Ayyavazhi wedding

Usually Dharmagharttas, Panividaiyalars from Thangals or an older person experienced in Ayyavazhi assumes a role as a Guru and is seated in the Manvarai for leading the wedding ceremony.

[clarification needed] The manavarai is the temporary shed arranged and decorated for performing the wedding ceremony in Ayyavazhi tradition.

Instead, a raised pedestal is arranged for the bride and bridegroom, in the case of Nizhal Thangals.

The bridegroom ties the Golden Thali (wedding badge) around the neck of the bride while standing.

Namam, Patham, Jasmine, Coconut, Bananas, lemons, betel and areca nut are considered auspicious objects and are kept and treated sacredly.

Including all these a Panividai is kept in the Kamanam assumed religiously as for inviting Ayya there in the marriage -shed.

The wedding ceremony is celebrated in the bride's residence and so the bridegroom and his relatives arrive there while auspicious music is played.

A five-faced Kuthu vilakku (oil lamp) lighted and placed near the panividai in front of the couple.

Apart from the couple, the guru, preferably an elder man, a Payyan or a Thangal Panividaiyalar is seated in the Manavarai.

It consists of two verses; The first line is repeated five times during which the bridegroom prepares with divine mind.

The third phase is meant in the way that all the devas praise and wish the couple for their divine and prosperous life, in the name of Lord Vaikundar.

This wedding custom in Ayyavazhi is simple and all the prayer forms and the mantras are in Tamil language.

Then in the evening the relatives of the bride visit the bridegroom's house bearing marriage gifts.