After spending years blogging about personal finance, music, travel, and an assortment of other interests, this attempt to chronicle a family wedding felt both unfamiliar and deeply personal. What began as a modest plan to document a few rituals and ceremonies gradually evolved into a full-fledged narrative of “Priya Weds Sanjiv”—a journey through the intricate, colorful world of a traditional South Indian Brahmin wedding.
Unlike my earlier blogs, which were written in the first person and often introspective, this time I took a step back and let the story speak for itself in the third person. This shift allowed for a broader, more immersive view—of not just the bride and groom, but of the people, the rituals, the music, the quiet chaos, and the emotional currents that ran underneath every carefully planned event.
What started with an engagement—Nischayathartham—unfolded into a sequence of beautifully orchestrated ceremonies: the playful drama of Kasi Yatra, the poetic rhythm of the Oonjal, the deeply symbolic Mangalyadharanam, and the tender rituals of Ammi Midhithal and Sapthapathi. Each moment added a layer to the tapestry of this wedding, rich in tradition and rooted in the values of two communities—Priya’s Iyer and Sanjiv’s Iyengar heritage—coming together in harmony.
More than just rituals and customs, this blog became a reflection of the people behind the scenes—the parents tirelessly coordinating every detail, the vadhyars anchoring the spiritual core, the cousins and friends pitching in at every turn, the uncles cracking jokes at just the right moments, and the guests, who came with blessings and left with stories. It captured those fleeting, unscripted moments—the gentle teasing on stage, the surprise singing performance, the late afternoon coffee after Grihapravesham, and the lovingly decorated car that whisked the couple into their new life.
This wasn’t merely a record of events. It was an attempt to preserve the mood, the warmth, the laughter, and the solemnity that wove themselves into the fabric of this celebration. It was about documenting not just what happened, but how it felt—for the couple, for their families, and for those of us lucky enough to be part of the experience.
And now, with bags packed, rituals completed, and photos taken, the wedding fades into memory—but what remains is a sense of fulfillment. A sacred union was blessed by tradition, sustained by love, and celebrated with joy.
As Priya and Sanjiv move forward into married life, they carry not only each other’s hands, but the warmth and wishes of everyone who surrounded them that day. And for me, this blog became more than a chronicle—it became a celebration of love, family, culture, and the timeless beauty of coming together.
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