For best prices and early deliveries, WhatsApp us at. 918488070070
Nischay Tamulam
Nischay Tamulam, also known as the Nischay Ceremony, is the engagement ceremony of Karnataka weddings. It marks the start of the wedding, where the two families come together and observe a set of rituals. The parents of the bride and groom exchange betel leaves and nuts and bless the couple. The groom’s family give the bride an array of traditional gifts, including a beautiful saree, coconuts, and sweets. Similarly, the bride’s family present the groom with a dhoti, coconut, fruits, and sweets. These gifts used to mean a formal acceptance of the marriage. In modern times, it is more of a warm welcome to the bride and groom into their in-laws' family. A crucial aspect of the Nischay Tamulam is finalising the wedding date. This is done by the family priest, who looks at the couple’s kundalis (horoscopes) and finds an auspicious date. Matching horoscopes is an age-old way to check for a couple’s compatibility by consulting astrological charts. Once the priest approves the date, the wedding preparations can officially begin. Besides the Nischay Ceremony, other pre-wedding rituals include Naandi and Chhapra Pooja. Naandi is a pooja held at the bride and groom's respective houses. In this, a copper pot filled with holy water, symbolising Amrit, along with coconut is placed in the house. A priest conducts the rites and prays for a smooth wedding process and a happy marriage. The families pray the couple have a blessed life of abundance, health and wisdom. After the pooja, they offer the first wedding invitation to the deity and then the rest are sent out. Chhapra Pooja is another ritual in which the family hosting the wedding builds a structure made of coconut leaves tied together with banana stalks on either end. This structure, called Chhapra, is tied outside the house to show that a wedding is happening in the family.
Cultural Significance
Nischay Tamulam is the formal announcement of the marriage to friends and relatives. Only after this ceremony can the family start planning the rest of the wedding. Traditionally, in an arranged marriage, the Nischay ceremony is when the bride and groom meet for the first time. They would get the chance to get to know each other before getting married. Moreover, this ceremony gives the families time to bond before starting the wedding preparations.
In Hindu traditions, matching the horoscopes is an important step in judging how a couple will fare in their marriage. The priest reading the kundalis will guide the couple on their compatibility, future, and possible areas of concern they should keep in mind. Whether the couple believes in horoscopes or not, this is an exercise to get them thinking about their future together and be intentional about their relationship.
Fashioning Tradition
As is custom, the Kannada bride is the absolute picture of poise dressed in a traditional ensemble. She wears a Navari or Kanjeevaram silk saree embroidered beautifully with gold. This goes perfectly with her gold Temple jewellery set, which includes layers of necklaces, earrings, maang tikka or mathapatti, and a Kamarbandh. Her hair is tied in a long braid or a bun decorated with fresh flowers and jewellery.
Kannada grooms wear a crisp white dhoti called Veshti. The Veshti is generally made of cotton, but can also be made of silk with gold borders for special occasions. He drapes an angavastram around his torso, which is a shawl-like garment given to him by the bride's father. To complete the traditional look, the groom may also wear a Mysore Peta or the Pitambar, which are silk turbans similar to a North Indian Safa. Some grooms may opt for a more modest outfit and wear a kurta or shirt over the dhoti.
Jewellery & Accessories
For the Nischay ceremony, most brides choose temple jewellery styles. From the heavy kadas to the layered Rani Haar, temple jewellery has intricate, culturally significant designs that reflect Karnataka’s rich heritage. One of the must-have pieces in her set is the Manvika Adigai, a gold necklace with mango-shaped motifs that is studded with red or green stones. Another important necklace is the Lakshmi Sara, crafted out of gold coins with the goddess’ image engraved on it. This is worn out of respect for the Goddess Lakshmi, so she may bless the bride with happiness and prosperity.
The jewellery differs across the diverse Karnataka communities. For instance, Coorg brides wear Kokkethathi, a silver ornament dipped in gold and decorated with pearls. The necklace is made of a silver string with silver beads and a crescent-shaped pendant with motifs of serpents and Goddess Lakshmi.
Image Credits
Wedding Bazaar | Zero Gravity Photography | Focuz Studios | The Tales of Tradition | Parthavi Yadav Studios | Indian Weddings | The News Minute | Gujarat Samachar | One Horizon Productions | Wedding Wire | Petals Event | Youtube | Cultural India