So the rituals conducted by the Sastrigal is over now. The grand lunch post marriage is now offered to the couple. Now elders help them to have some fun. The couple is asked to share the food that they eat. Usually they share sweets served. The Kalyana Virundhu commonly includes the below menu:
1. Paruppu Payasam
2. Thayir Pachadi
3. Sweet Pachadi
4. Carrot Kosumalli
5. Sweet Kosumalli
6. Urulai Kaara curry
7. Beans paruppu usili
8. Aviyal
9. Paruppu Vadai
10. Jalebi
11. Sadaam
12. Paruppu & Ghee
13. Mixed Vegeatable Sambar
14. Vathal Kuzhambu
15. Rasam
16. Appalam
17. Thayir/Curd/Buttermilk
18. Pickle
The game is now in our hands. Yesss.... We will now start with Grahapravesam which is an interesting and important ritual conducted after Marriage. This is the first time the Bride is invited to the home of Groom officially after marriage. Those who reside close the the Kalyana Mandapam take them to the Groom's home. Else this is conducted within the Mandapam itself. The room where the Groom stays is treated as the home and the ritual is conducted here. Someone from the groom's family has to go and invite the bride's family for grahapravesam by offering Sandanam and Kumkum.
If it is conducted at home, some one has to go there before the bride and groom come for grahapravesam. They apply Kolam and prepare Palum, pazhamum to offer to the newly wedded couple. Aarthi is also taken before they enter the home. While going to home take some thamboolam to offer to those who come for the grahapravesam. Nowadays, some return gift that may include blouse piece is also offered. One set of Paruppu thengai is also mandatory for Grahapravesam to be brought by the Bride's family.
Both the Bride and the groom's family assemble for the Nalungu Function in the evening. At the beginning of the function both the families assemble in groups and sit opposite to each other. The entire show is now to show their expertise and win the show (All for pure Fun:) The bride and groom also prepare themselves with some songs to sing during the Nalungu. The Caterer arrange the things that are required for this occasion. Arisi, Paruppu, Salt Sandanam, Kumkum, Nalungu, One coconut applied with turmeric, Appalam, Thamboolam, Mirror, Comb.
There are some rules set for this function. I have heard from elders that these are followed when Child marriage was in existence. All these small games allow them to mingle with each other.
Usually elders head this function. Uncle and Aunts support their respective side. At times there are silly little fights pop up during this function. Looking back at those after 20 years of my marriage brings a big smile in my face.
Generally the Nalungu function goes like this... The bride has to invite the groom for the Nalungu function. Rice will be give to the groom and Paruppu (Dhall) with the bride. Now the Bride has to ask the groom to exchange Rice and Dhall. This is repeated 3 times. First the Bride has to give rice and asks for exchange. Once the exchange is done the mixed Rice and Dhall are kept in both hands and form a fist. Then the mixture is rotated thrice around the head and thrown at back (Usually on the head for fun). This is done by both Bride and Groom. The other one try to escape while attempting to throw on the head. This creates a lot of fun and each other at times give away and have it on their head.
The the comb is given to the Bride and she is asked to comb the hair of the groom. The elders at the groom's side make fun and used to tell that the style is not looking great giving the bride opportunity to do it once again. While combing the hair each one has to hold the chin using one hand and comb using the other hand. Once the combing is done the Bride will show the mirror to the groom for him to check if it looking good. And now the Bride playfully show the back side of the mirror.
Then comes the most interesting game of Breaking of Appalam. 6 Roasted Appalams (Not fried - Sutta Appalam) are kept ready. The Bride takes the turn first. Each appalam is taken in each hand. This is rotated thrice around the head and then dash both the appalam allowing it to break and fall on the head of the groom. Again it goes the way as Rice. Each one tries to escape from the Appalam pieces falling on their head. And the winning point is how they manage to spill it on the head.
Now the Bride has to apply Nalungu on the foot of Groom. Naughty aunts and Uncles guides the Bride to do it with perfection notifying small corrections.
Now the Groom has to repeat the whole thing again. The Bride does everything in standing posture and the groom has to sit and do it. The groom after combing the hair of Bride (only usually on the forehead) has to offer flowers.
Finally the coconut is used for the game. Initially the Coconut is used as a ball and rolled between the couple to play for a while. Then the bride has to hold it using Both hands tightly and the groom tries to gather it with one hand. When the Groom's turn comes he has to hold with single hand. The bride now tries to take the coconut using both hands.
Betal leaves and Nuts are offered to each other. The Bride has to prepare it for the groom and vice versa. It is believed that the color of the tongue after chewing the mixture turns dark red indicating the love against each other.
Once all the above activities are done both the Bride and groom are expected to sing a song. Once it is completed, the Bride joins the Groom and Aarthi is taken to complete this occasion.
