Role of Kapu Matrimony Rituals That You Need to Know

Wedding is an essential component of everybody life that connect two people together. It is basically a mutual agreement where two unknown people ready to spend their whole life. Without rituals, the wedding is incomplete. Therefore, Kapu Matrimony loaded with a rich tradition. Kapu basically belongs to the sub-caste of the Telaga and Balija that usually reside in the areas of South Indian, especially in Andhra Pradesh. Kapu community has a similar history to the Kunbis, Kurmi and Maratha castes. Kapu community people are very brave, soft-spoken, and their main occupation is agriculture. There are loads of marriage rituals conducted to complete the Kapu Wedding. This community people respect their wedding tradition by heart that starts with the wedding families. These rituals executed in sequential order which are as follows:

Muhurtham/Nischitartham: In this ceremony, the bride and the groom family goes for final engagement. The family priest announced the final date for the Kapu Matrimony in the presence of both the families. After sorting all of these, the groom’s mother offer saree, jewelry, silverware to the bride.

Snathakam: The groom tied a silver thread on his body and this ritual is done before the Muhurtham. 

Pendlikoothuru: This ritual performs two days before the Kapu Wedding. The Naluga (paste of turmeric, flour, fragrant oil) rubbed on the face, arms and legs of the bride and the groom. Married women offer bangles, flowers, betel leaves, and some sweets as gifts to the bride.

Kashiyatra: Actually, this ritual performs to add some fun to the wedding ceremony. Groom performs this ceremony alone. The groom act as he is going for Kashi Yatra as he can’t marry at the time but interrupted by the bride's brother or maternal uncle. They requested the groom and remind him of his moral responsibility. Finally, the groom agrees for the marriage.

Mangala Snanam: On the wedding day, the bride and the groom are taken for a traditional bath. This ritual performs in the allotted time.

Jeerakalla Bellamu: In this ceremony, a curtain is placed between the bride and the groom and the priest chants the certain Sanskrit words. The paste of jaggery and the cumin seeds is made and take place to both bride and groom hand. Through this example, the couple learns a lesson that they will stay together in a good and bad time.

Saptapadi: Without this ritual, no wedding is complete. This ritual refers to obey the 7 vows of Hindu marriage which are usually taken around the holy fire. These 7 promises remind the couples of their responsibilities, duties for each other and for family also.

Madhuparkam: In this ceremony, both the bride and the groom wear new outfit. The bride wears white saree with red border, while the groom adorn white dhoti with red border. The combination of red and white indicates the purity and strength. 

Griha Pravesham: The bride enters her husband house and the groom mother performs a small Aarti. The groom family members offer gift and give a formal introduction to the bride.

Windup: Like the customs of other communities, Kapu Matrimony also has certain customs that performed in a traditional way. These rituals are quite similar to the Hindu wedding, but performed as per their tradition.

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