Our LongLasting History...
Nagarathars have nine temples and individuals are members of one or other of those. People within the same temple are considered as siblings.
The marriage in Chettinad in the past was more elaborate and complex, with various rituals, customs including gift giving for the well-being of the newly married and thus marriage was six days affair. Procession of bridegroom (mappillai) accompanied by musicians together with another contingent of relatives of the bride especially the ladies with their colourful costumes mostly in ‘Kandangi’ handloom Pattu ‘sarees’. Nadu Veettu Kolam drawing with the use of wet rice flour drawn by aachis.
The Wedding Procedures...(Before the Wedding)
>>Muhurtha Kaal Undruthal
This is the very first formality related to marriage, done about 4-5 days before the wedding. A bamboo cane is fitted with mango leaves on the top .Puja is done by iyer and close relatives of the bride and the groom keep manjal and kungumam at 5 places in the cane .Once it is over the cane is tied upstraight. This serves as a notification to others in the surrounding that a marriage is going to be conducted at this house.
>>Veetu padaippu/podhu padaippu
Every family prays to their ancestors in their ancestral house, which is known as veetu padaippu and all the "pangalis" together perform "podhu padaippu" (joint prayer). The day before marriage pangali's and thaya pillaigal (close relatives) would come to both brides and grooms place to make the nadu veetu kolam and manai kolam
The Wedding Procedures...(On the Day of Wedding)
>>Mappillai azhaipu
In the morning before muhurtham, the groom's family arrive at the bride's village and wait at some pillayar temple where the bride's side headed by the bride's father, go to welcome them with band. This is called mappillai azhaippu.
>>Pen edukki kattuthal
When the groom reaches bride's house she is brought to the door and shown to him. In the olden days this was the first official meeting of the bride and groom.
>>Thirupootuthal
The brides maternal uncle and grooms maternal uncle (Mamakarargal) wear mamakara pattu (Red Silk Cloth) wrapped around the waist .The groom sits in the manai (Stage). The brides maternal uncle brings her in the manai.
The groom ties the kaluthiru – the sacred thread or gold chain or Chettiyar thaali - was worn during the day of marriage and a substituted with a gold thaali for regular use. The Kaluthiru is a double piece gold chain, generally containing a set of 34 items of hand crafted gold ornaments including two pendants considered to be the most sacred. The pendants carrying the image of goddess ‘Lakshmi’ at the front side and the icons of Meenakshi Sundareswarar ‘Rishaba’ bull in the second row. What is very important to note is that these two motifs viz. Lakshmi and Shiva — Parvathi are often repeated theme in Chettinad, which are highly revered by the Nattukottai Nagarathar as the former symbolizing protection and prosperity while Shiva Parvathi pair on bull, represents happy family life. The Kaluthiru in Tamil language has two different meanings – ‘Kaluthiru’ means the chain on neck while Kaluth — Thiru, denotes the Lakshmi as Thiru in Tamil indicates Mahalakshmi.
>>Vaevu irakkuthal
This is a custom which is followed to indicate that wealth in the form of food grains and vegetables are sent from the bride's home by her maternal uncle and their family helped by the groom's maternal uncle (items are carried on the head in baskets). Then it is received at the groom's home. The basket usually contains brinjal and rice.
>>Mamiyar sadangu
In this ritual the mother-in-law carries a silver plate with small bowls of betel leaf, cotton, vibhuthi (holy ash) and turmeric. She applies each of the items to herself and then to her daughter-in-law.
>>Poo manam choridhal
The elders of both the sides dip their hands in the bowl with flower petals and take out a few petals and keep it at the seated couple's folded legs, then on shoulder and throw the petals behind the couple. This is done only by male relatives and this symbolizes of, blessing the couples.
>>Manjal neeru aduthal
Couple's feet is washed by cousins with manjal neer (turmeric water). Both the in-laws dip their tip of their attire in turmeric water.
>>Saman parapudhal
The items given as seer (dowry/gift) by the bride's family is exhibited to all the relatives who attend the marriage. This is considered a scale for the wealth and prosperity of the bride's family. It contains mappillai saman (for groom), maamiyaar saman (for mother in law) also. The groom's side also add their gifts (silk saree, dresses cosmetics etc.) to the prospective daughter-in-law .
>>Kumbuttu kattikolluthal
The bride gets the blessings of the elders with a "kulam valum pillai"(krishna idol) in her hand. This ritual symbolizes that the following generation to be fertile.
>>Mana pen solli kolluthal
An emotional moment where the bride bids farewell to her family. The bride gets the blessings of all the elders of the family.
>>Pen azhaippu
The bride is formally welcomed into the groom's home. The bride and the groom are usually brought to a temple in their native village before being invited to the groom's residence.
The couple would be asked to put their hands into three thavalais (ever silver pots) and take out the contents inside.
>>Nathanar sadangu
Done by the bride's sister-in-law which is the same as mamiyar sadangu would be done at the time of pen azhaippu.
