Pondugal/Sumangali prarthanai.

The description goes as follows:

Buy a 9 yds saree in silk or cotton. The preferable colours are red, yellow & green. Including the “ pudavai kalam “ there can be 5 or 7 ( odd number)

Girls below 5 yrs & girls who have attained age, but are not yet married, are not allowed to sit. The daughters in law of the house also are not allowed to sit as “ pendukal” – this varies with families.

Daughters of the house & any other married ladies can sit.

For the participating ladies, go to their houses the previous day evening, give them kumkum, haldi, oil, shikakai, vasanai podi & invite them to come.

On the morning of the day, wash the 9 yds saree & a blouse piece with madi (shuddam)after bath & dry.The main person conducting the function should not take an oil bath.

Put a big kalyana kolam in the entrance, put semman & tie “ mavilai”.

For the pudavai kalam – put a square kolam, (padi kolam), over that keep a palakai & put kolam on that.

In front of that, put a kolam to keep the elai. On both sides of the pudavai kalam put kolam for 2 elais , beside for elais facing N, E & next preference W.

Fold the dry saree so that the “ pallu” comes on the top. The corner of the same should face N. Fold the blouse & keep on that. On the saree keep the following:

A small mirror
Oru kavuli ( 100 no:s) vethalai
Plenty of kali paakku
Plenty of urundai manjal
nalangu manjal – (mix of haldi & chunnambu) on a vethalai
12 bananas
10 yds malli, kathambam or roses
Maruthani on a vethalai
A ball of haldi & water on a vethalai
Chullu vella urndai in a vethalai
A gold chain
In a “ kudam” – water to which cardamom powder & dry ginger powder are added
One sombu of panakam
One sombu of neer mor
Coins to give ladies with vethalai pakku

On the kolam in front of pudavai kalam, put double nuni elai, one overlapping the other. Nuni should face N.

On other kolams, place elais & “ kudikkum jalam”

Start before or after rahu kalam.

When the ladies arrive give them manjal mixed with water, to wash their legs, apply & come.

Then give them chandanam, kumkum & flowers & ask them to take their seat near the elais.

Offer all items on menu to the pudavai kalam first & hthen serve clockwise to other elais.

Show “ doopa deepam” to pudavai kalam first & then to all ladies.

The “ conducting person” should take in the hand akshathai & flowers, sprinkle below the pallu of the saree in the pudavai kalam & pay your respects( in mind) to all the deceased sumangalis of the family. 

Show karpooram to the same.

Now offer a tsp jalam to the pudavai kalam & to all ladies in their hands.
They should drink it & start eating.

Nobody should get up halfway through.

After everybody finishes eating, again offer a tsp of water to thepudavai kalam & move the pallu corner to the N.

One of the daughters in law should eat the pudavai kalam sappadu.
After meals the ladies should be given naeer mor, panakam & chukku vellam.
Then smear haldi on their legs & put nalangu.

Offer flowers, maruthani, chandanam & kumkum.

In a plate keep lot of vethalai, pakku, gundu manjal, coconut, kumkum bharani, comb, mirro, coin, 2 bananas, blouse piece – keep in their paLLU.
Give akshathai in their hand, do namaskaram & ask them to blless you.

After the person who conducts has eaten, she must give the saree to a poor woman who also is asked to eat. ( I think this varies in each house)

Samayal:

Paruppu payasam – thayir pachadi – vella pachadi – vazakkai curry – avarai or kothavarai curry – poosani kootu – pitlai – mor kuzambu – thani kootu – kadalai paruppu sugar kosemalli – paasiparuppu savoury kosemalli – coriander thogayal – ginger, mango pickle – curry leaf thogayal – rasam – banana, mango, jackfruit – ulundu vadai – sojji appam – thengai sadam – lemon rice – kalathukku paruppu – ghee – curds – honey

My neighbor is a divorcee.Is a divorcee a sumangali? Is she eligible for being invited to sumangali pujas and offered kumkum?

fist step towards divorcee is separation anu....For a divorcee, the thali is immaterial. She doesnt need to wear it and even if she does, it carries no value. Yet, she is sumangali because we also call young unmarried girls to functions and give kumkum. A non sumangali is a woman who as lost her husband and has no wish to remarry. Once the widow remarries, even she should be counted as a sumangali

Who are Sumangalis ?

of flowers. That is dressed like a bride, she should be sent off in style....The Sumangali Prarthanai is a prayer to the departed Sumangalis to bless the bride ... Sumangali Prarthanai is an important pujaUnder this ceremony, ten married women Sumangalis accompany the bride. Six of them hold plates full of rice and turmeric powder mixed together. The remaining hold plates with small lamps made from a

How should I prepare for a Sumangali puja at my house?

