As a part of Madhuparkaṃ ritual, the bride dresses up in a white sari with a red border. The groom wears a white dhoti with a red border. White symbolizes purity and red represents strength.

Sumangaḷi (సుమంగళి)

Groups of married women (Sumangaḷi) accompany the bride. Six groups of women hold plates containing sacred rice (a mixture of rice and turmeric powder), while the rest of the four groups hold small lit lamps on their respective plates. Rice represents abundance, while the lit lamps symbolize light.

Maṅgaḷasūtra Dhāraṇa :

means tying Maṅgaḷasūtraṃ. In order to perform the ritual, the partition between the bride and groom are removed. After removing the partition, the groom ties the two strings of the Maṅgaḷasūtraṃ, each with a golden disc, around the bride’s neck. The Maṅgaḷasūtraṃ represents the physical, mental and spiritual union of the couple. In the Telugu wedding, the groom ties three knots of Maṅgaḷasūtraṃ.

Akshitalu (అక్షితలు)/ Talaṃbrālu ceremony: This is a fun event. The bride and the groom shower one another with pearls & talambralu (rice mixed with saffron & turmeric). This denotes the couple’s desire for happiness, enjoyment and contentment. Initially they take turns to shower, as it progresses it gets more entertaining when they begin to compete with each other.

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