Traditional Kerala Hindu Marriage |
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The Key Traditional Kerala Marriage Rituals involved

Nirapara - filling a large rice measure with paddy

Nilavilakku - lighting a traditional, oil-burning lamp

Thalikettu - tying the thali around the neck of the bride and

Pudava kodukkal - gifting a pudava by the bridegroom to the bride.

Marriages are typically held in large halls that accommodate a large audience. The audience would consist of relatives and friends of both the bride and bridegroom. Arranging this function is the responsibility of the bride's parents. The function would be held on a raised platform at one end of the hall. The nirapara would be filled with paddy in a traditional manner by the bride's parents. The nilavilakku would be filled with oil and the wicks would be lit. There would also be thalams, plates filled with a small lamp and other symbolic articles. The bridegroom and bride would be led to the stage by girls bearing these thalams.

Nirapara and Nilavilakku

Nirapara means a "filled measure". Para is the largest measure, a wooden container, used traditionally to measure paddy. This measure would be heaped up with paddy and a bunch of coconut tree flowers would be inserted into the heap. The large measure and heaped paddy stand for prosperity (in the traditionally agricultural community).

Nilavilakku is a large brass lamp on a stand that has a cup at the top. The cup is filled with oil and wicks are placed in it with one edge projecting out of the cup. This projecting end is lighted and it would continue to burn by drawing the oil. The lighted lamp represents agni - the god of fire - who should witness all auspicious occasions.

Carrying the Thalam

The younger female relatives of the bride form the thalam procession. They carry a lamp and lead the bride and groom to the mandapam. The groom is welcomed by the bride's brother, aunt-by-marriage, and those in the thalam procession. The bride is brought to the mandapam by her maternal uncle and is led to the mandapam by the thalam procession.

Welcoming the groom

Dressed in a cream silk shirt and cream silk mundu, the groommakes his way to the mandapam with his wedding party. At the entrance of the mandapam, his feet are washed by the bride's brother who garlands him and hands over a flower bouquet. The thalam procession leads the groom to the mandapam after this.

Welcoming the bride

The bride, dressed in her wedding finery yes, including copious amounts of yellow gold makes her way to the mandapam with her maternal uncle escorting her. She carries the ashta mangalam the eight essential items needed for a wedding ceremony with her.

Thalikettu

Horoscopes and timing are an essential part of Malayalee wedding culture. The time for the muhurtam/thalikettu is fixed beforehand. Once the bride and groom are seated on the mandapam, the groom is given the thali. The pendant is shaped like the leaf of the banyan tree. The groom places the thali around the bride's neck and his sister ties the thali.

Pudava Kodukkal

The traditional marriage function was a simple one, involving just one ritual, the Pudava Kodal. Pudava means a cloth that Kerala women wore traditionally.after the thalikettu the Groom presented clothes to the bride

Kanya daanam

The bride's father places the bride's hand over the grooms and solemnizes the wedding. After this, the couple walks around the mandapam's periphery thrice.

Sadya

The sadya,or meal, is the most important part of the celebrations. The bride and groom can leave after having the wedding sadya

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