Do you want to know what happens at a Christian wedding in Kerala? Everything you need to know about the ceremonies, rituals, traditions, and more is right here.
Christian weddings in India are a lovely experience. Christian weddings in India are a magnificent occasion to be a part of, combining the beauty of western traditions with India’s rich cultural past. It’s all quite mesmerizing, from the brides in white gowns to the brides in exquisite silk sarees.
The majority of Catholic marriages in Kerala are held in churches, with the brides customarily dressed in a white saree with a golden border and magnificent gold jewellery.
We will go through the lovely ceremonies that are full of earnest worshipping and celebrations of love to learn more about the delightful, a Kerala Christian wedding celebrates a blend of the west and the indigenous people’s roots.
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We’ve methodically gathered all the knowledge in depth for your understanding, from religious rites to what the bride and groom wear. Continue reading to learn more about this lovely occasion.
Kerala Christian Wedding Rituals, Traditions, and Ceremonies
Kerala Christian weddings take place in churches, just like other Christian weddings in India, but the pre-wedding celebrations are greatly inspired by the region’s culture.
Aacharakalyanam
This is the first ceremony that kicks off the wedding planning process. Both families meet each other and visit one other’s homes during this event. Aacharakalyanam is a ceremony that determines the wedding date. Both the bride’s and groom’s families exchange sweets to commemorate the wedding date’s confirmation. This ceremony has long been a component of Kerala Christian marriages, and it shares many similarities with other Indian pre-wedding traditions.
Manasamatham
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The Manasamantham ceremony, also known as the betrothal, is the second ceremony that takes place at every Kerala Christian wedding after the Aacharakalyanam. In the presence of two witnesses, the bride’s and groom’s families meet in a church where the priest confirms that both families accept the wedding. Traditionally, the exchanging of rings is not done during the wedding ceremony.
Guru Dakshana & Sthuthi Cholluka
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On the wedding day, there are two ceremonies: Stuthi Cholluka and Guru Dakshana. Stuthi Cholluka is a Hindu practise in which a sequence of prayers are recited at the bride and groom’s respective homes as an auspicious start to the wedding festivities.
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Guru Dakshana, on the other hand, is a ritual in which both the bride and the groom seek blessings from their elders. This ceremony is also held at their respective homes.
The bride and groom are then greeted at the chapel where the wedding ceremony will take place. Little girls carrying flowers walk down the aisle ahead of the newlyweds to greet them, followed by the rest of the guests (guests and family members enter the church). Families bring fruit baskets and flowers to the church to show their appreciation.
Minnukettu and the Wedding Ceremony
The bride and groom make their way down the aisle to the altar. The bride and groom’s parents are placed directly behind them, followed by the rest of the relatives and friends in that order. The couple’s wedding ceremony begins with them lighting a lamp jointly. The priest then reads Bible scriptures to the congregation. The bride and groom might also choose these verses ahead of time. All of the relatives, guests, and the bride and groom move to the next ritual after they have agreed to be man and woman.
Following then, the Minnukettu ceremony occurs. One of the most important rites of a Kerala Christian wedding is the Minnukettu. The groom binds a Minnu (a form of thaali), a seven-stringed thread, during this ceremony.
Minnukettu and the Wedding Ceremony
The couple signs their names in the register, together with the signatures of two witnesses, at the conclusion of the wedding ceremony. The marriage is then legally registered, and the bride dons the Manthrakodi for the first time.
