Telugu Wedding Rituals and Traditions

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Last Updated on January 18, 2023 by Sagarika Kapoor

While many people boast about the big fat Indian weddings in the north, there are fewer people who are aware that the traditional Telugu ceremonies lasted for more than 16 days in the 19th century. This has been reduced to around two to three days in today’s times. Telugu weddings are somewhat different from North Indian and other weddings in terms of rituals and months. Telugu people follow a different marriage calendar. You can also check out the auspicious wedding dates in 2023 and know more about the important dates. You should know that Telugu weddings cannot take place during the months of Shunya, Bhadrapad and Aashad. If you are planning to attend an authentic South Indian Telugu wedding, you should take the time to know more about the Telugu wedding rituals. Here’s a handy guide to help you understand the rituals so that you can celebrate in full swing.

Pre-Wedding Rituals

Every culture has a different way of celebrating pre-wedding festivities. Telugu marriages are bright, and colourful and hold significant cultural importance. Here are the pre-wedding festivities involved in Telugu Wedding Rituals.

Nischitartham 

It is the first ceremony that is performed to announce the wedding of the couple and make it official. The two families meet and perform rituals to further announce the engagement of the couple.

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Muhurtam

Muhurtam is finalising the date and time of the wedding after matching the horoscopes of the bride and groom. Meanwhile, families exchange gifts on the ring engagement tray. The couple also seeks blessings from the elders. 

Pellikutru and Pellikoduku 

Source: Dreaming Loud

Pellikutru is a ceremony that takes place at the bride’s place, whereas the latter takes place at the groom’s house. In this Telugu wedding ritual, naluga (a paste of flour and turmeric) is applied to their body. It is done to cleanse their body and mind before the wedding. 

Mangala Snanam

This happens on the day of the wedding in the morning when the bride and groom are taken for a ceremonial bath. After this, they start getting ready for their wedding looks.

Snathakam 

The ceremony happens a few hours before the actual wedding and marks the graduation of the groom from being a bachelorette. 

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Kashi Yatra

Kashi Yatra is the fun part of the Telugu wedding rituals where the groom pretends that he is going to Kashi to become a sanyasi. Bride’s brother shared the responsibility for convincing him to marry his sister. The groom is then welcomed by the bride’s parents and other relatives.

Wedding Rituals

Source: 1Plus 1Studio

Here are the significant Telugu rituals and traditions that happen on the day of the wedding.

Aarti

It all begins with Aarti when oil is applied to the bride as well as the groom. After that, they seek blessings from the elderly and relatives.

Pooja

Pooja carries another significance in Telugu wedding rituals. Ganesh and Gauri Pooja are performed on the day of the wedding. Groom sits on the mandap and offers prayers to Ganesh Pooja, while the bride performs Gauri Pooja. The Pooja is performed in the presence of family members.

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Bride’s Entry

After the pooja is performed, the bride enters the mandapam. In some traditions, the bride is carried in a basket and brought to the mandap. The bride and groom are not allowed to look at each other. A curtain is certainly placed between them to ensure they do not look at each other.

Kanyadan, Kanyadanam and Panigrahanam 

Source: Made in Mono

The bride’s parents perform this ritual by washing the feet of the groom and welcoming him. The groom promises to take care of the bride and protect her for life.

Jellakara Belam

Jellakara is cumin and Bellam is Jaggery. Both items are placed in the hands of the couple. The ritual starts at auspicious times and the couple also proceeds to place the paste on each other’s heads. The ritual is performed to indicate that the couple will stay together through thick and thin and through happy and difficult moments of life.

Mangalsutram 

Source: 1Plus 1Studio

The curtain is removed and the groom performs the ritual of tying mangalsutram. A yellow sacred thread smeared with haldi is tied around the bride’s neck. Three knots are also tied to signify the mental, physical and spiritual union between the couple.

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Talambralu 

It is one of the most fun parts of Telugu wedding rituals where the bride and groom shower talambralu (thermocol pearls) on each other’s heads.

Pradhanam 

It is an exciting post-wedding game and ritual which is performed by multiple couples around the country. As per this ritual, a lot filled with milk and rose petals is brought to the mandap. A gold ring is placed between it and the bride and groom play this to find the ring. It is an exciting game and guests may also enjoy looking at who picks the ring first.

Kanyadaan Akshata

Source: Udays Photography

The bride and groom then exchange garlands to indicate they accept each other as partners and will stick to each other for life.

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Saptapadi and Sthaalipaakam

It is similar to what’s called Saat-phere in north India. The couple takes seven rounds around the holy fire and takes the vows. The couple promises a lifetime of togetherness and forever ahead. The groom also brings a silver toe ring that the bride can wear after this wedding ritual is performed. 

Arundhati Nakshatram

Arundhati and Vasishtha are considered symbols of an ideal couple. Hence, the couple is taken out to spot the nakshatra in the sky.

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These are the Telugu wedding rituals that hold significant importance in the tradition.

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