I WILL COME AND HELP YOU IN PERSON

Why do we perform Sumangali Puja?

Sumangali Prarthana This pooja is done to invoke the blessings of the departed Sumangalis. It is done a few days before the wedding and pooja is done for the Mangalya, which is to be tied around the neck of the bride. Sumangalis are invited for a feast and offered gifts. The sari used for the pooja is to be gifted to one of the Sumangalis....summangali pooja is done basically to prey to all thosefrom

Who narrated the The glory of performing the VARALAKSHMI VRATAM,

immediately following the full moon day Purnima in the auspicious month of Shravanam corresponding to August - September. This Vratam is undertaken by the sumangalis whose husbands are still living for goodShTi, and strength puShTi. Each of these forces is called a Lakshmi, and collectively they are known as ashTa lakshmi. Worship of Varalakshmi is rendered equivalent to the pUja for ashTalakshmi. Since She is ever

Varalakshmi vratham you missed today Is there any other similar vratha?

Purnima in the auspicious month of Shravanam corresponding to August - September. This Vratam is undertaken by the sumangalis whose husbands are still living for good progeny, good health, and wishing long is called a Lakshmi, and collectively they are known as ashTa lakshmi. Worship of Varalakshmi is rendered equivalent to the pUja for ashTalakshmi. Since She is ever ready to grant boons to her true devotees

How do hindus dispose of the bodies of the dead?

is undertaken by the sumangalis whose husbands are still living for good progeny, good health, and wishing long life for the husbands.Lakshmi is symbolic of eight forces - wealth shrI, earth bhU, learning is rendered equivalent to the pUja for ashTalakshmi. Since She is ever ready to grant boons to her true devotees, she is usually referred to as "vara lakshmi".The WorshipThe rituals of worship during

Why a KANYAPOOJAN is done?

Devi is taken as a purest form and hence the puja...Kanyapoojan is done in the honour of Godess Durga/ Shakti. Scritures point that Godess has 10 forms known aS 10 mahabidyas. Each of the mahabidya. Then they are fed well. And all irrespective of age gets their blessings. Then they all given vethalai pakku that is beetle leaf, beetel nut, some small gift. This pooja is done also along with Sumangali Prarthani

What is Navratri Kolu or Navarathri Golu?

the Kolu decorated. Pleasantries and small gifts are exchanged amongst women generally women exchange coconuts, cloths and sweets amongst themselves. Sumangali married women also exchange bags containing a;kuthuvilakku" small lamp is lit, in the middle of a decorated "kolam"Rangoli, before the Golu and devotional hymns and shlokas are chanted. After performing the puja, the food items that have been prepared

What is the legend of Varalakshmi Vratam?

sumangali is then chosen, and she is offered auspicious articles as gifts and food. The function concludes with the singing of several hymns and songs in praise of Varalakshmi.LegendsThere are several varied the Varalakshmi Vratam on the auspicious day of shrAvana shukLa shukRa vAram. Charumati performed this pUja with utmost devotion, the same day, in the dream itself mAnasIka pUja. The next day she narrated

Why do we wear marks on the forehead ?i mean religious marks

Sandalwood paste & kumkum & vibhuthi is given as prasad from temples after the puja. Sandalwood in the symbol of purity. We apply the paste on forehead to get the cool & soothing effect on our brain, in the early mornings. Kumkum is the symbol of prosperity & & women wear it as a symbol of their happy marriage. Sumangalis only wear kumkum on the forehead. Vibhuthi or Bhasmam

Tamilians use yellow coloured thread as Thali. What is its significance?

auspicious occasions throughout India. A piece of turmeric is always kept in the puja room. I think the turmeric used, not the yellow colour that is important....MAnjal and kumkum have been the two strong protective forces that a woman is supposed to carry to her grave after her marriage. MAnjal stands for haldi/turmeric. It is a mark of a sumangali woman a wedded woman and tradition has conferred it with so

Tamilians use yellow coloured thread as Thali. What is its significance?

MAnjal and kumkum have been the two strong protective forces that a woman is supposed to carry to her grave after her marriage. MAnjal stands for haldi/turmeric. It is a mark of a sumangali woman( a auspicious occasions throughout India. A piece of turmeric is always kept in the puja room. I think the turmeric used, not the yellow colour that is important.