The “Thoranapaku” is the very first ceremony conducted on the day of the wedding to kick-start the all other wedding festivities. “Thoranam” is made up of Mango leaves (and flowers) that will be tied up on the main entrance of the house amidst loud traditional music of Sannai melam. “Thoranam” can be tied up on all the doors of the house if you would like to. The entire house can be decorated with the flowers for this happy occasion.

 Preparations & Shopping Checklist:

• Find out the auspicious time from the priest
• Invite close family members for the ceremony
• Prepare Thoranalu Mango leaves
  • Shopping List: String to tie up the mango leaves
• Arrange Music band
• Decorate the house with flowers

“Dheeparadhana” ceremony is performed after “Thoranapaku”. When the priest makes his arrangements for puja, “Deeparadhana” is lightened by groom’s sister to begin the puja. During puja, the groom will lighten the Akanda Deepam which shall continuously light until the new couple is back home after wedding.  During puja, new clothes are offered to the groom’s parents by his parental grandparents. Groom’s sister will prepare the prasadam to be offered to the god at the end of the puja. Once the puja is completed, the groom will receive the blessings from the honoured guests, in turn they are offered with “thambulam”.

If the “panchala ritual” is not performed to the groom before, it can be completed during Dheeparadhana. For this ceremony, new clothes (pancha, pai pancha, shirt) are offered to the groom by his paternal grandparents.

A day before this event, the groom’s parents shall invite their relatives and friends (mostly ladies) to the ceremony.

 Preparations & Shopping Checklist:

• Find out the auspicious time from the priest
• Get Puja items list from Priest
  • Shopping List: Puja items list
• Invite guests
• Arrange food for guests
• Prepare Prasadam: Payasam and Undrallu
  • SL: Payasam – rice, jaggery, milk, cashews, raisins, green cardamom powder, utensils; Undrallu – Rice flour, jaggery
• Arrange a person to take care of Akanda Deepam until the new couple is back home
• Get Vodlu (5kg) needed for “Akanka dhepam”
• Make sure new clothes are ready to offer groom’s parents
  • SL: New cloths for groom’s parents
• Make sure thambulam sets are ready for guests
  • SL: Bananas, beetle leaves, somp packets
• Make sure “panchala” set is ready for Panchala ceremony
  • SL: Pancha, paipancha, shirt

 

The “Pelli Koduku” ceremony is performed to purify the groom with holy ingredients and to prepare him for the wedding ceremony. This event is preceded by the Deparadhana ceremony. The groom dresses up in Lungi (white preferred), Kanduva, and banyan (white) for the ceremony. The location of the ceremony can be decorated with the bunch of flowers for better appearance. The first parental cousin of the groom (Thoti Pellikoduku) , who is brother-in-law in relation, will accompany him during the ceremony.  Thoti Pellikoduku will be seated left to the groom.

At the Muhurtham time, the elderly female (“pedha muthaidu) or the groom’s mother marks the kumkuma on groom’s and his cousin’s forehead first, the she applies little sandal paste (Gandham) on his neck and back of his palms, smears turmeric paste on his face and arms ( and legs if possible),   applies little coconut oil on his head, sprays  little perfume on him, and shower her blessings to the groom. The guests will come forward and follow the same process to bless the groom. The groom will offer the  “thambulam” to the each guest in return.

During the ceremony, the couple (except groom’s parents) who would like to begin this ritual to the groom will usually offer him new clothes. While the groom’s parents will offer new clothes to the “Thoti Pellikoduku”.  “Harathi” is offered to the groom by his sister(s) at the end of the ceremony amidst elderly female (s) singing classical harathisongs.

After Harathi, the groom (and “thodi pelli koduku”) can go and take “mangala snanam” (holy shower). Thereafter, the groom and “thodi pelli koduku” will be dressed up in their first set of wedding dress offered during “pelli koduku” ceremony. Then an elderly female will apply “kalyana thilakam” and “Dishti Chukka” to the groom and Thoti Pellikoduku. Then “paarani” is applied to their feet.

The groom’s family will invite their relatives a day ahead to attend the ceremony. The groom’s dress is offered to his household butler after the ceremony.

