Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna got married on February 26 in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
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| Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna |
Rashmika and Vijay Deverakonda shared their wedding photos with their fans via Instagram .
However, there is a huge debate on social media about their marriage.
This discussion is not just about a wedding between two celebrities, but also about the tradition behind the wedding.
That is the Kodava tradition.Photo caption,Click here to join the BBC News Telugu WhatsApp channel.
Vijay Deverakonda, Rashmika Mandanna, rashmika mandanna husbandPhoto source,insta/rashmika_mandanna
Photo caption,Rashmikadi is a district in Kodagu, Karnataka.
News on marriage in the Kodava tradition
Rashmika is from Virajpet in Kodagu district of Karnataka. Kodagu is also known as Coorg. She studied in Coorg.
There were reports in the media that their wedding ceremony was held not only according to the usual Hindu tradition but also according to the Kodava tradition .
- Now there is a wide discussion on social media about this daughter-in-law's wedding ceremony.
- However, neither Vijay nor Rashmika has revealed which tradition their wedding was held according to.
- Weddings are usually held in the Kodagu (Coorg) region of Karnataka in the Kodagu traditional style.
- People from the Kodagu region are called Kodavas.
Since Rashmika is from the Kodagu region of Karnataka, there are reports in the media that the wedding took place according to local traditions.
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| Kodagu region of Karnataka, |
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Vijay Deverakonda, Rashmika Mandanna, rashmika mandanna husbandPhoto source,insta/rashmika_mandanna
Photo caption,There are no priests in a wedding held in the Kodava tradition.
What is a daughter-in-law's wedding?
The Kodava wedding is held differently from the usual Hindu traditions.
Hindu weddings include pujas, tying of thali, and pouring of talambaras amidst chanting of mantras by scholars. However, in the Kodava tradition, there are no priests.
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| Rashmika - Vijay Deverakonda: |
The elders of the family perform the wedding ceremony. A lamp is lit in the wedding hall and the ancestors are worshipped.
Raghu Sharma, a Telugu scholar from Mysore, told the BBC that there are many differences between a traditional Kodava wedding and a traditional Hindu wedding.
Raghu Sharma said that very few scholars attend traditional Kodava weddings.
Vijay Deverakonda, Rashmika Mandanna, rashmika mandanna husbandPhoto source,insta/rashmika_mandanna
Photo caption,It is customary to serve pork at a Kodava wedding ceremony.
Two-day wedding ceremony
Kodavaclan.com says that in the Kodava tradition, a wedding lasts for two days .
According to the details mentioned on the Kodavaklan website..
On the first day of the wedding, the families of the bride and groom arrive at the wedding venue.
wedding canopy (chappa) is erected. It is decorated with mango leaves, banana leaves, and jackfruit branches.
"It's a tradition that has been passed down through generations. Even the wedding canopy is made of sticks from milkweed trees. That also seems to be part of their tradition," Raghu Sharma told the BBC.
The pig and vegetables are also slaughtered. The entire ritual is attended by family members and close relatives. This ritual is called 'Ur Koduo' or 'Pandala Kanki' or 'Teranebeppo'.
It is customary to serve pork at wedding ceremonies in the Kodava tradition.
"There will definitely be non-veg at the wedding. Pork will definitely be served. It will be seen as part of their wedding," said Raghu Sharma.
In the evening, everyone celebrates together.
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| wedding ceremonies in the Kodava tradition. |
Vijay Deverakonda, Rashmika Mandanna, rashmika mandanna husbandPhoto source,insta/rashmika_mandanna
Photo caption,Traditional Kodava wedding ceremonies are held for two days.
What happens on the second day?
The second day is called 'Mangala'.
In the morning, the groom's face is smeared with milk and shaved. Then, a Mangalasnaam is performed. The groom's mother and two married women participate in this.
Then they wear traditional kupya attire and a sword around their waist.
However, in the photos released on social media during Vijay-Rashmika's wedding ceremony, Vijay was not seen in this type of Kodava attire.
Vijay was seen wearing a white pancha underneath, a gold belt around his waist, and a red top pancha.
At the same time, after the bride completes her auspicious bath, a ceremony is held where she puts on her bangles.
For the wedding, the bride is adorned in a red, gold-bordered sari.
'Bale Birud' is a prominent feature of the wedding ceremony. This means that banana tree stems are placed in rows decorated with flowers and flowers on the path leading to the wedding hall.
Then there is a blessing. First the mother, then the father, and then other elders give blessings.
Then the bride arrives there and presents the groom with a bag containing milk, gifts, and gold, silver, and copper coins.
Jasmine garlands are exchanged. Then, the elders stand in front of the holy lamp and say that they are handing over the responsibility of the bride to the groom.
The elders of the bride's side give 12 pebbles to the groom's elders, saying that they are giving all rights over the bride. The elders of the groom's side take 11 pebbles and leave one untaken. This is done to signify that they have rights over the bride in case of need.
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Also, it seems natural for women to be served first at a dinner party. |
The ceremony then ends with the groom taking the bride away. However, Raghu Sharma said that the wedding will be very short.
Also, it seems natural for women to be served first at a dinner party.
I the evening, the bride performs Ganga Puja. The feet are then covered with sandals.
Tey go to the well and mix betel leaves, yams, akshintas, and coconut sticks in water. Then they collect the water with the bride and pour it into the pot.
A pot of water is brought and placed in front of the holy lamp. It is believed that from there the role of the bride (daughter-in-law) in the in-laws' house begins.
The wedding ceremony ends with 'Kombarek Kotuwao'. As part of this, the groom invites the bride into his room and removes the veil from her face. After that, he gifts her a gold wedding band.
