The Importance given to family relations is widely seen in most of the traditional rituals in Tamil weddings. The Tamil Vanniyar community is well known for its family bonding and strong communication skills. The maternal uncles of the bride and groom are given a place of high value and respect. There is a ritual at the wedding in which the maternal uncle plays a big role. This is the Pattam tying ceremony.
What is done in Pattam Tying Ritual in Tamil Vanniyar Kula Kshatriyar Weddings?
Once the main ritual of thali tying is completed at the wedding dais, the newly wedded couple exchange their seats. Raw rice is thrown over their heads and the ends of their clothes are tied together. All these rituals in the Vanniyar Kula Sathriyan caste in Tamil Nadu have symbolic meanings and have been followed throughout many generations. The bride’s maternal uncle is the first to tie the pattam. He ties a gold pattam on the forehead of the bride. It’s a small gold plate, normally containing 2-3 gms of gold, around 5 cms in length. These days, the pattam is sometimes replaced by beautiful gold coins tied on a string. Later on, this helps the bride to adorn her thali chain with these coins if she wants to.
Then the bridegroom's maternal uncle moves to the dais and ties a gold pattam onto the Bridegroom’s forehead. In some places, the pattam is made in silver too. This depends on the preference of the families. Once the Pattam tying ceremony is over, the bridegroom's sister ties the couple's hands together with a white cloth. This ceremony bestows a new status on the couple. They are tied together at the wedding and are expected to continue their life together with the blessing of their elders.