Nagarathars have nine temples and individuals are members of one or other of those. People within the same temple are considered as siblings.
The marriage in Chettinad in the past was more elaborate and complex, with various rituals, customs including gift giving for the well-being of the newly married and thus marriage was six days affair. Procession of bridegroom (mappillai) accompanied by musicians together with another contingent of relatives of the bride especially the ladies with their colourful costumes mostly in ‘Kandangi’ handloom Pattu ‘sarees’. Nadu Veettu Kolam drawing with the use of wet rice flour drawn by aachis.
The Wedding Procedures...(Before the Wedding)
>>Muhurtha Kaal Undruthal
This is the very first formality related to marriage, done about 4-5 days before the wedding. A bamboo cane is fitted with mango leaves on the top .Puja is done by iyer and close relatives of the bride and the groom keep manjal and kungumam at 5 places in the cane .Once it is over the cane is tied upstraight. This serves as a notification to others in the surrounding that a marriage is going to be conducted at this house.
>>Veetu padaippu/podhu padaippu
Every family prays to their ancestors in their ancestral house, which is known as veetu padaippu and all the "pangalis" together perform "podhu padaippu" (joint prayer). The day before marriage pangali's and thaya pillaigal (close relatives) would come to both brides and grooms place to make the nadu veetu kolam and manai kolam
The Wedding Procedures...(On the Day of Wedding)
>>Mappillai azhaipu
In the morning before muhurtham, the groom's family arrive at the bride's village and wait at some pillayar temple where the bride's side headed by the bride's father, go to welcome them with band. This is called mappillai azhaippu.
>>Pen edukki kattuthal
When the groom reaches bride's house she is brought to the door and shown to him. In the olden days this was the first official meeting of the bride and groom.
>>Thirupootuthal
The brides maternal uncle and grooms maternal uncle (Mamakarargal) wear mamakara pattu (Red Silk Cloth) wrapped around the waist .The groom sits in the manai (Stage). The brides maternal uncle brings her in the manai.
The groom ties the kaluthiru – the sacred thread or gold chain or Chettiyar thaali - was worn during the day of marriage and a substituted with a gold thaali for regular use. The Kaluthiru is a double piece gold chain, generally containing a set of 34 items of hand crafted gold ornaments including two pendants considered to be the most sacred. The pendants carrying the image of goddess ‘Lakshmi’ at the front side and the icons of Meenakshi Sundareswarar ‘Rishaba’ bull in the second row. What is very important to note is that these two motifs viz. Lakshmi and Shiva — Parvathi are often repeated theme in Chettinad, which are highly revered by the Nattukottai Nagarathar as the former symbolizing protection and prosperity while Shiva Parvathi pair on bull, represents happy family life. The Kaluthiru in Tamil language has two different meanings – ‘Kaluthiru’ means the chain on neck while Kaluth — Thiru, denotes the Lakshmi as Thiru in Tamil indicates Mahalakshmi.
>>Vaevu irakkuthal
This is a custom which is followed to indicate that wealth in the form of food grains and vegetables are sent from the bride's home by her maternal uncle and their family helped by the groom's maternal uncle (items are carried on the head in baskets). Then it is received at the groom's home. The basket usually contains brinjal and rice.
>>Mamiyar sadangu
In this ritual the mother-in-law carries a silver plate with small bowls of betel leaf, cotton, vibhuthi (holy ash) and turmeric. She applies each of the items to herself and then to her daughter-in-law.
>>Poo manam choridhal
The elders of both the sides dip their hands in the bowl with flower petals and take out a few petals and keep it at the seated couple's folded legs, then on shoulder and throw the petals behind the couple. This is done only by male relatives and this symbolizes of, blessing the couples.
>>Manjal neeru aduthal
Couple's feet is washed by cousins with manjal neer (turmeric water). Both the in-laws dip their tip of their attire in turmeric water.
>>Saman parapudhal
The items given as seer (dowry/gift) by the bride's family is exhibited to all the relatives who attend the marriage. This is considered a scale for the wealth and prosperity of the bride's family. It contains mappillai saman (for groom), maamiyaar saman (for mother in law) also. The groom's side also add their gifts (silk saree, dresses cosmetics etc.) to the prospective daughter-in-law .
>>Kumbuttu kattikolluthal
The bride gets the blessings of the elders with a "kulam valum pillai"(krishna idol) in her hand. This ritual symbolizes that the following generation to be fertile.
>>Mana pen solli kolluthal
An emotional moment where the bride bids farewell to her family. The bride gets the blessings of all the elders of the family.
>>Pen azhaippu
The bride is formally welcomed into the groom's home. The bride and the groom are usually brought to a temple in their native village before being invited to the groom's residence.
The couple would be asked to put their hands into three thavalais (ever silver pots) and take out the contents inside.
>>Nathanar sadangu
Done by the bride's sister-in-law which is the same as mamiyar sadangu would be done at the time of pen azhaippu.