Enjoy the Varied Customs and Traditions of Kerala Matrimony

The state of Kerala lies in the southwestern region of India. The population of the state comprises a majority of Malayalee Hindus. Other religions in the state are Islam and Christianity. The Malayalee Hindus are a mixed community, which traces its lineage from the Aryan and Dravidian communities. The followers of Islam in the state are originally Arab traders who have made the state their home. The Christian population in Kerala is mostly from Syria. The Kerala Matrimony differs in customs and rituals for the various religious communities settled in the state.

The Hindu Kerala Matrimony spans for several days with many pre-wedding rituals. The Hindu rituals for the people of state of Kerala are many and one of the important rituals is the ‘Kanyadaan’. In this ritual, the father of the bride gives her hand to the groom. The Hindu bride from the state of Kerala wears a white sari called Mundu and a jubba made of silk. The groom wears a white shirt and a dhoti.

The Kerala Matrimony rituals for the Christian Matrimony members take place in the church. The wedding happens during daytime while the reception party is organized in the evening. The groom wears a western-styled suit while the bride wears a white silk sari. A white veil covers her head. The color white symbolizes purity and most brides in the Christian Kerala Matrimony prefer this color for the wedding dress.

The Muslims of Kerala follows the rituals and customs as stated in the Islamic haddiths. The weddings of the Muslim community of Kerala are a joyous function with fun and serious rituals. The groom and the bride signed the marriage contract known as the ‘Nikahnama’ in presence of witnesses and the qazi. The Muslim brides from Kerala wear traditional styled lehengas. Some also wears a traditional Indian sari on the day of wedding in Kerala Matrimony.

Author: Shipra Sinha

Enjoy a Sumptuous Feast in a Bengali Matrimony

Food is an important part of any celebration in India and weddings are the perfect place to gorge on the delectable cuisine. And if this is a Bengali wedding then, you should be sure to stuff yourself with a range of items, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. In a Bengali Matrimony, the festivities start few days before the actual day of wedding. There are many rituals before and after the wedding. Bengalis take the best opportunity to cook their traditional delicacies during the four-five days of wedding.

The Bengali community members eat fish, meat and chicken and takes pride in their non-vegetarian recipes. In a Bengali Matrimony, the feast is incomplete without three-four non-vegetarian items. Bengalis are known worldwide for their fish in mustard gravy. Usually the people from Bengal eat sweet water fish. A variety of fish like ‘rui’, ‘katla’, ‘parshey’ and ‘praws’ are cooked in different types of sauces and spice mixture. Apart from this, goat meat and chicken items are also served in a Bengali matrimony. Chicken starters are very common in the Bengali weddings as well.

There are also a number of vegetarian items served along with the non-vegetarian items. Some common food items served in a Bengali matrimony are ‘luchi’ or ‘radhballvi’, ‘chanar dalna’ and ‘begun bhaja’. These are items usually served on the wedding night.

Sweets or misti are integral part on any Bengali Matrimony. ‘Shondesh’, a sweet made from cottage cheese is one of the most popular items in any Bengali wedding. There are many variants served and each one is typical of Bengal. Another very common sweet item is the ‘rossogulla’. This is a widely consumed sweet and liked by young and old alike.

Though most of the food served in a Bengali Matrimonial is traditional fare from the state, some Bengali families include delicacies from other Indian states as well. There are also Chinese and Mughlai items on the wedding menu.

Author: Shipra Sinha

The Wedding Attire of Oriya Bride and Groom

Orissa is famous for beautifully patterned silk and cotton saris, and for the weddings and other important occasions, saris are especially woven according to the choice of the bride. There are some typical designs that can be generally observed in the wedding saris in Oriya matrimony. The brides wear heavy gold jewellery and specific patterns of sandalwood paste are designed on her face.

The Oriya community is generally very specific about the wedding attire, especially sari, but with the changing trends, there has been change in the style of wedding attire of the brides also. Nowadays, the fashion has changed and the Oriya brides love wearing fabrics such as crepe, georgette, chiffon, tissue, satin, etc.

Some of the popular colors used in Oriya Matrimony are yellow, golden, pink, orange, maroon, magenta or brown. Dual toned saris such as a combination of red and golden, red and silver, green and red, pink and green, brown and green, pink and blues, and other permutation and combinations of colours are also very popular.

