Schedule
Thursday, April 27, 2023
Dheeraj's Dinner Party
7:30 pm
Balele-Ponnappasanthe Road, Devanoor, KA 571219, India
Formal or Traditional Attire
Dinner party with close family and friends and dancing to the “Valaga” (traditional Coorg music/band).
Friday, April 28, 2023
Prathika's Oorkuduva Ceremony
7:00 pm
State Highway 17, Madikeri, KA 571201, India
Formal or Traditional Attire
The Oorkuduva ceremony will begin with the lighting of the “Thookbolcha” (traditional Coorg oil lamp) after which, the bride will seek blessings by touching the feet of her elders. The touching of the feet signifies receiving blessings from the elder's feet to one's head. It’s a way of relinquishing one’s ego. The evening comes to an end with dinner and drinks, after which you can unwind by dancing to the “Valaga” (traditional Coorg music/band).
Saturday, April 29, 2023
Dheeraj's Wedding - Muhurtham
10:30 am
Polibetta-Gonikoppal Road, Gonikoppa, KA 571213, India
Traditional Attire
The Single Muhurtham occurs in the respective venues of the bride and groom. Here the groom will be made to sit on a “Mukkali” (a three-legged stool which signifies the Thrimurthies who will support them in the future). After which, the mother of the groom, places rice on the groom’s knees, shoulders, and head thrice. The significance of this is Coorg's are agriculturists, they bless the knees to receive strength to work in the fields, bless the shoulders to carry the weight and bless the head thrice to provide knowledge to harvest and sow on time. The event continues with “Pombanakattuva”, when the groom’s mother hands a gold coin in a pouch to the groom, saying “may your marriage be as strong as this”. This is followed by the groom sipping on sweet milk from a small silver kettle. The sweet milk symbolizes the marriage being sweet and harmonious. Through the event there will be appetizers and drinks served, followed by lunch.
Prathika's Wedding - Muhurtham
10:30 am
State Highway 17, Madikeri, KA 571201, India
Traditional Attire
The Single Muhurtham occurs in the respective venues of the bride and groom. Here the bride will be made to sit on a “Mukkali” (a three-legged stool which signifies the Thrimurthies who will support them in the future). After which, the mother of the bride, places rice on the bride’s knees, shoulders, and head thrice. The significance of this is Coorg's are agriculturists, they bless the knees to receive strength to work in the fields, bless the shoulders to carry the weight and bless the head thrice to provide knowledge to harvest and sow on time. The event continues with “Pombanakattuva”, when the bride’s mother hands a gold coin in a pouch to the bride, saying “may your marriage be as strong as this”. This is followed by the bride sipping on sweet milk from a small silver kettle. The sweet milk symbolizes the marriage being sweet and harmonious. Through the event there will be appetizers and drinks served, followed by lunch.
Prathika's Wedding - High Tea
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
State Highway 17, Madikeri, KA 571201, India
Cocktail or Traditional Attire
The High Tea is to welcome the groom to the bride’s wedding venue. There are two traditional events that take place during the High Tea. Sammanda Adakuva: This is a formal dialog between the bride and the groom’s families. Here they assign the rights and responsibilities of the bride to the groom’s family. It is also a transition of the bride from her own family to that of the groom’s. Batte Thadepe: After the “Sammanda Adakuva”, the groom leads the bride to his home. At this point, the bride’s cousins stop her from going with the groom saying, she has been promised to others and they will not let her go. The rest is to be seen :-).
Ganga Pooja
8:00 pm
Balele-Ponnappasanthe Road, Devanoor, KA 571219, India
Cocktail or Traditional Attire
At the groom’s venue the bride is led to the water well, accompanied by family and friends. She says a small pooja (prayer) to Ganga (Goddess of water) and Goddess Kaveri, whose river flows abundantly in Coorg. The strength of the bride is tested by the breaking of the coconut at the Ganga Pooja. After which, she draws water from the well and pours it into four small pots. Then, the bride is accompanied by two young girls from the groom's family to carry water. After which, everyone dances in front of the bride to celebrate the newlywed couple.