Understanding the Marriage Procedure in Kerala

How Does Marriage Procedure Work in Kerala: Explained Completely

Marriage and its Cultural Significance in Kerala:
One of Kerala’s most paramount social and cultural institutions is marriage, which implicates profound traditions.
She explained that it speaks to the blending of two lives and the unifying of two families and a larger community.
Pre-Wedding Rituals:
Nischayam (Engagement):
A formal declaration of the wedding.
This is a union where the couple exchanges rings signifying their bond and preparedness for marriage.
Mehandi Ceremony:
In recent times being incorporated into the marriage customs of Kerala influenced by adjacent cultures.
Includes detailed henna patterns painted on the bride’s hands and feet, which represent beauty and spiritual purity.

Kanyadaan:
There will also be an emotional moment when the bride’s father gives away his daughter to the groom.
Represents the bride leaving her home with her parents and starting a new life.

The groom now ties the Thali or Mangalsutra around the bride’s neck.
It is considered a sacred vow of dedication and a shield for the durability of the husband.

The pair then walk seven steps around the sacred fire, with each step symbolizing a vow and principle for their new married life.

Mantra Pushpam:
Is revered through worshiping with flowers and fragrant waters whilst chanting the Vedic mantras.
Represents prayers to bear fruit and wealth in the couple’s life, and is a bridge between them with nature outside.
Post-Wedding Rituals:
Sadhya:
Healthful Indian Menu: A big vegetarian feast with a smorgasbord of vegetarian dishes served on banana leaves.
A festival that enshrines the traditional culinary bounty of Kerala and is a human ritual of a wedlock.
Grihapravesh:
The bride enters the house of her husband.
Characterized by an array of religious beliefs and practices that are performed to wish the new couple both wealth and happiness.

Required documents include a copy of one proof of age and address, wedding photographs, and filled application form.
Supporting DocumentsExtra documents are needed for foreigners such as a valid visa or no objection certificate from the embassy.

Marriage has to be registered before you both visit the Marriage Registrar’s office with 3 witnesses.
It leads straight through the issuance of a marriage certificate, providing legal recognition to the union.

Information to get in touch with the Panchayath Director who is also the Chief Registrar General for Common and Hindu Marriages in Kerala.
Contact us for legal assistance from Advocate Kaushal and take care of the court marriage procedures, so that it would work as a valuable resource for those couples who need help with the legal terms.

Weddings in Kerala are a lively display of culture woven with loads of tradition and community values.
These are as much rituals that celebrate marriage, as those meant to bond the ever-closer community and keep alive the ethos that underlines the essence of Kerala.

Which is the best month to get married in Kerala?
Best time for a wedding in Kerala: The best months to get married in Kerala are the relatively cooler and drier last quarter of the year, from October to March. It is during these months that the weather in Kerala is conducive to the elaborate outdoor and indoor festivities associated with a typical Kerala wedding.

What is the average duration of weddings in Kerala?
Kerala weddings may take from an hour to even days, varying on the traditions of the community. Most rituals are performed on one single day but pre and post-marriage functions and cats (various) can be performed for multiple days.

Do Keralites Serve Non-Vegetarians at Their Wedding Feasts?
The traditional Sadhya feast which is served during the wedding is strictly vegetarian, however, non-vegetarian dishes may be served at other related functions depending on the families involved and regional customs.

How should the guests at a Kerala wedding be dressed?
The guests are advised to come in Indian traditional wear. Preferably, men wear a mundu or dhoti along with a shirt or kurta and women traditionally dress in sarees (sari/Lunghi), lehengas, or salwar kameez. Even at a wedding, it is better to choose bright colors that reflect the festive mood of the event and at the same time gently dress up.

Would international individuals be able to wed in Kerala with the nearby customs of marriage?
But yes, foreigners can get married in Kerala with local traditions. However, they have to satisfy various legalities such as procuring a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the government of their country before coming on to an Employment Visa and converting their tourist visa into an entry visa if needed. They have to be legal registers of marriage in Kerala as well.

Which are the main ceremonies that take place at a traditional Kerala wedding?
This kind of ritual involves Nischayam (engagement), Mehandi, Muhurtham (auspicious timing), Kanyadaan (giving away the bride), Thali Kettu (tying the Mangalsutra), Saptapadi(s7 rounds walks around fire) Mantra Pushpam:(offering flowers while chanting a mantra). All these rituals have profound symbolic significance and even though performed with reverence, they are a part of celebratory gaiety.

Will a marriage in Kerala be recognized worldwide?
Yes, a Kerala registered marriage is globally recognized, if the documents are submitted and processed properly. A marriage certificate might be required by the couples for paperwork related to them in their home countries.

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