A Kerala Christian wedding takes place in church. After the vows, the groom ties the minnu, a small gold pendant usually marked with a cross, around the bride’s neck. Then he drapes the manthrakodi, a blessed saree, over her. Before the wedding come the betrothal (manasammatham) and a sweets ceremony (madhuram vekkal), and a reception follows.
Kerala’s Christian traditions
Kerala has one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, with Catholic (Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara and Latin), Orthodox, Jacobite, Marthoma and Protestant churches. Each church and each family has its own customs, but several are widely shared.
Before the wedding
- Manasammatham. The betrothal. It’s held in church, and the couple formally declare their consent to marry.
- Madhuram vekkal. This is usually the day before the wedding, at the bride’s and the groom’s homes. Relatives feed the bride or groom sweets as a blessing, and there’s singing and plenty of laughter.
The church ceremony
- Holy Mass or service, according to the church.
- Vows, exchanged before the priest.
- The minnu. The groom ties the minnu around the bride’s neck. In Syrian Christian tradition it often hangs on threads drawn from the manthrakodi.
- The manthrakodi. The groom drapes the blessed saree over the bride.
- Blessing and signing of the church register.
The reception
The reception follows at a hall or resort, with a cake-cutting, speeches, music and a feast. A Hindu sadya is vegetarian, but a Christian wedding feast often includes meat and fish dishes, such as appam (lacy rice pancakes) with stew, or biriyani.
Planning tips
- Book the church early. Each parish sets its own calendar and requirements, including marriage preparation courses.
- Most churches don’t hold weddings during Lent.
- For a destination wedding, many couples marry in a church near the resort and hold the reception by the water.
The minnu and the manthrakodi
The minnu is the pendant the groom ties around the bride’s neck in a Kerala Christian wedding. The Malankara Orthodox order of service describes it as “a small gold pendant stylized as a heart with cross on it”. In the Orthodox rite it hangs on a silk thread made by weaving together seven threads drawn from the manthrakodi. In the Syro-Malabar Catholic rite it’s called the thaali. There the groom ties it with a knot known as the aankettu, the “male knot”, which stands for the stability of the marriage.
Manthrakodi is two words put together. Manthra means “specially blessed” and kodi means “new cloth”. It’s the bridal saree, and the groom’s family gives it. The priest blesses it, and the groom places it over the bride’s head.
How the rite runs in two churches
| Moment | Syro-Malabar Catholic | Malankara Orthodox |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | The marriage contract: the priest asks each partner for their free consent, before witnesses | The office of betrothal: the rings are blessed and placed on the couple |
| The minnu | Blessed, then tied by the groom with the aankettu | Tied by the groom on the seven-thread cord, in the office of crowning |
| The manthrakodi | Blessed with holy water, then placed over the bride’s head by the groom | Draped on the bride by the groom |
| The rings | Blessed and exchanged by the couple | Blessed in the betrothal, at the start |
| The close | The couple pledge with their right hands on the open Bible | The priest entrusts the couple to each other’s care |
The Orthodox betrothal and crowning used to be separate services. Now they’re held one after the other. Marthoma, Jacobite, CSI, Latin Catholic and other churches each have their own order of service.
How it compares
| Aspect | Hindu | Christian | Muslim |
|---|---|---|---|
| The ceremony | The groom ties the thali around the bride’s neck at the muhurtham, the auspicious time | Vows in church, then the groom ties the minnu and drapes the manthrakodi over the bride | The nikah: a marriage contract agreed before an officiant and witnesses, with the mahr gift to the bride |
| Where | A temple, kalyana mandapam, family home or resort | A church, with the reception at a hall or resort | A mosque or family venue, with the reception after |
| Before the day | No days of rituals in most communities | Manasammatham (betrothal in church) and madhuram vekkal (sweets) | Mylanchi, the henna night, often with oppana songs |
| The feast | A vegetarian sadya on banana leaves | Often meat and fish, such as appam with stew, or biriyani | Malabar biriyani; the groom’s family hosts the walima |
| Usually avoided | The month of Karkidakam, in many families | Lent, in most churches | Ramadan |
Customs vary between communities and families. We also plan interfaith and fusion weddings and civil weddings under the Special Marriage Act.
Sources
- Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church: the order of Holy Matrimony (accessed 2026-10-24)
- St Thomas Syro-Malabar Diocese: Holy Qurbana and the wedding rite (English) (accessed 2026-10-24)
- Wikipedia: Mangalasutra (the minnu of the Saint Thomas Christians) (accessed 2026-10-24)
Questions couples ask
What is minnu kettu?
It’s the moment in a Kerala Christian wedding when the groom ties the minnu around the bride’s neck. The minnu is a small gold pendant, usually marked with a cross.
What is a manthrakodi?
A new saree that the priest blesses and the groom drapes over the bride during the church ceremony.
Can a Kerala Christian wedding be a destination wedding?
Yes. You marry in a church near the destination and hold the reception at a lakeside or beach resort.
More questions
What does a minnu look like?
It’s a small gold pendant. The Malankara Orthodox order of service describes it as a heart with a cross on it, but designs vary between churches and between families.
How is the minnu tied?
The groom ties it around the bride’s neck during the ceremony. In the Orthodox rite it hangs on a cord of seven threads drawn from the manthrakodi. In the Syro-Malabar rite he ties it with a knot called the aankettu.
What does manthrakodi mean?
“Manthra” means specially blessed and “kodi” means new cloth. It’s the bridal saree, a gift from the groom’s family. During the service the priest blesses it and the groom places it over the bride.
Is the minnu the same as a thali or mangalsutra?
It plays the same part. It’s a pendant the groom ties at the wedding, and the Syro-Malabar rite calls it the thaali. The minnu carries a cross.
