The “Nischitaardham” ceremony is an important event that takes place prior to the wedding ceremony. During this ceremony, the parents of the bride and groom along with their close relatives meet at the bride’s home to find a worthy date for the wedding. Bride’s family will arrange a priest to carry out this ceremony. The priest will decide the auspicious date and time for the wedding based on the horoscope. Thereafter, he writes the “Lagna Patrika” that contains Muhurtham details, names of the bride and groom and names of their parents, and reads out loud to everyone. Thereafter, the parents of the bride and groom exchange the “Nichaya Thambulalu” while the honored guests witnessing the ceremony. It is called Nischitaardham (Engagement). The “Nichaya Thambulam” primarily contains “Lagna Pathrika”, saree for the bride (or dress for the groom) a Thambulam, pasupu and kumkuma. “Lagna Pathrika” is pre-requisite for printing out the wedding invitations by either parties.
Then parents of the bride and groom will mutually exchange the new clothes. During this event, the groom’s parents may offer jewelry to their prospective daughter-in-law if they would like to. Additionally, groom’s family will offer all these items to the bride: 11 varieties of fruits & sweets, a silver Lakshmi Devi idol, a silver Kumkum Bharina and a silver Gandham Ginne. Then the bride and groom are asked to exchange the rings. The guests witnessing the event will come forward to bless the new couple with Askshinthalu. After the ceremony, food will be served to the honored guests. One or two ladies from the bride’s family will offer kumkuma and gandham to the female guests.
Preparations & Shopping Checklist:
- Find out the auspicious day & time for the ceremony
- Get Puja items list from the priest
- Shopping list: Make Sure Puja Item are ready
- Invite relatives to the ceremony
- Make sure fruits and sweets are nicely packed
- SL: Sweets – 6 varieties, Fruits – 5 varieties (including Arati gela)
- Arrange these items for ceremony
- SL: New clothes for bride’s parents, Saree for bride, Blouse pieces, Silver Gandham ginne, silver Lakshmi devi idol, silver kumkum box, bangles – 2 dozens, Flowers, Pasupu kumkuma packets, Beetle leaves, Somp Packets, Green coconut, Dried coconut
- Make sure kumkuma is filled in the Kumkuma Bharina and Gandham is filled in Gandham ginne before they are offered to the bride
- Arrange Camera Man
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