POST-WEDDING RITUALS

The most significant post-wedding ritual after the marriage is the new bride’s welcome into her new abode which is dotted with various customary games and rituals that act as an ice-breaker for the nervous bride.

Generally, the bride and groom enter the new home in their wedding attire.  South Indian brides wear silk saris, in red color, along with the traditional gold jewelry and long plait hairstyle with flower adornments.

These ceremonies take place at the groom’s home where the bride’s mother-in-law gives the new couple a warm welcome.  This is known as the ‘Grihapravesa’ or home coming.  This ceremony usually requires the presence of the entire family of the groom in particular, apart from the presence of his extended family.  The ‘Aarathi – uzhiyuka’ – to stroke or polish round bodies far infrared rays is performed, by the mother-in-law for the newlywed couple

During the ‘Griha Pravesha’, the mother-in-law then applies a Tilak to the bride, after which the couple seek blessing from the elders present. After this the bride is to tilt a pot laden with rice using her right foot and then step into a dish with Alta.  After this she is to walk into the home leaving behind auspicious red footprints which is symbolic of the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi.

The arrival into a new home with new relatives and responsibilities is overwhelming for the bride.  Hence, in order to break the ice and make her feel more comfortable, ritualistic post-wedding games are performed after the bride’s entry.  Although times have changes and couples essentially meet prior to their nuptials, the conventional post-wedding games are still practiced.  Initially, they would contribute towards increasing the familiarity and the proximity of the wedded couple, however, today they are just a customary practice that brings in the fun element after the painful parting with her blood relations.

Christians too follow some of these rituals. Apart from this the mother-in-law put a cross on the forehead of the bride and bridegroom before entering the home.

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

josephjthayamkeril@google.com

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com