NICIYADARATAM FUNCTION OF CHIRANJEVEE SREVATSANMURALIDHARAN AND SOWBAKYAVATHY DIVYASARATHY.

Nischayathartham - the engagement ceremony The guests settle down at the mandapam to witness and bless the rites and rituals involved in the "engagement ceremony" with the background of Sanskrit mantrams chanted by the Hindu priests. During the Nichayathartham the lagna patrikai (marriage invitation) is read out in Tamil. The invitation is mainly from bridegroom's father countersigned by the bride's father. The invitation giving the following details of both the bride and the groom is read out for everyone present. Personal: Father's name, Grand father's name, the village to which their forefathers belonged, their gothra, aliasname etc. Muhurtham: Date&Time (Georgian and Lunar), Lagnam, Star, Address of the marriage hall etc. The bride and groom are officially engaged in God's name and the auspicious timing for the Muhurtham - the actual wedding rites - is set in everybody's presence. Everyone present in the Nichayathaartham is asked if anyone has any concern or objection and only after everyone is okay the "Thaamboolam" plates are exchanged. "Thaamboolam" plates containing items required for the muhurtham are exchanged by both the groom's and bride's sides (generally the senior most male) during this function