My Marriage @ Virudhunagar - Part 2 (Muhurtham)

It has been a long time after I posted the Part I of my marriage rituals. Been help up with work both officially and personally. My in-laws were here for the past ten days and hence I had to finish my work as early as possible in the office and ruch home to get their dinner ready. The work load at office is also increasing that I am unable to find enough leisure time to pen my thoughts. Anyway, today I decided to take some time off and finish the second part of my wedding rituals.

On May 20, 2005 (the D-Day awaited by both of us - Bharath and me) I woke up at 3:30 a.m. I did sleep at only 11:30 p.m. the previous night. But still, as these are once in a lifetime affair, I got up and got ready and reached the Mandapam by 4:15 a.m. (Me was staying in my uncle's friend's house).

Started getting ready from then on. At 7 a.m. as planned the Oonjal function happened. Some of Bharath's relatives had also particiapted. This went on for about an hour after which he wore a panjakajjam in which he returned back to his mandapam (Hanuman mandapam). Everyone seemed to have liked him in that attaire. At 9 a.m. Bharath and his relatives started from their mandapam and came to ours (VVS). He was riding on an elephant!!!!!!!!!!! They arrived at our mandapam at around 9:15 a.m. after which 5 ladies from his relatives had entered my room with the muhurtha saaree (weighing 1 kg in all). I was ready by 9:40 a.m. and our marriage was performed by Mr. Muthu, proprietor of the Idhayam group. The marriage rites were performed as per their custom without the agni or homakundam.

After he put the thaali, I was wearing 4 garlands while he was wearing 2 garlands. From VVS mandapam we went to Hanuman in a horse chariot. Me and Bharath were seated surrounded by 6 children in the chariot. Once I got down at Hanuman mandapam, after the haarathi session, his mom cam with 2 more garlands to welcome me as their daughter-in-law. I am sure I would have been weighing atleast 10 kg more than my actual weight that day. I stayed put with that weight for another 1.5 hrs before I was releaved of 4 garlands. After we were wished by all his relatives in the mandapam, we left to his house to light the kuthuvilakku and from there to the registration office to register our marriage. Only while going to the register office did I go without much weight.

After getting back from the register office, they left me at VVS to get ready for the Nalangu and my in-laws and Bharath went to get ready for the same. Nalangu started at 4 p.m. It was fun filled event with the usual nalangu components plus an anthakshari and cake cutting.

After anthakshari most of my relatives packed and left back to chennai in Nellai Express that night. After they all left Bharath's sister and Athimber came to pick me up from VVS to hanuman. My parents and a few of my relatives who were left headed to my uncle's friend's house for the night.

The next day, there was a small scale function organized in Hanuman.... Their version of Nalangu kind of fun events which ended with lunch. My parents and the remaining relatives left after lunch to Tenkasi and then back to Chennai, while I stayed with my in-laws for a week and landed up in Chennai on May 26, 2005. May 27, 2005 was my reception in Chennai.

Note: I guess the post has become too long. Sorry if it was too boring. I will upload the photos very shortly and provide a link to them from my blog.