The most preferred colour for wedding attire is Red. The saris and lehengas in red are the favourite choice of the brides in India, since times immemorial. A number of combinations are available with the red colour, which suits every complexion. The warmth of the colour adds to the charm and beauty of the bride, and is associated specifically with marriage.

An Oriya groom wears a dhoti and kurta, which they call Punjabi. A silk or cotton kurta is generally popular for wedding and other ceremonial purposes. The kurta has fine embroidery all over, which is complemented by an Uttariya. The Uttariya is a piece of cloth that the grooms keep around their neck during the wedding. The grooms in Oriya matrimony wear a silk thread around their body, signifying the purity.

Author: Rashmi Karan

Some Important Pre-Wedding Rituals in Bengali Wedding

Ashirwad:

Generally, there is no concept of engagement in a Hindu wedding. People often associate engagement as fixing of a wedding. In Bengal matrimony, Ashirwad is the ceremony, which is similar to the engagement ceremony and is organized two-three day prior to the wedding day. Ashirwad is a confirmation of the marriage alliance. During the Ashirwad ceremony, the groom’s family visits the bride’s home, where they shower the bride with lots of blessings and gifts, which include saris for the bride, jewellery like gold ring, chain, etc., sweets, betel nuts, etc.

The Ashirwad ceremony is conducted in the presence of a priest who worships the idol of Bhagwan Narayan. Similarly, the bride’s family visits the groom’s home and gifts him gold ring, gold buttons, sweets, watch, etc.

Gaye halud:

 

Also known as haldi or turmeric ceremony in Bengal Matrimony where turmeric paste is massage all over the body of the bride and groom at their respective homes. Turmeric is an antiseptic, and is believed to bring a glow on the face of the person, who is about to be wedded.

Dodhi Mangal:

 

Dodhi Mangal is celebrated in the wee hours of the wedding day at both bride’s and groom’s houses. I missed the previous rituals in my friend’s wedding, so I decided to follow all the customs of the wedding. It was a new experience for me, when ten married women of the family accompany the bride and groom to a nearby pond, and are made to bath in the sacred water. I did not know the motive of this ritual, as every ritual has some story related to it. My friend’s mother told me that this is done to invite Goddess Ganga to the wedding. After the bride and groom take bath, they bring back a pitcher of water with them, and take bath again. The bride and groom are given food, which mainly consists of fried fish, rice, curd and chiruya.

After the completion of the pre-wedding rituals of Bengal matrimony, the Bengali Marriage was conducted in the evening.

Author: Rashmi Karan

Pre-Wedding Rituals in Punjabi Matrimony

Delhi is the home of a number of Punjabi families, and other residents have adopted their culture. The impact of rituals and customs of a Punjabi matrimony can clearly be noticed in weddings held in and around Delhi. A typical Punjabi wedding is full of pomp and show, and it is very entertaining to be a part of a Punjabi wedding.

The fun filled rituals, celebrations and parties after parties are the wedding style of a Punjabi matrimony. Punjabis are known for their love towards fun and dance.

ROKA

Roka is a kind of pre-engagement ceremony, where just families of the prospective bride and groom gather and fix the wedding. Roka is the acceptance of wedding from both sides of the families, and generally, wedding date is announced.

SHAGAN

This is engagement function where the family of the bride visits the groom’s family with gifts and sweets.

CHUNNI

This time the bride’s family visits the groom’s home, where the bride is presented with red sari and chunni, along with jewellery. It’s not compulsory, but the bride and groom may exchange rings, and main functions start.

SANGEET

In Punjabi matrimonial both families organize grand sangeet celebrations at their respective homes. The family and friends of both bride and groom dance whole night on the beats of Punjabi and Bollywood numbers. There is also fashion to call DJ, and arrange bar for the guests, where people flock around!

MEHENDI

Bride’s family organizes mehendi ceremony, generally a day before the wedding. The hands and feel of bride are decorated with beautiful mehendi patterns. There is custom that the bride does not step out of her parent’s home after mehendi, until the wedding day. It is believed that darker the colour of mehendi, stronger will be the relationship. Women from family and young girls also apply mehendi and enjoy the ceremony.

Author: Rashmi Karan