Marriage is the beginning of new life both for a man and a woman. Marriage is not only the following of series of rituals but it is celebrated as a grand festival to make it memorable and colorful.A happy marriage is a good start in men`s and woman`s life involving their friends and families.

The wedding function includes exchange of garlands, `Pidi Sutrudhal` or throwing colorful rice balls after taking them around the couple so that no evil force acts on the beautiful bride-groom and the `Nalangu` in which bride-groom and other invitees make joke at each other.

The old Hindu scriptures like Vedas say that among the couple there should be mutual trust, give and take attitude and loyalty, which are the essentials for a happy marriage life. In ancient time the marriages were not arranged by the family or elders. Grown up men and women used to choose each other and started staying together like the modern society. According to Rig Veda there are eight types of marriages-
1.Braahmam : The parents chose the right spouse for their daughters.
2.Praajaapathyam :Groom wanted to marry to become a grahasthan for practicing Dharma.
3.Aarusham :The man approached to the bride`s father to have his daughter and offered two cows in exchange.
4.Daiveekam : When Yajna was performed the Kings used to offer their daughters to the Rishis who conducted the yajna.
5.Asuram : In this marriage the groom used to offer a lot of money or other forms of wealth to either the bride or her parents.
6.Gaandharvam : A man and woman falling in love marry each other out of lust.
7.Raakshasam: The process includes abducting a girl and marry her.
8.Paisaasam : It is getting married to a girl who is sleeping or unaware of what is going on due to the influence of drug or intoxication.

The modern day marriages use many mantras and chantings from RigVeda. The 85th Sooktham of tenth mandalam of rig veda describes the marriage of Soman with Suryai, which is thought to be the basis of marriage rituals those are followed today. The rituals vary widely depending on family, caste and geographic locations. The main events of marriages now-a-days are-

Vara Satkaarah- This is the reception of the groom and his relatives and friends in the gate of the marrriage hall, where the priest enchants few mantras and the bride`s mother welcomes the groom with rice and trefoil and applies `Tilak` of vermilion and turmeric powder on his forehead.

Madhuparka Ceremony- The bestowing of presents offered to the bridegroom by the bride`s father.
Kanya Dan- The bride`s father gives the hand of bride to the hand of the groom amidst the chanting of sacred mantra.
Vivah- Homa- This is the sacred fire ceremony which ensures that all auspicious things replace the negative forces in an atmosphere filled with purity and serenity.
Pani Grahan- The groom takes the right hand of the bride in his left hand and accepts her as lawfully wedded wife.
Pratigna-Karan- The couple walk around the sacred fire and take solemn vows of loyalty, steadfast love and life-long faithfulness to each other.
Shila Arohan- The mother of the bride assists her to step onto a stone slab which symbolizes the entry to a new life.
Laja Homah- Puffed rice offered as oblations to the sacred fire where bride`s palm rests on the palms of the groom.
Parikrama or Pradakshina or Mangal Fera- The couple circles the sacred fire seven times, which is granted as the legal ceremony by Hindu Marriage Act as well as most important among all customs.
Saptapadi- Marriage knot is tied one end of the groom`s scarf with the bride`s dress . The couple then take seven holy steps together representing nourishment, strength, prosperity, happiness,progeny, long life and harmony and understanding respectively.
Aashirvadah- The blessing ceremony by the elders to the newly married couple.
Jaana Vaasam- The celebration on the evening of the day before the marriage, which is the formal reception of the groom to the bride`s place.
Kaasi Yaathrai- This is symbolic movement of the groom to the Brahmacharya aashrama to the Grahasthaasrama. The groom is allowed to use footwares, using umbrella and cosmetics like eye-liners fragrances etc, which is named as Samaavarthanam.
Maalai Matral or Exchanging Garlands- In the wedding man and woman exchange their garlands which is symbolic that they have two bodies with one life from now on.
Oonjal or Swing- The couple is seated on the swing which signifies that they have to be strong though there will be upward and downward motions of life.
Looking at Dhruva and Arundhati-The Dhruva or the Pole star remains stationary irrespective of earth`s motion . Similarly arundhati is a subtle star who is named after a Rishi`s wife who was most loyal to her husband. Looking at Dhruva and Arundhati indicates that the bride will be chaste and loyal to the groom. Apart from these main rituals there are many other local rituals, some of which are as follows-
Mayara-This is common to both the bride and groom`s side where maternal uncle alnong with his wife and family arrives with much ostentation and bride/groom`s mother receive them with a traditional welcome. The clothes brought by uncle is worn by the family during the wedding.
Sangeet Sandhya- This is the musical entertainment arranged in the evening by the groom`s family where the members of the two family are introduced to each other.
Tilak Ceremony- The Tilak is the auspicious marking on the forehead made with kumkum or vermilion powder and turmeric powder.The male members of the bride`s family make Tilak on the groom`s forehead and offers him many gifts.
Mehendi Lagwana :The bride`s hands and feet are decorated with Mehendi which is thought to be very auspicious. It is said that the darker the color of the Mehendi, the bride will be more happy .
Biradh Morcha : The groom`s family`s eldest members go to the bride`s house, where Lord Krishna`s Deity is decorated and aarti is performed, which ends by uttering some hymns.
Barat Nikashi :The groom leaves for wedding riding on a beautifully decorated horse or elephant. He wears beautiful dresses and the elders from his family make Tilak on his forehead. The groom`s sister feeds the horse or elephant with sweetened grain. The Barat is headed with music and dancing participants. At the venue of wedding the procession is welcomed with a song called `Talota`. Finally the groom knocks on the door with the sword and enters.