Nair community in Hindu religion is a predominant community in Kerala. Historically they possessed unique and rich cultural and social traditions. Some people use suffix to their names as “Nairs”. Others suffix other titles like Menon, Pillai, Nambiar, Kartha, Kurup, Kaimal, Nambidi, Mannadiyar, Unnithan , Panicker, Thampi and so on depending upon the occupations they were engaged in the traditional society.
Malyalee Nair weddings are predominantly simple and brief. It has few rituals and far lesser religious compulsions. A traditional Nair wedding is conducted in a nearby temple or Kalyana Mandap or even at the Guruvayoor temple.The Malayalee month Chingam is considered to be the most auspicious month to conduct malayalee weddings.
The parents of the respective bride and groom first check out the horoscopes for compatibility and this is a mandatory task not to be taken lightly. Once the horoscopes are checked out and they match well, the next task of selecting the wedding date or the muhurtham is done and then goes on the wedding ceremony with the advice given by the family astrologer.
‘Nichayam’ or the engagement ceremony is the first Pre wedding ritual.This ceremony is to announce, and share the confirmation of marriage. Gifts are exchanged between the families. Some traditional families do not encourage the presence of boy and girl during the nischayam ceremony.The groom is usually gifted by the bride’s family with a diamond ring to signify the engagement.The groom’s family provides the bride with a diamond engagement ring and gold ornaments and silk sari.
Next is ‘Ayana’ or traditional feast,it is a huge gathering of friends and relatives who have arrived from different parts of the country in advance to participate in this happy occasion. The bride is asked to participate in a five-course vegetarian meal along with her family and friends who have come to share in her joy.
Malayalee Nair Marriages are conducted either in the temple or in the Kalyana Mantapa of the wedding hall.The most preferred place to conduct malayalee weddings is the ancestral house of the bride. These days it is common to select a venue that is convenient and suitable for both the families.
Regarding the costumes,Bride’s friends help her in dressing up for the big occasion. She is garnished with flowers, wears traditional two-piece sari known as Mundu and a line of gold necklaces adorn her neck, gold bangles with beautiful design fill her hands, gold rings adorn her fingers. The Bridegroom is dressed up in traditional dhoti and angavastram. Gold chain, gold bracelets and rings complete his attire. Elders and close friends accompany the bridegroom to the wedding venue.
‘Madhuparkam’ is the the first ritual to welcome the groom’s family by the bride family. As part of the ritual, the bride's brother or father welcomes the bridegroom and honors him by washing his feet as he arrives at the venue. The groom in turn hands over to his father-in-law an off white color sari with zari border,that has to be worn by the bride for the nuptials.Once the bride is dressed in the nuptial attire provided by the groom,young girls carry 'deepams' in their hand and lead the couple to the mantap.
Next is the ‘Veli’ or nuptial ceremony, it is the most sacred ceremony, it the final culmination of bringing together two people in holy matrimony. The family priest is called upon to lead the couple in offering prayers while vedic mantras are chanted throughout the ritual. The couple walks around thrice after which the groom ties the 'Mangalsutra' or 'Thali' around the neck of the bride. They exchange garlands. People present at the venue shower flowers and bless the couple. Friends and relatives extend their best wishes and present gifts.
Immediately there after, the kanyadaanam or penkoda ceremony takes place. The bride's father gives her hand and places it on the groom's hand symbolically transferring his responsibility to the bridegroom. A typical meal in Kerala known as ‘sadya’, which consists of 25 items, is served on plantain leaves. Rice, varieties of pickle, curries and sweets, Avial, toran, olan, kalam, pacchari, payasam, pappads and finally the desert paladaaprathaman or chaka prathaman, form part of the elaborate meal.
Next is ‘Grihapravesh’, the post wedding ceremony. At an auspicious time, the bride proceeds to her new home and takes the blessings of her parents and all elders present at the venue. As she reaches her new house, the women take 'Arathy' to cast off evil eye. The bride holds a traditional lamp in her hand and is asked to enter the house with her right foot. The entire house is bright with lamps lit all over the house, considered to be a good omen as the couple starts their life together. This ceremony is called 'kudivep'.
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