Preparations & Shopping checklist:

•  Find out the auspicious time from the priest
• Invite relatives a day ahead of ceremony
• Arrange breakfast for guests
• Arrange these items for event
  • Harathi , Akshinthalu, Turmaric + sunni pindi paste, kumkum, Coconut oil, perfume, Sandal paste, Thambulam sets
  • SL: Beetle leaves, bananas, somp packets
• Decorate the location with flowers
  • SL: Flowers
• Make sure the groom is dressed up
  • SL: white Lungi, towel, and banyan
• Let the bride’s parents know when the ceremony is started.
• Make sure new clothes to be offered to the groom and Thodi Pelli Koduku are ready
  • SL: New clothes for the groom and Thodi Pelli Koduku
• Find an elder females to apply kalyanam sticker, paarani and dishti chukka to both groom and “thodi pelli koduku” after they take holy bath
  • SL: Kalyanam sticker (6 no.), paarani bottle, black stickers

 

This process involves worshiping the “neem tree” by smearing turmeric paste and marking kumkuma on tree trunk. The tree will be decorated with flowers and offered with food (specifically chalimidi, vadapappu, panakam). Ladies will carry the puja items and articles to the location while the music band plays loud music. The group of ladies shall be escorted by music band and by the group of males carrying tent. The priest will perform the puja with groom’s parents/“lagna pathrika couple” at the location.  “Panakam” and “prasadam” is distributed to the guests in the end.

Important temples shall be visited on the way  to and from the puja location. Puja items such as coconut, gift money, pasupu kukum, flowers, dhoop sticks etc are offered in each temple.

Once the crowd returns home, they will offer their blessing to the groom and in return they are offered with a gift and food (usually lunch). That completes the maju puja process. The groom can have his lunch as well.

A day before this event, the groom’s family will invite their family and friends (mostly ladies) to participate in the event. The invite shall include a shampoo packet, coconut oil packet, turmeric and kumkum pkts, sunnipindi pkt.

 

Preparations and Shopping Checklist:

• Find out the auspicious time from the priest to conduct the ceremony
• Get Puja items list from Priest
  • Shopping List: Puja items list
• Arrange fresh flowers and garlands for puja
  • SL: Flowers and garlands
• Invite guests a day ahead of the ceremony
• Prepare inviting  kits
  • SL: a shampoo packets, coconut oil packets, Pasupu-Kumkuma pkts, sunnipindi,  mini ziplock packets for sunnipindi -pasupu- kumkuma, small gift bags to pack all these together
• Arrange food for guests
• Prepare Prasadam – Chalimidi, Vadapappu, Panakam
  • SL: For Chalimidi – Rice flour, Jaggery; For Vadapappu – Pesarapappu; For Panakam – Jaggery, pepper seeds; Undrallu – Rice Flour, jaggery, chana dal
• Arrange these puja articles
  • Thambula pallem, Ganta, harathi, achamanam patra, water patra, dharam
• Arrange traditional music band
• Make sure tent is ready (bed sheet and stick)
  • SL: Queen size Bedsheet
• Arrange the puja items to offer at the each temple
  • Coconut, Pasupu-Kumkuma, Kaddilu, Sandle powder, Rs. 116, Blouse piece
• Decorate the location where the groom will be seated to take blessing from guests after they return from Manu puja
• Prepare gift bags with thambulam, gift articles and Undrallu
  • SL: Return Gift articles, gift bags, bananas, beetle leaves, somp packets

This process involves barber shaping off the groom’s nails after groom had his lunch. The seating place is covered with white cloth (pancha most likely) and surrounded by vodlu/rice. The groom and thodi pelli koduku will be asked to sit next to each other and event is conducted by barber. Ladies (two) holding “rocali” can stand each side of the groom.  The groom’s dress is passed over to the barber after the event. “Harathi” is offered to the groom in the end, following which the groom can go and take head bath and wear new cloths to go to wedding ceremony.

Preparations & Shopping List:

• Get the list of items required to conduct this ceremony from the Barber
  • SL: Vodlu ( 4kg), Cow milk
• Make sure groom’s dress is offered to the household barber after the event
  • SL: Dress for groom
• Prepare Harathi plate
• Arrange two “rokallu”
• Decorate the event location
  • Blanket to cover the seats
• Offer new clothes to the household barbar after the event
  • SL: Lungi, banyan, towel for barber

This process involves mixing the rice with little bit of turmeric, perfume, and cow ghee by the elderly married females (5) amidst of traditional music of Sannai Melam. Also a perl (muthyam), a coral (pagadam), flowers and two dried half coconuts (endu kobbari chippalu -2 ) are added to the mix. When the mix is ready, it is secured in a white towel and it will be carried to the wedding location.

Preparations & Shopping Checklist:

• Make sure items required for mixing Thalambralu are ready
  • Shopping List: Muthyam, pagadam, turmeric, cow ghee, Endu Kobbari chippalu – 2, Rice
• Arrange music band
• Secure the Talambralu in a white towel
  • SL: White towel

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