After the Thalambralu mixing, the ladies can start making “magala suthram” and “nalla pusalu” (black beads chain) for the bride. These two things shall be taken to the wedding location as well. Married elder females (5) are preferred to kick-start the event and later can be passed over to other ladies.

Preparations & Shopping Checklist:

• Make sure items required for the event are ready
  • Shopping List: Get Black beads, Dharam kande, needles, gold kasu, suthralu
• Inform music band to be available
• Secure Mangala Suthram and nallapusalu

This process involves picking up the “Garika Muntha” (small clay pot) and “pelli peta” from the gold smith’s house (not sure of home).  Group of males with tent are escorted tot the pick-up location by the music band.  One person in the group (most likely paternal uncle) holds the plate that has things like Thambulam, 1.25 kg rice, 150rs.money etc. Garika muntha cannot be seen by the groom until it is carried to the wedding location.

Preparations & Shopping Checklist:

• Inform close male relatives to participate in the ceremony
• Arrange Pelli Peeta
• Make sure garika muntha, pelli peta are placed at gold smith’s home
  • Shopping List: Garika muntha
• Arrange Thambula pallem (one each for pelli peta and Garika Muntha)
  • With Thambulam, 1.25 kg rice, 150rs., blouse piece, pasupu, kumkuma, pasupu kommu
  • SL: Blouse pieces – 2
• Inform music band
• Make sure tent is ready

This event is preceded by Thalambralu Mixing event.  The event involves arranging the Pathanam suitcase for the bride by the elderly females. The process will kick start by smearing turmeric and marking kukumam on the suitcase.

Thambulam is placed in the suitcase first, later followed by sarees -3 (thalambralu chera+nomula cheera + regi guddala kinda saree),  Makeup kit, Toy, Endu kobbari chippalu -9, Vakkalu, Pan leaves- 2 kattalu, Dried dates, Gajulu – 2 dozen, Blouse pieces – 9, Deparadhana karjuralu – 9, Deparadhana pasupu kommulu- 9, Deparadgana vakkalu-9, Sweets (panchadara chilakalu pref), and Pasupu kumkuma packets, flowers.

When the suitcase is ready, it shall be covered and knotted with a white bed sheet.  A stick shall be placed into the knot. A “arati gela” shall be sent along with the suitcase to the bride’s place  or to the wedding location.

Once the items in the suitcase are offered to the bride, the suitcase can be brought back to the groom’s home.  

Preparations & Shopping Checklist:

• Get the new sarees from the bride
• Arrange Pathanam Suitcase
  • Shopping List: Suitcase, 3 sarees (thalambralu chera+nomula cheera + regi guddala kinda saree), Blouse pieces – 9, Makeup kit , Gajulu – 2 dozen, Dharam kande, a toy, endu kobbari chippalu -9, Vakkalu, Dried dates, Pan leaves- 5 kattalu, Sweets – 2 varieties + panchadara chilakalu, Pasupu kumkuma packets, flowers, Banana gela
  • Make-up kit items –  moisturising cream, perfume, shampoo, brush, toothpaste, tongue cleaner, mirror, nail polish, nail polish remover, soap, comb, stickers, hairbands, hair oil, talcum powder, kajal, lipstick, purse)
• Make sure to cover and knot the suitcase with white bed sheet
• Make sure to place a medium length stick in the knot

Few hours before the wedding, the bride’s brother will come to the groom’s place to escort him to the wedding location. Groom’s family shall offer food and new clothes to the bride’s brother.

The groom dresses up in his second set of wedding dress to go to the wedding location. Kalyana Thilakam and Dishti chukka are applied to his face.  Paarani is applied on his palms and feet by an elder female. “Basikam” is tied to his forehead by an elderly female. Bride’s Basikam is placed in his pocket to take it to the wedding location. The groom will hold Thambulam and wear “Pavukollu” when leaving the house.

Place Pradhanam suitcase, Aratigela, flowers in the bride’s car. Place Garikabuddi, Pellipeta, Thalambralu, a pumpkin, Chamki Dhandalu, Flower garlands, Dharmakol balls, Chamkies, coloured balls, snow sprays in the groom’s car.

Groom’s family shall carry bride’s Thalambrala Battalu to the wedding location visa-verse, if not handed over before.

Usually, the groom and his family are seated in their own car. Other family members are seated in the car from the bride’s family. Groom’s feet are washed by his sister before he gets into his car. Visit the temples on the way to the wedding location. Make sure to arrange the “Prayer Kit” to offer at the temples.

Once the groom reaches the wedding location, his feet are washed by bride’s brother. In turn, the groom will offer him a nice gift ( a ring).

