Indian weddings are a magnificent blend of rituals, age-old traditions, and celebrations. Each region boasts its unique charm, reflecting the country’s diverse cultural legacy. South Indian weddings, in particular, are renowned for their elegant and rich celebrations. The pre-wedding rituals are like a series of mini celebrations that sometimes lasts about a week.
One such pre-wedding ritual of Tamil weddings is the Nalangu ceremony which is an integral part of their celebration. From ornate decorations to soulful songs, this ritual fills every moment with joy and makes the wedding all the more memorable.
Nalangu or also known as Nalungu is an intimate ceremony, which is the purifying ceremony and is carried out separately at the bride and groom’s houses before the main ceremonies begin. Turmeric, vermilion, and sandalwood are an indispensable part of rituals in India and they hold religious value in most cultures. During Nalangu, this sacred mixture is applied to the bride and groom symbolising purification and cleansing of the body before the wedding.
Basking in the glow of tradition: What is the significance?
Nalangu although is a joyful pre-wedding ritual, holds great cultural significance.
The sacred elements — turmeric and sandalwood, are blended into a paste and applied on the faces and body of the bride and groom. It is believed to cleanse them of any impurities and prepare them for the sacred rituals ahead.
Turmeric, in particular, has antiseptic properties and is considered auspicious in Hindu culture.
Age-old rituals and practices like oiling hair and applying Kunkum, enhance the natural beauty of the bride and groom, adding glow for their special day.
Apart from the cultural significance, ceremonies like these bring families together and create a sense of togetherness before the wedding.
Preparations for the golden hour
The space is usually adorned with fresh flowers, banana leaves, colourful rangoli (kolam) and mango leaves. The dias is set where they can sit comfortably for the ceremony on a plank. The bride typically wears a colourful silk saree or lehenga with traditional jewelry and flowers in her hair. The groom wears a veshti (dhoti) and angavastram (shawl).
Rituals that tint our hearts forever
The elderly women of the family smear them with oil using a clump of grass. Next, green gram paste is applied which is also believed to have beautifying properties.
Aarati is done by elderly women warding off any evil spirit and turmeric water is sprinkled on them, post which the bride and the groom are taken for a bath.
In the bathing space, which is also adorned with flowers and mango leaves, the bride and the groom are applied turmeric and sandalwood paste. The paste is applied to the face, hands, and legs. Family members take turns to participate in this ritual. The venue, after the ceremony looks like it is bathed in a yellow storm!
With a blend of modernity and changing times, friends and extended family actively take part in this ritual. Games and activities are organised to add a fun element to the ceremony. It also lets the bride and groom unwind before the big day.
Yellow hues and some games
Drenched in the colour of joy, the ceremony is made all the more entertaining by introducing games.
Games like breaking papads where the bride and groom take turns breaking papads on each other’s heads. This is if Nalangu is celebrated by both families together. It also symbolises breaking the barriers between the couple.
Rituals are now being customised and dance & music has become an inevitable part of every ceremony. Friends and relatives gather. They dance and sing their hearts out once the rituals come to an end. Games like Antakshari and Musical Chair are played and the day ends with a delicious lunch.
A splash of yellow across cultures
The Nalangu ceremony is primarily associated with Tamil Brahmin weddings but it is also celebrated in different regions. In North India, it is called the Haldi ceremony, in Karnataka Arishina Shastra and Andhra Mangala Snanam. Almost every culture adds a yellow touch before the wedding.
Amidst the diversity, the essence of this festival is constant. Rituals like turmeric application and seeking blessings are common threads that bind these celebrations together.
With its golden hues and fun activities, Nalangu, a timeless tradition, bridges generations with joy and cultural richness. It’s a golden memory that will be etched in the hearts of families!
