Nichayathartam - A Indian Marriage Festival

I was away for two days to one of the indian villages to celebrate the marriage festival of my Cousin Sister.It is called Nichayathartam in which the bride and bridegroom get engaged.The bridegroom's family comes to house of the bride and talks with their family members and they fix a date and read the Marriage Invitation which is called as the kalyana Pathirkai and exchange some sort of Thambulam.I don't know what it is called in English but its a plate full of tobacco leaves and some banana & other fruits.Both the houses exchange thambulams in front of all the relatives and the marriage is officially fixed.

This is one of the important function in Hindu Marriage system.This is done differently by the different caste people.Any way it will be a grand function with all the people and relatives coming and visiting the bride and the bridegroom.It was a pleasant night and a wonderful one at my Sister's village with all the relatives getting at one spot and exchanging greetings and pleasantries.We chatted for a long while cracking jokes and teasing others jokingly.It was a great night with time flowing like a cool breeze in which you wish to stay forever but you can't.