| A Kerala Nair wedding ceremony is very simple. | | | | symbolising the marriage. After taking the |
| The ceremony takes just a couple of minutes. | | | | blessings of her elders by touching their feet, the |
| But prior to that there are some rituals to be | | | | bride is taken to the wedding venue, with her |
| followed. The Malayalee month Chingam is | | | | family members and friends. It could be a temple, |
| considered to be the most auspicious month to | | | | or her ancestral home, or a kalyana mandap. |
| conduct the weddings. The months of Midhunam, | | | | Thalikettu and Pudavakodukkal (Wedding) |
| Karkatakam and Kanni are generally avoided. A | | | | On the wedding day, the groom and his family |
| traditional Kerala Nair marriage is conducted with | | | | arrive at the venue of the wedding. Usually it is |
| the following steps. | | | | arranged in the girl's place. They are received |
| Horoscope matching | | | | ceremoniously in the midst of the traditional music |
| A marriage proposal moves forward with the | | | | (Nadaswaram and thayil). The bride's brother |
| horoscope matching. Though in the modern world, | | | | washes the groom's feet on a wooden plank and |
| few do not believe in this old theory of horoscope | | | | the aunts perform aarathi (pooja) and receives |
| matching for a happy and lasting marriage, many | | | | him. The groom and his people are escorted by |
| others still believe in their ancestors' thinking and | | | | the young girls holding the traditional brass lamps. |
| they would not like to take chances with their | | | | The boy sits in the mandap on the right side of |
| children's lives, foregoing this step. Today more | | | | the decorated canopy. The bride is then escorted |
| marriages are arranged through the online match | | | | to the mandap amidst the traditional music and |
| making sites, and many of these sites do have | | | | takes her place facing the east, with the groom |
| facilities for horoscope matching on their sites. | | | | facing her. At the auspicious moment |
| Meeting the girl (Pennu Kanal) | | | | (muhurtham) the bride ties the"thali" around her |
| Once the horoscopes are matched, the boy and | | | | neck, in a sacred yellow thread, to the beating of |
| his parents or other elders come to see the girl | | | | drums, and gifts her a sari. This ritual is called |
| officially. It can be a simple affair or a large | | | | Thalikettu and Pudavakodukkal. His mother also |
| celebration, where the prospective bride and | | | | ties her a chain, accepting her as her |
| groom and their families consent to the marriage. | | | | daughter-in-law. The bride and groom exchange |
| Meeting the boy's family (Veedu Kanal) | | | | garlands. This is followed by her father keeping his |
| The girl's parents also visit the boy's family to | | | | daughter's hand in the groom's hand, handing over |
| know more about him and his family, where their | | | | her to her groom in holy matrimony. This sacred |
| daughter is going to spend the rest of her life. | | | | ritual is called Kanyadan. Holding her hand, the |
| This custom is called Veedu Kanal. | | | | groom goes around the fire three times. |
| Engagement (Vivaha Nischayam) | | | | The newly married couple will take their parents' |
| Once both the families are satisfied with the | | | | and elders blessings together and then will be lead |
| alliance, the marriage will be officially announced in | | | | to a room and to give Milk and Banana by the |
| the presence of the elders and close friends, | | | | bride's mother and relatives. |
| which is called "Vivaha Nischayam". It may be a | | | | After the wedding ceremony, the guests will |
| simple affair or a large celebration, according to | | | | come to wish them with gifts. Then they will be |
| their wish and convenience. In some areas, the | | | | given a grand feast called "sadhya". It will be a |
| wedding rings are exchanged during this function, | | | | traditional vegetarian lunch with varieties of dishes |
| and in some other areas exchange of rings are | | | | and payasam, served in plantain leaf. |
| done during the wedding ceremony. | | | | Gruhapravesham |
| Ayana (Prewedding day) | | | | At an auspicious time, the bridegroom takes his |
| On the evening before the wedding, the families | | | | bride escorted by his people, and few members |
| and close friends of both the bride and the | | | | from the girl's family, to his house. They are |
| groom, gather in their respective houses, to bless | | | | received there ceremoniously. The bride enters |
| them. A traditional dinner will be arranged for | | | | the house, holding the traditional brass lamp in her |
| them. The bride will be dressed in one of her best | | | | hand, and keeping her right foot in. After some |
| saris, bejewelled, and her hands will be decorated | | | | time the girl's people return home, leaving her in |
| with mehendi. Mehendi is not a traditional | | | | her new home. |
| ceremony of Kerala Nair wedding; it is a new | | | | Reception |
| practice followed from other communities. | | | | In some families, they hold a Reception party in |
| Namaskaram (Blessing from the elders) | | | | the boy's side where his friends and relatives are |
| On the Wedding day, the elders take the sacred | | | | invited, to meet the newly wedded couple. Many |
| "Thali" (mangalyasutra) to the temple to get | | | | of them come with gifts to bless them. Usually it |
| blessed. This thali is going to be tied around the | | | | will be arranged in a Hotel. During this time, the |
| girl's neck by the groom on the wedding day | | | | guests are served with a grand dinner. |