Spices are Sweet

DO is an avid reader who loves to blog. She gave up her medical school to discover her destiny. DO aspired to live in her pyjamas and watch Oprah all day; luckily, her soul mate discovered her writing talent. She lives in Colombo with her husband, two kids and loves the fact that she is from an island. DO trades in spices, learns Spanish, and is ready to give parental advice at all times to all moms. She can be found writing plots, for her novel ideas, at all other times.DD is happy to state that she has found her soul mate in an arranged marriage

"This is a sacred thread. This is essential for my long life. I tie this around your neck, 0 maiden having many auspicious attributes! May you live happily for a hundred years with me!"

The verse, which is said when tying the "Thali" thread in a south Indian wedding.

Hindu weddings have been a union of a man and woman to commit to live a life of harmony. It is believed that the two souls will live, be united, and reunited, in all their after lives. So, yes they are indeed fixed in heaven. The rituals are followed under religious guidance, performed by a priest.

Pre-wedding
Nichiyathartham: The bride's family hosts an engagement ceremony for close relatives. The engagement is a colourful affair, whereby an elder in the family would announce the date of the wedding. The groom's family would provide gifts to the bride such as saris, jewellery and sweets. The bride's family would in turn present similar gifts. The parents would exchange a platter of betel leaves, coconuts, fruits, Kumkum (vermillion) and sandalwood paste to confirm the engagement.

The groom's family would buy the bride her wedding sari and reception sari, as the bride's family would buy the wedding attire and suit for the groom. The close relatives of the couple are also bought new clothes to mark the occasion by their respective sides. A team of relatives are sent to invite the guests to grace the occasion.

Hindu wedding retinue
o Bride
o Groom
o Bride's parents
o Groom's parents
o Bride's maternal uncle
o Groom's Maternal Uncle
" Bride's brother/male cousin to accompany the groom
" Grooms Sister/Female Cousin to accompany the bride
" Relatives of the bride and groom
" Friends of the bride and groom

Wedding Day
Fresh plantain trees with fruit tied on either side of the entrance, a string of mango leaves and pine petals are connected in between, This symbolizes an auspicious start to live a life of evergreen abundance for generations to come,

The floor is decorated with a beautiful Kolam, by women to mark the auspicious wedding. The elaborate details worked carefully are a treat for the eyes.

Relatives of the groom and bride await to welcome the guests with a tray offering, sandalwood paste, kumkum(vermillion) to place on the forehead and sugar candy to mark sweetness in life. The guests are showered with rose water to perfume them.

The notes of the naihasuiaram and melam play in harmony, to welcome the guests.

A wedding is an occasion for all the near and distant relatives, friends, neighbours to come together to attend and bless the couple.

The groom is welcomed by the bride's family and her relatives into the wedding hall.

'Ganapathi/ GaneshaPooja': The first ritual is to pray to Lord Ganesha to remove any obstacles for the day or in their life and also to bless the couple.

The priest would create a sacred fire homam within a closed area where by the fire god is present to bless the ceremony.

Married Women from the family would decorate the pillars with turmeric and kumkum (vermilion) dots. The bride's family would soak nine different pulses in vessels, for them to sprout. The Sprouting of the pulses symbolizes nurturing and growing of a new relationship. The sprouts would be maintained until the marriage and dissolved in a river or sea, three days later.

The wedding ceremony is mostly conducted in Sanskrit, a holy language of devotion. Different castes, families and cultures in Hinduism have made their own depiction of the wedding ceremony. The basic rituals performed and vows taken would be similar.

The families of the bride and the groom would sit and face each other as the priest chants prayers to seek blessings to the couple. The names of the families of three generations of ancestors are read and prayed for.

Kannikallhanam: The bride's hand is placed in the groom's right palm, hy the bride's father. As the groom is entrusted with her hand, it is a symbol that he is responsible to look after her in joy, sorrow and at all times in life.

MallgalyaDharanam: The "Thali' is a yellow thread coated with turmeric, bearing a gold pendant; it plays a significant part in the ceremony, as would a ring in the western wedding.

The Thali would be taken around in a plate bearing betel leaves and given to all the guests to be touched and blessed.

The tying of the thread would be done at the auspicious time, whereby the bride would face eastwards and the groom would tie one knot, and his sister would tie two knots of the thread behind her neck. The groom's sister or a female cousin would hold a lit lamp behind the neck.

The priests would chant the verse:

"This is a sacred thread. This is essential for my long life. I tie this around your neck O maiden having many auspicious attributes. May you live happily for hundred years (with me)."

The bride and the groom would be showered with turmeric coated raw rice and flowers petals as a token of blessings, by the guests.

GettiMellam: The nathashuiaram and Melam would play the special music loudly, to ward off any inauspicious sounds. It also directs the Guests attention to the ceremony.

Kumkum/Vermillion: A red powder is applied on the parting of the hair (forehead) of the bride by the bridegroom, for the first time. This is significant to show that the bride is married