Meedhu Katte Vidhanam : A Sacred & Captivating Ritual In Wedding Preparations
Meedhu Katte Vidhanam : A traditional ritual followed in some regions as part of the wedding preparations. It involves the offering of prayers and preparation of special items for Lord Ganesha, the removal of obstacles, and is considered auspicious for the upcoming wedding ceremony.
Meedhu Katte Vidhanam & Steps To Be Followed
1. Building the Mango Arch: A decorative arch made of mango leaves is constructed at the main entrance or door of the house. The mango arch symbolizes abundance and prosperity.
2. Lotus Rangoli: On the ground, a rangoli (design) in the shape of a lotus is made using rice flour. It is then adorned with turmeric and saffron, which are considered auspicious.
3. Offering to Ganapati: A new cloth, wetted with turmeric, is placed on the rangoli. One and a half kilograms of rice is poured onto the cloth. Betel leaves are placed on the rice, and a small idol or image of Lord Ganesha, made of turmeric, is placed on top. The parents of the bride offer prayers to Lord Ganesha with sixteen traditional items known as “shoda sopacharams,” which may include flowers, incense, and sacred water.
4. Grinding Chickpeas: Turmeric and saffron are applied to the grinding stone (Tiragali). A married woman then ties a thoranam (decorative thread) around her fist and uses the grinding stone to grind chickpeas into a fine powder. This process is repeated by five elders or married women.
5. Offering to Ganapati: The idol of Lord Ganesha, along with the rice and ground chickpea powder, is placed in a small box or container. The wrapped box is kept in the designated prayer room or altar dedicated to the deities in the house.
6. Distribution of Prasad: On the 16th day of the festival or before that, the wrapped box is opened, and the contents are used to make laddus using the rice and ground chickpea powder. These laddus are then offered to Lord Ganesha as prasad (blessed food) and distributed among family members and devotees. In some customs, wadiyas made of black gram are also placed alongside the laddus.
The Meedhu Katte Vidhanam ritual is performed to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha for a smooth and successful wedding ceremony. It is believed that by offering prayers and preparing special items for the deity, any obstacles or challenges in the wedding preparations or married life can be overcome. The distribution of prasad signifies the sharing of divine blessings with everyone involved in the wedding celebrations.
Also Read : https://telugutraditions.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1423&action=edit