Most Indian weddings are larger than life. They are filled with gaiety, fun and celebrations. In comparison, Hindu brahmin weddings, especially in Chennai, are more sedate. Not to imply they aren’t fun. They are; but the focus is more on prayers, customs and rituals.
It means when you go out looking for brahmin wedding halls, you need to ensure that the venue you pick is capable of hosting all the rituals of a Hindu wedding, like the Chennai Convention Center, one of the best Kalyana mandapam in Chennai. For that to happen, it is necessary to be aware of all the ceremonies that occur during a Hindu wedding.
The Very First Rituals Of A Brahmin Wedding
Before the main marital ceremony can occur, a brahmin wedding celebrates a number of rituals. The very first of them is the Siddhant and Nischaithambul.
Siddhant
The first custom followed in a brahmin family, Siddhant is the approval of the union. Here the panjikar, or as others know them, the registrar, first visits a priest to gain God’s blessing for the union. After the blessing is bestowed, the Panjikar declares his approval of the wedding.
Once the priest has accepted the idea of the marriage, he uses the Maithil Panchang, also known as the lunar calendar, to set the date of the wedding. This custom sets the wedding in stone and gives the nod to both the families to begin all preparations, such as inviting other guests.
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- Nischaithambul
It is quite common for the Nischaithambul to happen right after the Siddhant ceremony. The Nischaithambul is very similar to the Roka ceremony other religions in India celebrate. In western terms, the ritual is akin to an engagement.
During Nischaithambul, the bride and the groom exchange rings, which sets the two families on the path to be joint together and solidifies the promise of marriage.
The Nischaithambul happens close to the Siddhant because most people prefer a considerable gap between the engagement and the final wedding ritual. Although this decision differs from family to family, some Hindu families prefer to hold the wedding within 30 days of the Nischaithambul and others may like a few months in between.
The Next Three Customs Of A Brahmin Wedding
After the exchange of rings and at least ten days before the nuptial ceremony, Naandi, Yedur Kesani, and the Uradha-moorthu customs take place.
- Naandi
During the naandi puja, the families either gather in a temple or their respective homes to pray to God for a happy union. They also thank Him for bestowing His blessing on the marriage. 
Very unlike other rituals, the naandi puja is a small ceremony that happens without any splendour. So much so, that overdressing for the observance is highly frowned upon. The bride-to-be and the groom-to-be both dress in simple attires and generally without any jewellery, though that is a family penchant.
- Yeduru Kansani
One of the quaintest ceremonies in a brahmin wedding, the yeduru kansani started to help the women of the families bond. The crux of the ritual is that the women in every house need to get along for a happy life. Therefore, all the females from the bride and the groom side get together and celebrate the soon-to-be union.
It is typically hosted by the bride’s family. As the boy’s family enters for yeduru kansani, they are sprinkled with rose petals and welcomed as the newest relative of the family.
- Uradha-moorthu
The Uradha-moorthu stems from the idea that the bride and groom need to bond before the wedding. This was necessary as most brahmin marriages were arranged.
For the ritual, the bride and the groom grind moong dal or yellow lentil together along with all their unmarried cousins. It is believed that Uradha-moorthu makes sure that the two souls live a happily married life.
The Last Four Ceremonies Of A Brahmin Wedding
There are three more rituals that happen before the final matrimonial ceremony – the mehndi, the haldi and the Gauri puja.
- Mehndi
The mehndi ceremony is one that is common in several cultures in the country. The story goes that the deeper the colour of the henna, the more loved the bride will be by her husband and mother in law. 
For the actual ritual, the family of the bride gathers for a celebration. Mehendi or henna is applied on the hands of all the females, besides the bride-to-be.
- Haldi
This is another custom that Hindu weddings have in common with many other religions in India. During the ceremony, a paste of turmeric is applied on the hands, feet and face of both the bride and groom. Traditionally, the celebration occurs separately in their respective homes. The haldi is said to beautify the couple and bring a glow to their skins.
- Gauri Puja
The penultimate ritual happens right before the matrimony and before the bride starts getting ready for the wedding. Here, the women of the bride’s family pray to Goddess Gauri to guarantee that the wedded union remains happy for life.
The final custom is the wedding itself where the bride and the groom sit in a pandal and before a havan kund. A priest unites their soul with chants; then the couple takes the pheras around the auspicious fire of the havan kund. This completes the rituals, and the marriage is done!
As is evident by now, a brahmin wedding is filled with many rituals to bless the couple and pray for a happy union. Therefore, when you look for a venue, find one in Chennai where each custom can be held with ease and without any hassle to you
CCC marriage hall is one of the best brahmin wedding halls in Chennai. It has all the provisions to accommodate every ceremony and ritual that you may want to conduct.
