Sambandham (a matrilineal form of informal marriage) might take place only if the bride had already had this elaborate ritual mock-marriage known as Kettu Kalyanam.
[2] At the ceremony, each bridegroom, in the company of representatives of every household in the neighbourhood, tie a gold ornament (tāli) round the neck of his bride,[3] a symbol of married women.
After cohabiting and consummation of the marriage, on the fourth day the bridegrooms depart; they have no further obligations, and do not need to visit the brides again unless they want to go through the sambandham ritual.
[2] The principal purpose of the ritual was to lessen the excessive heat and sexual desire, which is considered to be higher in pubescent virgins.
[2] The virgin girls are associated with the goddess Bhadrakali, the pre eminent deity in Kerala, and men are generally reluctant to deflower them as they are believed to be highly dangerous.