Pre Wedding Ritual In Tamil Chettiar Weddings - Mappillai Azhaippu
Mappillai (Groom) Azhaippu (to invite) means inviting the groom to the bride’s house or the Kalyana mandapam (wedding hall). This event is a traditional welcome to the Chettiar groom and family prior to the wedding. On the day of the marriage, the family of the groom arrives at the bride's town or village. But they do not stay or visit the bride's house as traditionally the bride and groom are not supposed to see each other before the wedding. Usually, they wait at a community hall or a temple and wait to be invited by the bride's family.