Once a match is fixed which is done by priests of the family who get together at the groom’s place and fix a date for the wedding, the boy and girl do not meet each other.

A day before the wedding the groom’s party arrives at the bride’s place amidst fanfare, like in a Barat. It is called Jaanavaasam. After this the engagement ceremony takes place. The priest then performs Ganesh Puja.

Unjal or the ceremony where the bride and groom are made to sit on a swing follows the wedding. The couple is then given a mixture of milk, banana and sugar by all relatives. A coconut is then given to the girl after which she is taken to the pandaal (wedding tent) where she is given a sari to wear.

She wears the saree and comes back where Kanyadanam is performed i.e. the groom and the bride are symbolically united by the bride’s father. Then the bride and the groom go around the sacred fire seven times in a ritual called Saptapadi. Most importantly, a yellow thread with a pendant called the ‘Taali’ is tied to the girl’s neck by the boy.

In the evening Nalangu is performed in which the boy and the girl are given a coconut to play with. It is performed just for fun. An exchange of gifts takes place between members of both families and flower petals are showered on the couple. This is called Laaja Homam and Paaladaanam respectively.

After this, the grihpravesh is performed, in which the bride is formally received and welcomed into her new home and family after taking a leave from the bride’s family.