Few families have the practice of Pachai Vazhikkaradhu after Nalungu. This is basically a Dhristi removing activity. Kajal is used and is applied on both the cheeks of the couple. Then they are asked to take bath. before taking bath we should not touch them.
1. Paruppu Payasam
2. Thayir Pachadi
3. Sweet Pachadi
4. Carrot Kosumalli
5. Sweet Kosumalli
6. Urulai Kaara curry
7. Beans paruppu usili
8. Aviyal
9. Paruppu Vadai
10. Jalebi
11. Sadaam
12. Paruppu & Ghee
13. Mixed Vegeatable Sambar
14. Vathal Kuzhambu
15. Rasam
16. Appalam
17. Thayir/Curd/Buttermilk
18. Pickle
The game is now in our hands. Yesss.... We will now start with Grahapravesam which is an interesting and important ritual conducted after Marriage. This is the first time the Bride is invited to the home of Groom officially after marriage. Those who reside close the the Kalyana Mandapam take them to the Groom's home. Else this is conducted within the Mandapam itself. The room where the Groom stays is treated as the home and the ritual is conducted here. Someone from the groom's family has to go and invite the bride's family for grahapravesam by offering Sandanam and Kumkum.
If it is conducted at home, some one has to go there before the bride and groom come for grahapravesam. They apply Kolam and prepare Palum, pazhamum to offer to the newly wedded couple. Aarthi is also taken before they enter the home. While going to home take some thamboolam to offer to those who come for the grahapravesam. Nowadays, some return gift that may include blouse piece is also offered. One set of Paruppu thengai is also mandatory for Grahapravesam to be brought by the Bride's family.
Both the Bride and the groom's family assemble for the Nalungu Function in the evening. At the beginning of the function both the families assemble in groups and sit opposite to each other. The entire show is now to show their expertise and win the show (All for pure Fun:) The bride and groom also prepare themselves with some songs to sing during the Nalungu. The Caterer arrange the things that are required for this occasion. Arisi, Paruppu, Salt Sandanam, Kumkum, Nalungu, One coconut applied with turmeric, Appalam, Thamboolam, Mirror, Comb.
There are some rules set for this function. I have heard from elders that these are followed when Child marriage was in existence. All these small games allow them to mingle with each other.
Usually elders head this function. Uncle and Aunts support their respective side. At times there are silly little fights pop up during this function. Looking back at those after 20 years of my marriage brings a big smile in my face.
Generally the Nalungu function goes like this... The bride has to invite the groom for the Nalungu function. Rice will be give to the groom and Paruppu (Dhall) with the bride. Now the Bride has to ask the groom to exchange Rice and Dhall. This is repeated 3 times. First the Bride has to give rice and asks for exchange. Once the exchange is done the mixed Rice and Dhall are kept in both hands and form a fist. Then the mixture is rotated thrice around the head and thrown at back (Usually on the head for fun). This is done by both Bride and Groom. The other one try to escape while attempting to throw on the head. This creates a lot of fun and each other at times give away and have it on their head.
The the comb is given to the Bride and she is asked to comb the hair of the groom. The elders at the groom's side make fun and used to tell that the style is not looking great giving the bride opportunity to do it once again. While combing the hair each one has to hold the chin using one hand and comb using the other hand. Once the combing is done the Bride will show the mirror to the groom for him to check if it looking good. And now the Bride playfully show the back side of the mirror.
Then comes the most interesting game of Breaking of Appalam. 6 Roasted Appalams (Not fried - Sutta Appalam) are kept ready. The Bride takes the turn first. Each appalam is taken in each hand. This is rotated thrice around the head and then dash both the appalam allowing it to break and fall on the head of the groom. Again it goes the way as Rice. Each one tries to escape from the Appalam pieces falling on their head. And the winning point is how they manage to spill it on the head.
Now the Bride has to apply Nalungu on the foot of Groom. Naughty aunts and Uncles guides the Bride to do it with perfection notifying small corrections.
Now the Groom has to repeat the whole thing again. The Bride does everything in standing posture and the groom has to sit and do it. The groom after combing the hair of Bride (only usually on the forehead) has to offer flowers.
Finally the coconut is used for the game. Initially the Coconut is used as a ball and rolled between the couple to play for a while. Then the bride has to hold it using Both hands tightly and the groom tries to gather it with one hand. When the Groom's turn comes he has to hold with single hand. The bride now tries to take the coconut using both hands.
Betal leaves and Nuts are offered to each other. The Bride has to prepare it for the groom and vice versa. It is believed that the color of the tongue after chewing the mixture turns dark red indicating the love against each other.
Once all the above activities are done both the Bride and groom are expected to sing a song. Once it is completed, the Bride joins the Groom and Aarthi is taken to complete this occasion.
Few families have the practice of Pachai Vazhikkaradhu after Nalungu. This is basically a Dhristi removing activity. Kajal is used and is applied on both the cheeks of the couple. Then they are asked to take bath. before taking bath we should not touch them.
