More about Marriages...
I could go on and on about the colourfulness of Indian marriages. But what really stands out in my mind are the unique traditions that each community has fashioned for itself. And the interesting origins of these traditions always throw light on the regional or social attitudes of the community.
My very first article in Suite101 was about Marrying inside the family is not something new to Indians. Wedding your maternal uncle or uncle's son or your paternal aunt's son or daughter is very common among the Tamil people. So when someone from the Chetty community decides to marry outside the family fold, a unique tradition called "Penn Edukki Kaattudhal" is followed during the ceremony. The aunt of the bride decks her out and stands with her outside the hall for the bridegroom to see. It is symbolic of saying that though the girl is rightly promised to her aunt's son, Aunty does not have any objections to her being married outside. The Chettys too, like the North Indians, take the bridegroom around town on a grand procession. He is seated on a mare and is extended hospitality and best wishes at every house along the way. This is done by showing the "HARATHI" (a small flame of camphor on a brass palte) before the grrom's face. In the restrained atmosphere of the Indian society, it was a good way to get to socialize with the groom. The bride's father has had to always bear the brunt of the finance in a wedding. But, in India, it is almost a matter of prestige if the father does not do enough and more to keep his girl happy and make her wedding occassion a memorable one. For this, the Chettys again have a quaint tradition called the "Vevu" The brothers of the bride take along gifts, food articles and other valuables to the gorom's place, by carrying the load on their heads. One more thing: it was a good compromise to the inheritance problem, because Hindu girls have always been traditionally denied their share in the family estate.
Go To Page:
1
Latest Articles