One of the Mudaliyar wedding rituals that are conducted with great fanfare is the Sammandhi Mariyathai. This ritual is performed after the completion of another ritual called the Sesha.
What Happens in Sammandhi Mariyathai Ritual in Tamil Mudaliyar Weddings?
The Sammandhi Mariyathai is an event where both families show their gratitude for completing a marriage successfully. It is also an ice-breaker where both family relatives get together and share gifts and appreciate the effort put in to conduct this marriage.
- Mudaliyar caste in Tamilnadu share gifts in this event and it can be gold, silverware, clothes or other such articles and is depending on the financial condition of both families.
- A lavish feast is arranged which both the bride and groom's family share
- It has to be noted that in some families gifts are exchanged before the wedding. Most close relatives will be given gifts at the time of marriage invitation distribution.
- Gifts are given along with the Thamboolam (betel leaves, banana, betel nut and coconut)
- Most of these gifts are sarees, dhotis and angavastram. Affluent families give away these gifts in silk, otherwise cotton sarees and dhoties are given away by others.
- The bride’s family gives away special gifts to the bride and groom. This includes silk saree for the bride and clothing of his choice for the groom which is worn during the wedding reception that follows.
- The relatives of the bride also come forward to give away gifts to the bride and groom. These may include silverware, gold, furniture and fittings, clothing, etc. This is a voluntary act by the loved ones to share the burden of shreedan (gifts given away by the bride’s family to the bride and groom) of the bride’s family.
After the completion of this ritual, the most difficult event for the bride's family that is sending their daughter to the groom's house called the Maru Veedu (translated as the ‘other house’) is performed. The bride leaves the wedding Mandap and enters the groom's house at an auspicious time decided by the priests.