A Telugu Reddy wedding is a grand event with lots of fun-filled ceremonies and rituals that define their respect for tradition. Var Pooja is one such ritual in the list of wedding ceremonies that are conducted after Snatakam.
Uniting The Mangal Sutra - (16 days function)
The Kamma weddings in India conclude with the Padaharu Rojilu Pandaka which is a ritual for ‘uniting the Mangalasutra’. This ceremony happens after 16 days of the wedding. The mangal sutra is considered a symbol of unconditional love for the husband, commitment to marriage, and a prayer to God for his long life and hence this function is significant. It is also an indicator of the harmony between the bride’s and the groom’s family.
The Kamma community people are believers of Lord Vishnu and hence performing pujas to the deity after a special occasion like a wedding is a must for them. The first pooja performed by a newlywed couple is the Satyanarayana pooja or also called as Satyanarayana Vratam where the Vratam meaning in English is to take a vow by fasting.
How and When the Sathyanarayana Vratam is performed after Telugu Kamma Weddings?
Pellikuthiru in Telugu Kamma wedding is almost similar to the North Indian ceremony called Haldi. Pellikuthiru in English means the bride and Pellikuduku mean bridegroom. This ceremony happens in both the bride and the groom’s respective homes before the wedding. In case of time constraints, this can be also done on the same day as the wedding.
Procedure for Pellikuthiru/Pellikudukku Ritual in Telugu Kamma Weddings
As per Hindu tradition, a marriage can happen only when the horoscopes match as that is believed to confirm compatibility and thus a sign of a happy life together. Read on to know the importance of matching the horoscope:
Vivaham is the actual wedding ceremony of the Malayalam Ezhava community. It happens at an auspicious time as decided earlier and the thali (mangalsutra) is tied around the neck of the bride. Tying the sacred knot is the most important event in a Hindu Ezhava wedding.
Traditionally Malayalam Ezhava weddings are simple affairs. Unlike other South Indian weddings which may last for two to three days, an Ezhava wedding is carried out in a day. In fact, even within their state counterparts, Ezhava weddings are considered to be the shortest.
The Paranjoonu or Virunnu (feast) ceremony is the official engagement ceremony in the Ezhava community. Here, ‘paraj’ means ‘to inform’ and ‘oonna’ means ‘to eat’. Typically this signifies that the elders in the family of the bride and the Ezhava Groom come together, announce the wedding date and enjoy a feast.
An authentic Kerala wedding feast otherwise known as Kerala Sadhya will be ready after the Kerala Nair wedding. This grand feast has around 28 dishes, along with sweet porridge or the traditional sadhya. These 28 dishes have a fair mix of all tastes - sweet, sour, bitter, spicy and salty varieties. It is specifically prepared this way to denote that married life is a combination of all and the couple must accept that.
This Kerala Nair Hindu wedding ritual is conducted after the thalikettu. Known by different names the Pudamuri / Podamuri / Pudavamuri is a heartwarming ritual where the groom gift's his newlywed wife a silk saree. It is the wedding highlight among all of the Kerala Nair wedding rituals.
