2nd February - PART I

February 2nd began early for both families. Traditionally, the bride's family arrives first to welcome the groom's party. Accordingly, Srini's immediate family and close friends departed around 5:00 AM, aiming to reach the Swaminarayan BAPS Kalakendra in Vashi by 5:45 or 6:00 AM. Some of Sanjiv's out-of-town guests had arrived the previous night and occupied their assigned rooms.

The BAPS venue offers ample accommodation. The second floor housed the mini hall and eight rooms. Due to two other events scheduled for February 3rd, the venue management reserved four rooms on the second floor for this wedding. The Suresh and Srini families each occupied two of these rooms. The entire third floor rooms were occupied by Suresh family & their relatives while the Srini family, friends & relatives occupied the entire fourth floor. A few rooms in the remaining floors were occupied by the photography and makeup teams.

Arriving by 6:00 AM, Priya's family quickly settled into their rooms and began preparations to welcome the groom's party. Following the welcome, the program included the viradham, nandhi, namakaranam, and jathakaranam ceremonies for Priya, culminating in the Nischayathartham, a brief but formal reaffirmation of the engagement before the assembled guests.

Sanjiv's family arrived at 8:00 AM and received a traditional welcome with ketti melam – the auspicious nadaswaram accompanied by thavil, thalam, and sruthi. Both male and female members of Priya's family garlanded Sanjiv's guests, with Rohan presenting Sanjiv with a vibrant bouquet.

The groom's party was then directed to the breakfast area, where guests enjoyed a lavish spread. The bride, groom, and their parents, however, abstained, planning to eat after the viradham ceremonies.

While the guests had breakfast, the bride and groom prepared for their respective viradham rituals. Kumar Vadhyar, representing Priya's family, had arrived earlier and was ready with the necessary arrangements. He began Priya's viradham. Raghavan Vadhyar, representing Sanjiv's family, had informed them that the groom's viradham would be shorter and would commence slightly later.

Priya's jathakaranam and namakaranam ceremonies were followed by the nandhi, a ritual honoring family ancestors through the donation of various items to eleven Brahmin priests.

Subsequently, the paligai ceremony took place, where married women (sumangalis) from both families placed soaked grains and cereals in small clay pots and symbolically watered them. The growth of these grains signifies the couple's future abundance and prosperity.

Meanwhile, Raghavan Vadhyar began Sanjiv's viradham proceedings, which included a brief homam. After the homam, Sanjiv's eyes were blindfolded with a new cloth, mantras were chanted, and then the cloth was removed.

By the time the paligai and homam got over it was around 1130 AM. The vadhyars announced a short break for Priya, Sanjiv and their parents to have breakfast. Nischayathartham was announced at 1145 AM. Priya & Sanjiv with their parents and other immediate family members sat across each other and the vadhyars began the Nischayathartham function. This was a repeat of what had happened on 9^th June.

The parents exchanged tamboolam, and cross presented new cloth to the bride and groom, Priya’s parents to Sanjiv & vice versa. Rohan garlanded Sanjiv and presented  a bouquet, Sanjiv’s cousin sister Sangeetha similarly garlanded Priya and applied sandal paste etc. A vadhyar formally read the kalyana pathirigai announcing the marriage to be held on the next day.

Sanjiv & Priya went for a change of dress & quickly joined the elders with the new dresses presented to them. The function ended with a round of group fotos and a sumptuous lunch.

Following lunch, the vadhyars and their assistants, having completed their work, departed for the day. They promised to return to the venue by 6:30 AM the next morning.

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