3rd February - Wedding Day - Part V

Oonjal 2 

As mentioned earlier in Part II, we witnessed the oonjal (swing) ceremony, where sumangalis (married women) from Priya’s side performed the pidi chuthal ritual, while those from Sanjiv’s side stood behind the swing bearing the traditional seer bakshanam. In this second oonjal, the roles were reversed: sumangalis from Sanjiv’s family now performed the pidi chuthal, while Priya’s side stood behind the couple with the offerings.

Grihapravesham

This ritual marks the transition to the symbolic grihapravesham—the bride’s ceremonial entry into the groom’s household. In this case, it was represented by Priya, accompanied by her relatives and the ketti melam, entering the room allotted to Sanjiv and his parents in the wedding hall. Once inside, she offered theratti paal (a sweet milk-based dessert) to all present, symbolizing a sweet and auspicious beginning in her new home.

Lunch

Meanwhile, the guests had begun assembling in the dining hall, drawn by the aromas of a grand lunch. The catering, managed by A.S. Rajashekar and team—who were also responsible for many other logistical arrangements during the wedding—was nothing short of spectacular.

Guests were treated to a lavish spread, reflecting the culinary richness of a traditional South Indian Brahmin wedding. Those attending such a wedding for the first time were pleasantly surprised to find five varieties of sweets served during lunch—a detail they assumed to be customary at all such weddings, thanks to the thoughtful menu curated for Sanjiv and Priya’s big day.

It turned out to be a gastronomic experience that guests would fondly remember for a long, long time.

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