Marriages @ Heaven - 2

I'd be filling details on what happens post the wedding in the morning ....

What follows is a grand feast (called lunch), which normally has a plantain leaf used as a Thaali, which has a spread which is mouthwatering and yummy. Normally it's a vegetarian fare and includes about 12-14 variety of dishes ..... though some show their money power by going upto 20-22 varieties .... just think about it !!! (..mmmm)

Post the lunch the "mega-serial" item happens .... yes the 'tears' scenario .... the bride bids adieu to her folks, uncles etc ..... and the closest family and the girl breaks into tears while bidding "good-bye" ..... the immediate family (normally the bride, groom, groom's parents, bride & grooms uncle and a younger sibling / cousin of the bride) leaves the bride's village to their village (the groom's place).

The group doesn't reach their home straight but an annointed home (their neighbours, relative) closeby. Then in the evening the entire bus-ful of relatives of the bride reaches and then the bride & the groom are taken to the grooms home. This is called the "Penn azhaippu", where the girl is brought to her home.

After a few small formalities like spotting the ring out of three pots etc (to make them comfortable) the newly wed and their relatives settle (again) for a dinner feast at the groom's home.

Hope i've covered quite a bit ....... (for want of the right picture have added an upcoming movie still about the chettinadu weddings)

Marriages @ Heaven

The marraiges at Chettinad are elaborate, with customs & procedures totally different from the other Hindu marraiges. I'm trying to give a detailed account of the customs and procedures here .......

The 1st day (the day prior to the wedding day) evening starts with family, relatives of the groom or the bride visiting the home. (Normally the marraige happens at the brides home in the native village). Formalities of the "Thaali" (mangal sutra), making the yellow rope, including the main dollar of the thaali etc are done by the grooms "pangali" (the relatives of the ancient familial tree, who are part of the same temple). At the same time the women folk at the brides home build the marraige manai (the platform in which the marriage happens).

The next morning the groom moves to the brides village and brought to the brides home where the marraige happens with the traditional "nagaswaram, melam"and its called the Mappilai Azhaippu (Inviting the groom). Once the pundit performs the pooja, the elders of both families come together to the "manai" and call for the bride to come to the stage and they announce the marraige and the groom ties the knot.

Then it follows the customs of the bride and her sister-in-law and mother-in-law.

Will follow up in the next post about the events which follow later till the evening .....

the lifestyle ....

Everything Old is new again ..... people talk about retuired life.

The best way to enjoy the same is ....... yes, look at these chairs.

Very relaxing, you could have a snack or a chaai on the extendable arms.

The old chettiars (even now) have these placed at the valavu in an angle where they can see both people coming into their home's and whats happening at their back yards.

Visualise !!!

Just not Brick & Mortar

When u say house and when you say home the feeling associated with these words change quite dramatically.

Same way wherever you settle and whichever cities you travel to, the heart warms immediately at the mention of your native village, town, "gaun", "Ooru" .....

These actually inspired me the sleeping urge to contribute to the LEGACY of CHETTINADU and its Architectural Splendour.

Hence this blog.

P.s. : the place is famous for their recipes too, will try and publish some of these age old secrets too ....