Preparations & Shopping Checklist:

• Find out the auspicious time from the priest to conduct this ceremony
• Arrange the car for groom and his family to go to wedding pavilion
• Decorate the car with fresh flowers
• Arrange Pavukollu and Basikalu
• Place bride’s Basikam in groom’s pocket before leaving to the wedding pavilion
• Make sure lemons are places underneath the car tires
• Arrange new cloths for bride’s brother who comes to escort the groom to wedding location
  • Shopping List: New cloths bride’s brother
• Need to send these items to the wedding pavilion with groom:
  • SL: Aratigela, flowers for Ganesh puja, flower garlands, a pumpkin, Karpuram Dhandalu,  Dharmakol balls, Chamkies, coloured bolls, snow sprays
  • Pradhanam suitcase, Garika Buddi, Pellipeta, thalambralu
• Make sure groom has at least 20k cash in his pocket
• Carry extra Kalyanam sticker for groom
•  Carry the gold ornaments for bride and groom including Mangala Suthram, Nallapusalu and rest of the gold
• Carry Groom’s and bride’s Thalambrala Battalu to wedding location

 

The rituals conducted throughout the wedding ceremony holds religious significance. In the traditional wedding ceremony of the Telugu people, the bride and the groom are religiously united in presence of Panchabhutaalu namely Bhumi (Earth), Akaasham (Sky), Agni (Fire), Neeru (Water) and Vaayuvu (air) and become the husband and wife as per the Hindu law. This event is held at the Kalyana Mandapam (Wedding Pavilion) decorated with fresh flowers and mango leaves in rich colours.

In the beginning of wedding ceremony, the groom attends the Lord Ganesh puja and bride attends the Gouri Devi Pooja at the Kalyana Mandapam with all their family members and relatives.

Thereafter, the groom and bride are seated opposite to each other on the Kalyana Mandapam separated by a curtain, so that they cannot see each other until the Kanyadhanam is completed. Then the bride’s parents wash the groom’s feet as a gesture of respect since the groom is considered as Lord Vishnu and bride is considered as Lakshmi Devi. While the priest recites the Slokas, the bride’s parents hand over their daughter’s responsibility to groom, it is called Kanyadhanam. Then the partition between the couple is removed.

Thereafter, the couple is asked to place the Jilakara-Bellam paste on each other’s head. This custom symbolises the fact the couple’s relationship is inseparable. This custom is conducted at the actual Muhurtham time. The family members and relatives come forward to bless the couple by showing Akshinthalu.

Following that, the bride is asked to dress up in white saree and the groom in white dhoti for Mangala Suthra Dharana. Here the couple sits next to each other. While the priests recite Slokas, the groom is asked to tie the Mangala Suthram around the bride’s neck with three knots. This represents the union of couple physically, mentally and spiritually. Then the groom will tie a string of black beads (Nalla Pusalu) to the bride to wear-off any evil-eye. One again the guests witnessing the ceremony come forward to bless the new couple by sprinkling Akshinthalu.

Then the couple showers Thalambralu on each other’s head with lots of fun. This ritual is followed by exchanging garlands. Thereafter, the bride’s feet is adorned with the toe rings (Mettelu Pillellu) by their maternal grandparents.

Then the couple is asked to walk seven steps together while taking oaths of loving, caring, guiding, protecting, understanding each other.

Thereafter, they play a fun-filled game called Ungarala Aata, in which the priest places the Bride’s silver toe ring and groom’s golden ring in the water-filled vessel ( Bindhe) and asks the couple to fish for the golden ring. The groom is asked to use his right hand while the bride uses her left hand to play this game. They are asked to play this game 3 times, whosoever wins the game more are said to be the dominant person in the marriage.

Then the priest does the Brahma Mudi, in which end of the Bride’s saree pallu is tied to the end of the Groom’s Kanduva.

At the end of the wedding, the Appginthalu ceremony is carried out in which the bride is handed over to the groom and his family traditionally.

During the ceremony, bride’s family will offer “Yaranala Pette” to the groom’s sister. The suitcase will have make-up kit and, Saree, Thambulam, silver Kumkuma Bharina, Endu Kobbari Chippalu, Dried dates, blouse pieces, flowers etc. Along with the “Yaranala pette”, Sunni Undalu, Ariselu, Pasupu, Kumkuma, Salt, Sunni pindi are offered to the groom’s sister in Steel Bhindelu. These are sealed with the yellow cloth.

During the ceremony, the groom’s family will officially invite the bride’s family and relatives with Kumkuma to the Nomulu and Reception ceremony that takes place at the Groom’s place.

Certain items such as bride’s pumpkin, bride’s vodiganti biyyam, bride’s garika buddi, groom’s pelli peta and any other articles from the Kalyana Mandapam shall be carried back to groom’s place.

 Preparations and Shopping Checklist:

• Get Puja items list from Priest
  • Shopping List: Puja items from Priest
• Arrange 1-2kgs flowers for puja Ganesh /Gouri Devi Puja
  • SL: Flowers
• Make sure all the gold ornaments are ready
  • SL: Mangala Suthram, Nalla Pusalu, Gold Chain, Ring (s) etc.
• Make sure groom has some cash in his pocket
• Carry following items to the wedding location
  • SL: Garika buddi, Pumpkin, Chamki dhandalu, Flower garlands, Dharmakol balls, Chamkies, colored bolls, snow sprays, Thalambrala Battalu for Bride
  • Pelli peta, Thalambralu, Bride’s Basikam
• Bring back these items from the wedding location:
  • Bride’s pumpkin, Bride’s Vodiganti Biyyam, bride’s Garika Muntha, groom’s Pelli Peta, Yaranala Pette including the sweets and items comes along with it
• Invite the bride’s family and relatives to Nomulu and Reception Ceremonies