Tamilians are quite the elegant and simplistic lot irrespective of the fact whether we talk about festivals or something as extravagant as a wedding. It is no secret that Tamil weddings are certainly not as extravagant and ostentatious as the weddings that take place in the Northern communities such as Punjabis. Still, they are pretty lavish with a lot of priority and consideration that is given to rites and rituals.

If, for some reason, you have been deprived of the pleasure of attending South Indian matrimony till now, here are some amazing Tamil Matrimony rituals that will astound you with their stunning visual affair!

Panda Kaal Muhurtham
The matrimonial ceremonies in a Tamil wedding and household start with the ritual of Panda Kaal Muhurtham. This ritual takes place one day before the wedding date. As a part of this ceremony, both the bride and the groom’s family offer special prayers to God for a joyous, peaceful and uninterrupted wedding.

Sumangali Prarthanai
This puja takes place for the married women. Sumangali means all those women who have been blessed with a prosperous and harmonious married life. As a part of this ritual, puja is performed, and countless prayers are offered to all the Sumangalis. The bride-to-be then seeks the blessings of these married women for a happy and blissful marital life ahead. All the Sumangalis on this day, are supposed to wear a traditional saree of nine yards which is also known as Madisar. Another strange thing is that only odd number of Sumangalis are invited to attend the puja. On the conclusion of the puja, an authentic feast of South Indian food is served on a banana leaf to the Sumangalis.

Pallikai Thellichal
In this ritual, seven earthen pots are taken and are decorated with sandalwood. Then, the pot is filled with a mixture of curd and nine different types of grains. Later, these pots have to be immersed in the water as food for the fishes. This ritual is considered very auspicious for the matrimonial life of the couple since it involves feeding fishes.

Naandi Srardham
This ceremony involves prayers being offered to the souls of the ancestors of both the bride and the groom. The families of both the bride and the groom perform this ritual. Thereafter, the families invite ten or less Brahmins to an authentic feast of South Indian food. The food is lavish, and the Brahmins are also offered paan supari, flowers, sweets, coconut, fruits and traditional clothes or veshti angavastram. The families then request the Brahmins to bless the happy couple.

Nichayathartham
Nichayathartham or the engagement ritual starts with a Ganesh puja that the bride’s family performs. The groom’s family is then supposed to offer the bride several gifts such as jewelry, a new saree whereas the bride’s family offers several presents to the groom too such as new clothes. Then, the bride and the groom dress in the new clothes that the families-to-be have gifted them.

Tamil weddings are a definite treat to not just the eyes but also the senses. You can find your perfect Tamil Bride or Groom on Tamil matrimonial sites or Tamil matrimony sites.