We started the wedding ceremony preparations with the ‘mugurtha kaal’ (a type of plant resembling a long pole) being planted in our house. I believe it is an indication that a marriage is going to take place..
Karu uncle organized the whole event, assisted by his wife, aunty Kala. They prepared the corner for the prayer, lighted the ‘kutu valeku’ (Indian light stand) and started the prayer. Appa, amma, aunty Kala, MIL, FIL, thambhi, Karu uncle, sinnamma, Jaya athai and I performed the rites.. (In picture - Appa performing one of the rites)Then we proceeded to ‘bathe’ the ‘mugurtha kaal’ with water, milk and tumeric water. We started with 7 people holding the ‘mugurtha kaal’; amma, aunty Kala, MIL, thambhi, sinnamma, Jaya athai and I.
After a few minutes, guess who joined us? Who else.. our Champion!
He came and held the ‘mugurtha kaal’ as well. Hmm, then we had to add another member.. called in his cousin, Sharon (just to make the odd number).
And who didn’t want to be missed out? Lil’ President! He hangs onto the pole with FIL carrying him.. that makes 11 of us!
After bathing the ‘mugurtha kaal’, all 7 of us headed outside the house to plant the ‘mugurtha kaal’.
1, 2, 3 and it stood up... Real high!
It was really a tall ‘mugurtha kaal’.. it reached the peak of the TNB pole!
After that, there were more ceremonies.. watering it with 5 mineral elements. All 7 of us watered the ‘mugurtha kaal’.
Nalungu No. 1
We were gonna have 3 nalungu’s for thambhi.. so this was No. 1.
Thambhi came dressed in ‘vesti’.. (white cloth to be wrapped around the waist down, like sarong.. for men) He looked cool ;)
This time, aunty Kala, MIL, sinnamma, Jaya athai and I performed the ceremony. We were then presented with a tray each; containing ‘vettalai’ (sirih), ‘paake’ (comes together with the 'sirih', bangles, ‘pottu’ (red colour powder for the dot on the forehead for married ladies), a yellow string and flowers :)
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Karu uncle / aunty Kala – my babysitter
Psst, I don't know whether I have defined the Indian terms and whether I provided the proper description correctly. If you know a better description for other to understand, do tell me ;)
7 comments:
ehehehe so cute the way presidennts hanging on to the pole ;) for a moment i thought u guys just lifeted him ;)
You must give us all the meaning of those words in Tamil.. I have no clue what they are.. :(
This is for your brother's wedding? I thought initially you were talking about your own.. then when I saw Champion appearing.. I then only know it wasn't. :P
visithra,
Yeah, he didn't want to be left out. Once he got hold of the pole, he didn't want to let go!
But FIL was holding him, just in case ;)
zara's mama,
I tried to give the meaning.. Do you get it now? :)
Yeap, preparations for his wedding which was on the 18th.
Hahaha.. lucky I had them in the pictures huh! ;)
Great!! I have never heard of these customs!!! Sounds intresting.
chitra,
Is it? How come? Isn't this part of the Indian custon?
Glad it was informative to you :)
wow never knew there are so many preps in indian wedding!!
jazzmint,
We do have lots of ceremonies before the wedding itself.. even more after.. More about them in the coming posts :P
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