NAGARATHAR WEDDING:

NAGARATHAR WEDDINGS:

Paesi Mudithukuluthal

Once the 'bride-groom' match has been fixed(Subjected to one's wish,requierements and traditions such as horoscope matching etc.....etc.....)  the next step will be engagement.  It is conducted generally  either in bride's or groom's place. During the function both families friends, relatives and pangalis will be gathered and they finalize matters viz wedding date, dowry to be given to the bride(jewels, cash, pinmurai, mamiyar saaman etc...etc...) other important matters pertaining to wedding and the highlight of the function is to confirm the wedding by writing down both the bride's and groom's name to be married along their family's initial in a note book with 'manjal' applied on all the four corners of the note book. Generally this serves as the confirmed note.  Two copies are taken and given to both the parties. Later, elders from both the families carry the book along some flowers and lime to the  prayer's room and place it in front of the God  thanking him for finalising the wedding.

  Also all the 'murais' are noted down in a note book called 'Murai Chittai'- which carries an agenda of what to give right from the wedding till the baby is born on each occassion.  Now it has become a norm to conduct this generally in the evenings a day or two before the wedding. The party going to the other's place takes along things like flower, co-conut, beetle leaves, sandal, kum-kum, fruits, biscuits and chocolates etc...etc...in vessels and buckets.  While leaving they are also acknowledged by giving cash, fruits, vessels and flowers.  Food is served grandly. Thus, paesi mudithukulum function comes to an end.  

Now, as the wedding date is fixed, both the parties carry on with their wedding arrangements.  Nagarathar weddings are generally a very long procedure.  Thus, right from the engagement, in regular intervals there are lot of traditional practices  involved and let us see those in the coming issues one by one.   

    Mukurthakkal Unrudhal

  Once the bride-groom match has been fixed, next procedure is to structure the mukurthakkal.  Mukurthakkal is a long bamboo cane.  On an auspicious day, that falls prior to the wedding, mukurthakkal should be structured in both the bride and groom’s house, in the north east corner of the valavu vassal.  Mango leaves should be tied at the end of the corner with manjal and kumkum applied.  Once the mukurthakkal has been structured, the family members are not suppose to attend any un auspicious occasions.

Inviting the close resltives

Once the mukuthakal is erected, close relatives like grandparents, sisters and family should be  invited for the wedding by the parents of the  groom and bride. This is  to denote the respect for the elders in the family. Both the father of the groom and the bride  will have to sit in the mat (Thadukku) in the prayer room in their respective houses and  formally invite their parents (Paternal grandparents) for the wedding. Earlier the lamp should have been lit and two co-conuts  placed in a silver vessel. Then they make a visit to the maternal grandparents and sisters (if any) houses and invite them for the wedding. In return their relatives acknowledge by  giving some cash (Rs5 or Rs 10) along with some beatle leaves, while leaving. This is referred to as "pakku panam".

PAAKKU VAITHAL:

 Registration takes place three days prior to the wedding in their respective nagara koil. Among the  pangalis, two of them will pay a visit and confirm the wedding by stating their temple, pirivu (if any)  date, time along with family identity.  Thus the wedding gets authorized and the couple become a registered 'pulli' of the nagarathar society. As a token of  acknowledgement  temple's garland will be sent on the wedding day which is known as 'koil malai.'  The above procedure is called as pakku vaithal.

-ARASAANIKAL KATUDHAL:

Arasanikal is a term that has been derived from Arasan aanai kal(By the order of the king). In the ancient days Weddings took place in front of the honorable king. When the population started to grew, it was difficult for the king to be present on all weddings.  So, an arrangement was thus made to denote the presence of the king.  That arrangement is referred to as arasanikal katudhal.

While the arasanikal(i.e. a stick) is tied and wrapped in leaves, someone should blow the sangu. In front of the wedding stage, arasanikal must be erected. A square like structure is built, in which the arasanikal  is placed in the centre supported by soil at the base.  

The structure should be filled with milk and coral . Above this few long sticks should be placed in a supportive manner and finally  covered by some mango and arasa leaves. The above procedure must be done by the pangalis.  Before the wedding starts, priest pe