What can we expect to see at the wedding?

Generally, Tamil weddings start at the crack of dawn and are complete by Lunch time. There are rituals, prayers and games incorporated into the wedding days.

Vratham, Nichayathartham (Engagement) and Haldi take place the day before the wedding ceremony. During the Nichyathartham, the priest formally reads out the wedding invitation, including details on three generations of the lineage of the bride and the groom and the muhurtham (wedding) information is re-announced to all guests present.

On the day of the wedding, there are some events that are mandatory, such as

Kasi Yatra - A fun ceremony where the groom has to choose between pursuing married life or going to “Kasi” to become a priest. What will Rohith choose?

Oonjal (Swing ceremony) - the couple is seated on a swing, as the ladies around sing songs of praise to the couple.

Kanyadaanam & Mangalya Dharanam - The bride is seated on her father’s lap, looking eastward, and the groom facing westward, ties the gold Mangala Sutra (sacred thread) around the neck of the bride.

Saptapadi (Seven steps) - Holding the bride’s hand, the goom walks seven steps with her. This is the most important part of the marriage and each step represents a vow they take together to uphold a meaningful and committed married life.

What is traditional South Indian Attire?

Traditional Attire:

Men wear a Veshti (dhoti), angavastram, and sometimes a shirt or kurta. In certain temples, men are required to wear a veshti to enter.

Women typically wear silk sarees (like Kanjivaram silk). Young girls wear pavadai-davani or lehengas.

Around Chennai: Chennai is a pretty cosmopolitan city so you should be fine wearing what you usually wear. If you have tourist mode on- please note that certain temples and historic sites may require you to wear Indian traditional clothing or pants (no shorts allowed).

Music & Cultural Norms

Expect nadaswaram and thavil (traditional musical instruments from South India) performances during key rituals.

Socializing quietly is fine during rituals, but we do ask guests to pause and be present during certain sacred parts of the wedding ceremony.

Typically, only family members will be seated in mandapam area during the homam (fire ceremony). You will need to remove your shoes in the temple area or mandapam space in the wedding hall.

Are the events indoors or outdoors?

All events except the Baraat are indoors.

What is the weather like in late October in Chennai?

Expect warm and humid weather (around 28 - 32 °C/82 - 90°F). As this is the beginning of the rainy season, it would be wise to bring an umbrella.

What types of food can I expect to eat at this event?

You can expect a variety of different foods during this event. This might be North Indian, South Indian buffet style, or on a banana leaf with your hands. We guarantee you can drink South Indian filter coffee nonstop at all times during all events. The food is served on banana leaves at the venue and will be vegetarian. In some of our events, we will be having an eclectic mix of dishes from all over India.

Be ready for:

Morning Tiffin: Idli, vadai, pongal and hot filter coffee (a South Indian special) flowing throughout the day!

Main Meals: Rice with sambar, rasam, kootu, avial, payasam, appalam, etc.

Eat with your right hand, and don’t fold the leaf before the elders do (a sign of disrespect).

Is English widely spoken in India?

In a big metropolitan city like Chennai, almost everyone speaks satisfactory English. Language should not be a problem.

Are there rideshare services to get around Chennai?

The best rideshare service to use while in Chennai for those without a local phone number is Uber. While cars can take some time to arrive at your location (10-minute waits are common), Uber Auto Rickshaws arrive quickly and are happy to take you all around the city. However, here are a few helpful tips:

• Have cash on hand because most auto rickshaws only accept cash or potentially Google Pay

• Just round up to the nearest 50 rupees for simplicity. While tipping in India is not customary, drivers may not always have change on them.

• As a woman, try not to take an auto rickshaw alone at night. Please travel with at least one other person.

• Wear a mask while in an auto rickshaw to guard yourself against the air pollution

• Ola is another local alternative, but it requires you to have a local phone number

• You also do not need to tip any staff that we organize

Will I need an adapter for power plugs?

Yes. India uses Type C, D, and M plugs (typically 220V). You’ll likely need a universal adapter, which you can find here.

How can I stay healthy while in India?

Especially if this is your first time in India, you can expect at least some discomfort with the food, water, and air pollution. While Chennai is one of the better cities in India in all 3 regards, here are some tips:

• If you are prone to dust allergies, please make sure to stock up on allergy meds. Anything with Cetrizine is particularly helpful. Also, make sure to pack some face masks if you are in an auto rickshaw.

• As for food, Indian food, while amazing, may be foreign to your stomach. Pack some probiotic pills, Tums, Pepto Bismol, and travel diarrhea medication.

• Make sure you do not drink tap water anywhere. Always stick to bottled water. If you go to restaurants, please order bottled water. Try to stick with Aquafina for your bottle of choice, however, most bottled water is safe..

• Avoid cold salads and raw foods. If you are eating in a restaurant, we encourage you to stick with indoor restaurants, and try to order steamed or cooked food. Please go to the “Namma Chennai” section for our favorites.

• Please pack hand sanitizer and use it often.

• Please pack mosquito repellent cream. Our wedding in late October is right at the beginning of the rainy season in Chennai, which means there can be a lot of mosquitoes.

• Please do not get into an unknown car alone or hitch hike, especially at night. All the transportation we have arranged for you will be completely safe. In addition, the hotel can help with airport transfers if you need them/if there is a change in your plans.

• Customs in India can shake you down for import duty if you place jewelry in your suitcase. At the very least, they will ask questions, so it’s preferable to wear your jewelry even if it seems out of place. If you are carrying Gold jewelry with you, please know that you may be asked to pay a fee at customs if you exceed the permissible weight. Helpful article for more details.

Where can I find some nearby pharmacies and hospitals?

If a pharmacy says “Apollo” or “Medplus”, it is safe.

Can we take pictures, and where can we upload them during the event?

While we will have numerous photographers on site, you can certainly take as many pictures as you want, and we will provide a Google Photos link where you can upload them closer to the date.

Is there a WhatsApp group for guests?

We will create the necessary WhatsApp groups closer to the wedding date.