Sutha Wedding Friends

Sutha+Sujee's Wedding Photo Essay

Wedding Date : Dec 15, 2004

Location : Perl Hall @ Hotel President, Mylapoor, Chennai, India
Bride : Sutha
Groom : Sujee

This is a narrative of how our wedding progressed. This is also a very close template of Sri Lankan Tamil's Hindu weddings. For more info see this page

If you just want the photos get them here
All Wedding Photos
All Portraits
Special FX photos

Before wedding - Ponnurukku : Gold Melting ceremony

Ponnurukku happens a couple of days before the wedding. A gold nugget that would decorate bride's thaali is melted by a goldsmith.

Gold is melted in a makeshift 'furnace' in a pot. Plenty of coal is used and goldsmith blows into it constantly for about 15-20 minutes to make the furnace red hot. This goldsmith probably has a very good VO2 max :-)

All photos from ponnurukku

Groom getting ready

Dinesh (Sutha's brother) and Sutha's dad comes to groom's place to 'escort' him to the wedding hall. Dinesh - the best man - also helps the Sujee put on the final piece of the getup, the head-turban.

ready

Dinesh putting on the turban

with Sujee's parents

with Dinesh + Sutha's dad

'aaraathi' is a custom to send-off or welcome some one with God's blessings. It is performed by two women who are married.

Raji akkah + Amma setting it up

Raji akkah and another performs it

Bride getting ready

In the mean while Sutha is getting ready. Her dress up and makeup are infinitely more complex than than Groom's.

Just before leaving for the hall Sutha receives blessings from her parents. Maid of Honor - Raji akkah - veils Sutha's face so that groom can not look at her face yet.

Sutha with parents

Blessed

Veiled

Groom enters the hall

Dinesh washes Sujee's feet (more like sprinkle some water on it) and receives a golden ring from Sujee as a 'tip'. Bride's dad welcomes the Groom with a garland. Another aaraathi is performed to welcome the Groom into the hall.

Priest preps Sujee

Groom & the Best Man awaits the arrival of the Bride at Manavarai - a decorated stage - while the priest performs some rituals.

Our priest is ??? Ayer who is a also a family friend.

A coconut is broken (by Mr Ponniah) and offered to the Gods (generally Lord Ganesha) so the ceremony goes smoothly. Two married ladies (Mrs Ponniah & Mrs Pirai Soodi) start off the 'poojas'

Bride enters the hall

Sutha is making a grand entrance

Priest is prepping Sutha

Parents greet each other

Kannihathaanam - Giving away the bride

Bride's parents formally 'give away' the bride to the groom and his family.

SNIP : When asked by Sutha's father 'do you accept', Sujee was blank for a few seconds then realizing he needs to respond said 'Yes, I accept' (second picture)

Blessing the 'Thaali'

Thaali is a jewelery (worn around the neck like a necklace) that symbolizes the union of man and wife. Before Groom puts on the Thaali on bride, it is blessed by all present.

Sujee gives the wedding saaree ('koorai') to Sutha.

Sutha will go back and return wearing the new saaree

Sutha returns

returning

putting on a garland

sharing a moment

Thaali Kattu - The Nuptial Knot

Sujee gets the Thaali from the priest and put it around Sutha.

It is supposed to be tied 3 times at the back. But these days, bride's maid (Raji akkah) helps secure it.

Exchanging of garlands

After the Thaali garlands are exchanged. Here the couple can be seen almost submerged in bulky garlands.

Ammi Mithithal

This ritual emphasizes the couple have to be true to each other. The bride steps on a granite slab (ammi) where groom puts on a pair of small jewelery rings (metti) on her toes.

Then a golden ring and a lemon are dropped into a bucket with colored water (so no one can see inside the bucket). Bride and groom try to pick the ring & lemon three times. Who ever picks up the ring three times is 'supposed' have the final say in their decisions. Sujee got the ring twice hence would be the 'lead' of the family. But some how he doubts it. Also Sutha contests that she let him win (by allowing him to pick up the ring) to 'save face'.

Parents Blessing

Blessings from priest, parents and guests

Priest receives a gift for his services.

Every one present comes up to the stage and bless the couple. This is done by sprinkling rice on the couple (aruharisi)

Group Photos

Ceremony is almost over.

Finally, food!

Guests eat first. Couple eat last, ensuring every one attended the wedding had already eaten. Bride & groom feed each other some thing sweet, before they start eating.