasutra, each with a golden disc, around the bride’s neck. The mangalasutra represents the physical, mental and spiritual union of the couple. In the Telugu wedding, the groom ties three knots of mangalasutram.

Akshitalu (అక్షితలు)

In the Talambraalu ceremony, the bride and groom exchange garlands. Married people witnessing this occasion come forward to bless the couple, by sprinkling flower petals and rice coated with turmeric powder.

Saptapadi (సప్తపది)

As a part of the Saptapadi rituals, the groom and bride walk seven steps together around the fire, while taking their oaths of caring, protecting, understanding, loving and guiding each other. During this the pallu (edge of the sari) of the bride’s sari is tied to one end of the groom's scarf (Kanduva).

Sthaalipaakam (స్థాలీపాకం)

Sthaalipaakam is a ritual where in the groom adorns the feet of the bride with silver toe rings. This also is believed that the man bends to the woman in order to claim her as his. Also in order to ward-off the evil eye, the bride is adorned by a string of black beads during the ceremony. These beads along with the silver toe rings symbolize that she is a married woman. Right after, a kunda (decorated silver or terra-cotta vessel) full of water is placed in front of the couple and a ring is put in. The groom puts his right hand in and the bride puts her left hand in and they fish for the ring. They do this three times and whoever wins more is supposed to be the dominant one in the marriage. This is a time of fun, because water splashes everywhere and there are chants and shouts of support for either side. Also, the bride is made to cook ( a namesake meal) on the sacred flame of the Agnihothram, symbolizing she is now responsible to take care of the health of her husband and family.

Appagintalu (అప్పగింతలు)

Appagintalu take place right at the end of the wedding. This is when the bride is traditionally handed off to the groom and his family.

POST- WEDDING CUSTOMS

After the wedding ceremony is over, the bride enters the groom’s house formally. She is given a hearty welcome by the groom’s family members. The uniting of Mangalasootram takes place after a fortnight.

Gruhapravesham (గృహప్రవేశం)

After the culmination of the wedding ceremony, the bride is formally taken to the groom’s house. This is called Gruhapravesham of the bride. As she steps into her new home, she is welcomed by the groom’s family members, including his mother and closest relatives.

Satyanarayana Vratam (సత్యనారాయణ వ్రతం)

Satya means "Truth" and Narayana means "The highest being" so Satyanarayana means "The highest being who is an embodiment of Truth". The Satyanarayana Vratam and Puja are very popular in Andhra Pradesh India. Satyanarayana Vratam is performed by bride and groom after Gruhapravesham in groom's residence. This puja is first mentioned inSkanda Purana, Reva Kanda by Suta Puranik to the rishis in Naimisharanya. The details are part of the Katha/"Story" that is usually read after the puja. The Satyanarayana puja/vratam can be performed on any day except on New-Moon.

Uniting the Mangalasutram

Gruhapravesham is followed by a ceremony, wherein the mangalsutram is united. As a customary, the Telugu speaking people unite the two mangasutraas (which was tied by the groom around the bride’s neck), on a common thread. This ritual is done sixteen days post wedding. This ritual can be performed by either the groom or an elderly member of the family. A few black or golden beads are slipped between the two 'plates' of the mangalasutram, so that they do not clash with each other. The unison of mangalasutram signifies the harmony between the two families. After the ceremony is over, the bride takes a bath and wears a new sari.