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Marriage Customs
The system of marriage that existed in Kerala in the past were diverse
and ingenious. The marriage is the most decisive event in the girl's
life, after she has attained puberty. Even before, when she is a small
child there is a custom called 'Kettukalyanam'.
Ritual marriage
Kettukalyanam was the practice among Nayars (also Kshatriyas,
Ezhavas, Arayas, pulayas and even certain tribes) to conduct ritual marriages
of their daughters usually several girls of different age groups belonging
to a tarawad had their marriage conducted in the same place and on the
same occasion. The adult males married the girls. Some times one adult
married several women.
In some cases, the bridegroom belonged to the Kshatriyas
or Aryapattan or Elayatu communities (lower status sub-castes among Nambootiris).
He also acted as the priest. He tied a sacramental thread around the neck
of the bride. Then the brother of the child bride carried her on his shoulders
to a decorated pandal, a thatched shed improvised for the occasion in
the front courtyard of the house.
The bride would be in her wedding shawl (mandrakodi)
which covers her face as a veil. After the wedding is performed by tying
the thread, the priest - bridegroom washes his hands, an act which symbolises
his severance of all relationship with the girl whom he had just initiated
into wedlock. The real marriage of the girl has yet to take place after
she attains puberty. But for a girl to attain puberty before she had her
Kettukalyanam among Nayars, Kshatriyas, Tiyyas is very expensive, elaborate
and festive than the real marriage ceremonies. The ritual marriage ceremony
would be concluded by sumptuous feasts for four days consecutively in
which friends and relatives would participate. On the fourth day, the
women of the village took a ceremonial bath along with the girl and returned
to her home to make merry and rejoice with dances and songs.
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