Ayroor Thayillam Family
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Like the Hindu custom, Christians also tie the thaali around the bride’s neck as the
marriage badge. After the thaalikettu the priest blesses the manthrakodi and gives it to the
bridegroom. He puts it over the bride’s head. Then the priest blesses the manikonta and
puts it around the neck of the bride. At the end of the marriage ceremony the couple and
the witnesses sign their names in the register, and the marriage is officially recognized in
all the denominations.
After getting out of the church, the knanaya Christians of Kerala follow the custom of
performing natavili. The maternal uncle of the groom takes the pallikuda/vettukuda
‘umbrella of the church’ and proclaims loudly three times “nada nadaye nada nada nada”!
Traditionally the newly wedded couple and the invitees are received in a panthal
constructed for this purpose in the front coutyard of the house of the groom or bride. The
modern trend is hiring a public hall for the reception.
The rituals at the entrance of the panthal are followed by a number of customary practices
like the newly wedded couples stepping into the panthal with the right foot receiving the
bride’s party to the hall, giving sandalwood paste to all invitees, sprinkling rose water on
them, giving honorable seats to the bride and groom on the raised dais, etc.
Knanaya Christians of Kerala observed some special ceremonies like vaazhu pititham,
‘giving of blessing’, paalum pazhavum kodukkal, ‘giving milk and plantain fruit’,
kachathazhukal etc for their marriage celebration. The rituals in the panthal are followed
by a grand banquet. In early days food was fully vegetarian. Later meat and fish in
different varieties came to be served in plenty at the banquet. While the banquet took
place, a paanan (low caste Hindu) would come and sing about the glorious origin, prestige
and privileges of the Syrians.
In ancient days, Syrian Christian marriage festival was extended to four days. The first two
days were celebrated with singing and dancing all throughout. Maargamkali and
parichamuttikkali are the important plays. The important activities taking place on the third
and fourth days were ceremonies like ennappaattu, kulippaattu, adachuthurappaattu and
vilakkuthodeel.
marriage badge. After the thaalikettu the priest blesses the manthrakodi and gives it to the
bridegroom. He puts it over the bride’s head. Then the priest blesses the manikonta and
puts it around the neck of the bride. At the end of the marriage ceremony the couple and
the witnesses sign their names in the register, and the marriage is officially recognized in
all the denominations.
After getting out of the church, the knanaya Christians of Kerala follow the custom of
performing natavili. The maternal uncle of the groom takes the pallikuda/vettukuda
‘umbrella of the church’ and proclaims loudly three times “nada nadaye nada nada nada”!
Traditionally the newly wedded couple and the invitees are received in a panthal
constructed for this purpose in the front coutyard of the house of the groom or bride. The
modern trend is hiring a public hall for the reception.
The rituals at the entrance of the panthal are followed by a number of customary practices
like the newly wedded couples stepping into the panthal with the right foot receiving the
bride’s party to the hall, giving sandalwood paste to all invitees, sprinkling rose water on
them, giving honorable seats to the bride and groom on the raised dais, etc.
Knanaya Christians of Kerala observed some special ceremonies like vaazhu pititham,
‘giving of blessing’, paalum pazhavum kodukkal, ‘giving milk and plantain fruit’,
kachathazhukal etc for their marriage celebration. The rituals in the panthal are followed
by a grand banquet. In early days food was fully vegetarian. Later meat and fish in
different varieties came to be served in plenty at the banquet. While the banquet took
place, a paanan (low caste Hindu) would come and sing about the glorious origin, prestige
and privileges of the Syrians.
In ancient days, Syrian Christian marriage festival was extended to four days. The first two
days were celebrated with singing and dancing all throughout. Maargamkali and
parichamuttikkali are the important plays. The important activities taking place on the third
and fourth days were ceremonies like ennappaattu, kulippaattu, adachuthurappaattu and
vilakkuthodeel.
| Syrian Christian Traditions |
