Every town has its own way of welcoming you. When it came to Karaikudi, it is the grand palatial homes and the tasty Chettinad cuisine that flashed across. Officially declared as a heritage town by the Government of India, Karaikudi lured us enough to stay excited from the moment we got a call from Kailash & Indushri to shoot their big day. They both were living in Mumbai and had come down to their native to get married. Down South, marriage is more than an event about two people. It is a ceremony that binds two families together as they all come together and call upon the blessings from the above; for the couple and the generations they’d raise ahead.
A marriage is the grandest celebration in a Chettiar family. More like a full Cours meal, the ceremony is divided into parts and stretched over days. It started then with the welcoming rituals of both the families. We walked to and fro between the Bride’s and Groom’s houses to capture the meaningful observances they had to welcome each other. It was quite a walk that tallied out a lot of our perspiration. But we couldn’t complain for there was so much life in it, and the streets had their vibes lit.
The day before the wedding, Poojas were made on the Manavarai (wedding stage) and an auspicious Manapalagai (where the bride and the groom would sit to take the vow of togetherness) was set. The married couples from both the sides would come in and bless this seat of love where the new-weds are to begin their journey together. With such auspicious beginnings, the wedding celebrations began with friends and family gathering in. It was intense to see Indu’s Father getting emotional at times of reminiscence. From the decor to the food to the smiles around, everything was so authentic. We totally loved capturing this event amidst all the love and hospitality showered to us that mad us feel like family. Take a look at the full set of pictures to find out for yourself.
