My Marriage @ Virudhunagar - Part 1 (Nitchayadhartham)

Finally I have decided to pen down the trip to and fro from Virudhunagar and about my marriage there before it is too late and the memories fade away from my grey matter. Our marriage was a mixture of both the customs.

I was off work from May 16, 2005 and was helping my Mom pack for the journey. 39 of us were travelling to Virudhunagar by the Nellai Exp. My Dad and my uncle left for Virudhunagar on May 18, 2005 by Guruvaayur Exp. (A day train) and reached there in the evening.

My family minus my Dad including my uncle and cousins, my perippa's family, and Chittappa's family travelled by a van to Egmore while the remaning group decided to arrive directly at the station. We all met at Egmore and had occupied our seats in the train. The next day morning on reaching Virudhunagar junction, my sis-in-law, her husband, and my FIL along with my Dad and uncle had landed up in the station. From there we went to our hall and took rest till the evening when all the work for the engagement (Nitchayadhartham) started.

The groom's family with the groom came in only at 8:00 p.m. Except for me everyone else had some snacks in the evening. I was already feeling hungry. Once they came, the function got over in 1 hour after which there were some snap sessions and then they went to their hall and we had our dinner.

As soon as they came in, my SIL and couple of her cousins came to my room with a saaree. I changed to that and they brought me to the stage. In the meantime, as per our custom, they read out the lagna pathrikai and gave the groom's dress to him. My MIL gifted me a pair of gold bangles and a chain. My SIL took me to the kitchen in the marriage hall for performing some ritual according to their custom which signifies that I am taking her role in their house.

Bharath was then called on stage and my brothers garlanded him, presented him the gold chain, wrist watch and applied a kumkum and chandan tika on his forehead. This was the end of the function after which all his relatives blessed us by applying the kumkum on our forehead.

We both were called aside for some photos. Then they left for the day and I went and had dinner.

The next day (marriage) was the fun part. I will continue this in my next post. Am yet to get the CD of my marriage photos. Once I get that, I will upload the photos for viewing.