Marriage rituals and their significance in Telugu Weddings

Marriage rituals and their significance in Telugu Weddings

Marriage comes with a lot of rituals, and the significance for the couple, alongside the rich traditions of Andhra and Telangana, makes Telugu weddings celebrated with a lot of pomp and elaborate rituals that hold meaning for the couple and their blooming love. Here is a small guide on the wedding rituals in a Telugu wedding and their significance for the couple:

Nichithartham/Tambulalu
 This is the first wedding ceremony where the families of the bride and groom come together to announce the wedding in the presence of elders and loved ones. It is followed by an exchange of rings between the bride and groom. In some families, only the bride is present for the ceremony, and not the groom. The families exchange tambulam as a mark of saying yes to the alliance, finalising the wedding date.

Ganesh Puja/Pasupu Danchatam
 As we all know, before starting any ritual or puja, we offer our obeisance to Lord Ganesha to avoid any hurdles in the proceedings. Similarly, the families perform Ganesh Puja to seek the Lord’s blessings and begin the wedding preparations smoothly, without obstacles.

Pre-Wedding Rituals

Mangala Snanam
 Mangala Snanam is a ritual performed on both the bride and groom. In this ritual, they are bathed with turmeric paste, sandalwood paste, and warm water to cleanse their bodies and make their skin glow naturally, preparing them for the wedding rituals.

Pelli Kuturu/Pelli Koduku
 After the Mangala Snanam, the bride and groom, in their respective households, dress in new clothes, usually a silk saree for the bride and a silk dhoti for the groom. They then take the blessings of the elders.

Pochamma Panduga
 In some parts of Telangana, one of the rituals involves the bride and groom visiting the nearby Pochamma temple with all the family members, carrying a feast and the wedding dress to place in front of the Lord and seek blessings.

Mehendi and Sangeet
 These are functions borrowed from North Indian weddings that have now become a big part of Telugu weddings. In the Mehendi ceremony, usually held at the bride’s home, family and friends, especially the ladies, gather and apply mehendi to their hands. Mehendi, made from the leaf called gotintaku, is considered beneficial as it cools the body. It is thus considered good for the bride.
 In the Sangeet ceremony, both the bride’s and groom’s families come together to dance and celebrate the couple.

On the Day of the Wedding

Groom’s Side Rituals

Santakam
 This is considered a sacred ritual where a homam takes place, and the groom is given a set of guidelines to lead his married life and be a good citizen.

Kashi Yatra
 After the Santakam, the groom, overwhelmed by worldly pleasures, declares his desire to renounce the world and live a sage’s life in Kashi. The bride’s brother then convinces him not to leave, offering his sister in marriage, promising that she will support him in all his life’s deeds and lead a fruitful life together.

Bride’s Side Rituals

Gauri Puja
 Here, the bride offers puja to Goddess Gauri, seeking her blessings for a happy married life.

The Wedding

Kanyadanam
 The bride is brought in on a lotus basket, as she is considered to be Sri Maha Lakshmi on this special day. In this ritual, the bride’s father washes the feet of the groom, considering him to be Sri Maha Vishnu(Sri Mahavishu swaroopaya varaya). He then gives his daughter’s hand to the groom, with the assurance that he will take care of her for the rest of their lives.

Jilakara Bellam
 It is believed that when jilakara and bellam (cumin seeds and jaggery) are mixed, they create a cooling mixture. When placed on the center of the head (which is considered hot), it symbolizes attraction between the bride and groom, helping them lead a loving life. This ritual is performed at an auspicious time called muhurtam, during which family and friends bless the couple with akshantalu (rice mixed with turmeric).

Madhuparkam
 After the Jilakara Bellam ritual, the bride and groom change into white cotton sarees and dhotis. Cotton is preferred over silk as a symbol of non-violence (since silk is made from silk worms). The couple takes a vow of non-violence by dressing in these simple cotton garments.

Mangalasutram
 The main wedding ritual is the Mangalasutra Dharana, where the groom ties a sacred thread called mangalasutram around the bride’s neck with three knots, signifying lifelong companionship.

Talambralu

 During this ritual, the bride and groom exchange garlands and the shower each other with pearls and rice mixed along with saffron and turmeric.

Saptapadi
 In this ritual, the couple takes seven vows in the presence of the fire god, pledging to support each other in health, wealth, sickness, old age, and throughout their lives.

Apagintalu
 This is considered an emotional ritual, as the bride is bid farewell from her mother’s home to the groom’s home.

All the wedding rituals have both scientific and religious significance, aimed at making the couple’s journey blossom and ensuring they lead a happy life. If you are someone looking to experience these rituals and have a fruitful married life, you can find your partner on trusted sites like Matchfinder Matrimony, which has around 500,000 verified profiles across different religions, castes, cities, educational backgrounds, and job locations. So, sign up, find your one, and experience our rich culture with your partner, letting love blossom.

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