Good morning, I am Koyal Ghosh from class 7F.

Today, I am here to tell you about various

Ceremonies of Andhra Wedding.
Wedding is special day for Bride and Groom because on this day they both make a relation of
Husband and Wife and start their family. It is also fun enjoyable and best moment of a person’s
life that words can’t explain.
If we talk about Andhra Wedding, it has amazing rituals which has genuine reasons that why it
should be done before, during and after marriage.
Let’s start with :-
Pendlikoothuru – This ceremony takes place one or two days before the wedding day at both
the bride and the groom’s house separately. In this ritual, naluga (paste of flour and turmeric)
with aromatic oils is smeared on the body of the bride and the groom. On completion of the
ritual, they take bath and put on new clothes. Fresh flowers are a must for the bride to be put
in her hair. All the married women present at the occasion are given sweets, flowers, betel
leaves and bangles as gifts and they bless the bride and the groom in return.
Snathakam – In this ritual, a silver thread is tied on the body of the groom. This is a very
important part of Andhra Reddy wedding and can be done before the muhurtam as well.
Kashi yatra – This ritual is an extremely funny one and is done with the groom solely. Once the
silver thread is tied in the snathakam ceremony, the groom shows as if he is leaving for some
pilgrimage by shunning all the worldly pleasures, duties and responsibilities towards family and
society. When he begins his walk towards the door of the house taking just minimal essential
things, the bride’s brother confronts him and stops him by reminding him of his duties and
responsibilities. He also offers his sister’s hand for wedding. This seems to please the groom
and he finally gives his assent for the marriage.
Mangala Snanam – This ceremony takes place on the morning of the main wedding when the
groom and the bride are taken for ceremonial baths. An auspicious time is decided for the
ceremony. After the bath is over, the bride and the groom can carry out the other following
rituals.
Aarthi – On completion of the bathing ritual aromatic oils are smeared on both the bride and
groom. This is followed by an aarthi. A small lamp is lit and placed on a plate with some more
ingredients and circled in front of the bride and the groom in their respective houses. This is
done as a prayer for the well-being and wisdom of the couple and is an important ceremony of
the wedding.
Gauri Pooja – Once the aarthi is over, the bride offers prayers to Goddess Gauri. She is the
symbol of fertility, triumph of good over evil and motherhood and the would-be-bride seeks
blessings in these regards.
Ganesh Pooja – After the aarthi takes place, the groom gets ready to go to the wedding venue.
The first thing that takes place in the mandap is that of Ganesh Pooja and the groom has to take
part in the same. This pooja is performed so that the wedding goes well without any hindrances
as well as for a happy and prosperous married life.

Rituals during the wedding ceremony

Kanyadaan – With kanyadaan, the main rituals of Andhra wedding begin. The bride is carried to
the mandap in a bamboo basket. The maternal uncle of the bride carries her. There is a curtain
so that the bride and the groom cannot see each other as a ritual. To receive blessings from last
seven generations of ancestors of both families, the priest says mantras to invoke them.
Parents of the bride then wash the feet of the groom as a mark of reverence.
Jeerakalla-bellamu – Now, the priest starts chanting the wedding shlokas with the curtain still
existing between the bride and the groom. A paste of cumin seeds and jaggery is made and the
bride and groom smear the same on each other’s hands. The paste signifies an inseparable
mixure, while the cumin is little bitter, the jaggery is sweet. The relation that the couple should
have should be like the paste so that they are together in good and bad times, during thick and
thin. The time for this ceremony is very vital and takes place at the most auspicious hour.
Madhuparkam – In this ritual, both the bride and the groom have to change their dress. The
bride adorns a white sari with a red border, while the groom wears white dhoti with red border.
The red and white combination stands for strength and purity respectively.
Sumangali – The bride comes back to the wedding mandap along with 10 sumangalis (married
ladies). Six ladies have plates full of rice and turmeric powder mixed together; while the
remaining four have small lamps on a plate. The lamps are made from sugar, rice flour and milk.
While the lit lamps signify light and sweetness, the rice is a symbol of abundance.
Mangalsootram – At this point in the wedding ceremony, the curtain is removed. Certain
prayers are offered after which the groom has to tie two strings of mangalsootra individually
around the neck of the bride. Three separate knots have to be tied signifying physical, spiritual
and mental union. Next homage is paid to the Pole Star and Vasistha-Arundhuti.
Kanyadaan Akshata – It is time to exchange the garlands after tying the mangalsootra. Friends
and relatives present their sprinkle turmeric mixed rice (akshata) and flowers on the couple as
their blessings and wishes.
Saptapadi - This is the most important ritual in any Hindu wedding ceremony and Andhra
Reddy marriage is no different. After tying a part of the bride’s saree to the groom’s dhoti, the
couple has to go around the sacred fire seven times. Also known as saat-phera, this ritual is
about taking seven oaths for a happily married life. The couple wishes and prays for honour,
health, nourishment, prosperity, strength, comfort and spiritual development. Once the feras
are over, the bride and groom and their families are showered with gifts in the form of clothes,
jewelry, other ornaments etc.
Sthaalipaakam – This is the last ritual of the wedding ceremony. The groom makes the bride
wear silver toe rings by his own hands. This ceremony signifies that the groom bows down to
the bride to make her his own. A string of black beads is also given to the bride for wearing for
warding off evil forces. The toe rings, mangalsootra and black beads are symbol of a married
woman in Andhra caste.

RITUALS AFTER MARRIAGE

There are some ceremonies that continue even after the marriage ceremony gets over.
Griha pravesham – After the marriage ceremony is over, the bride has to go to the groom’s
house where she is welcomed by her mother-in-law and other family members. A small kalash
full of rice is kept at the door from where the bride will enter. While entering, the bride has to
gently kick the kalash with her right foot so that it falls and the rice overflows. It signifies that
the household will be prosperous with her entry.
Uniting the mangalsootram – This is the last of the ceremonies of Andhra marriage. After 15
days of wedding, on the 16th day, the two separate mangalsootras are tied into one. This
signifies the coming together of two people as well as two families. It is mandatory for the bride
to put on a new sari and wear jewelry and ornaments before this ceremony.
It is quite interesting to see that each ritual in the wedding carries some meaning and
significance with it. It is said that following the rituals religiously is sure to give a long and
prosperous marital life to the couple.

That’s all
Thank You
Made by Koyal Ghosh
Class – VII F