maritime activities economy and social customs of the muslims of ...

The tying of black beaded string to the bride is similar to the tying of the thali
or mangalyasutra in Hindu marriages. This custom has crept in to the Muslim
society due to ihe influence of Hindu culture. A researcher has come out with a
finding that there was no biak bead tying in the marriages of the family of the
Nawabs of ~rcot''. A scholar opins that the practice might have been copied by
the Tamil Muslims from the Marathas who migrated and settled in this part of the
peninsula29. On the fortyth day after the marriage, the black beaded string is
removed and retied with some gold pendants
Though after the completion of nikah formalities, the bride and bridegroom
are considered to be husband and wife, the bridegroom is taken to the bride's
apartment by a learned elderly man, who Joins their hands together and blesses
them. This is called Kaiazhithuviduthal or Kaiserthuvidal (joining the hands) and is
a exclusive custom among Marakkayars.
The nikah ceremony is followed by the feast (walima feast) offered by the
bride's side. It is usualy non-vegetarian food.either rice cooked with meat (briyani)
or Pulavu (ghee fried rice) with separate meat sauce. This food is supplied in big
plates called 'Sahan' and a group of four persons seated round the plate take the
food. This practice might have been copied from the Arabian society, where it is
still followed. Serving meals in sahan is the practice in almost all the Marakkayar
settlement towns in the coastal region of Coromandel. In some places like Kilakkarai,
Tondi and Kayalpattanam even a group of six persons eat in a plate. Of course,
individual small plates or leaf is also offered to the friends from other religious
groups. Sahan meals is a type of joint feeding in Muslim society. But in the
hinterland, in Muslim marriages, whether Marakkayar or Labbai or Rowthar, food is
sewed only in individual plates or leaf. After the feast beta1 leaf (pan) is offered.
After the ceremony of joining the hands the bridegroom and the bride are
seated side by side. To create mutual affection and understanding amusing plays
are arranged. The paparakkolam, Pallankuzhi vilayattu are some of the Items.
Paparakkolam - as described by ~huston~~ , the bride is dressed like a Brahman
woman and holds a brass vessel in one hand and a stick on the other. Approaching
the bridegroom she strikes him gently and says did not I give you butter milk and
curd? Pay me for them. The bridegroom then places some tamarind seeds in the
brass vessel but the bride objects to this and demands money, accompanying the
demand with the strokes of the stick. The groom then places some copper, silver
and gold coins in the vessel and the bride returns in triumphant. This ceremony is
Peculiar to the Marakkayars alone. But the origin and meaning of thls ceremony is
obscure. However this practice has disappeared in Marakkayars marriages