![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/b5686004-3ec4-4ef6-8ee2-2bb0dcc93207_rw_1920.jpg?h=86a269aa83c21e46dea9a2b9abc88545)
In a "Suyamariyadhai wedding" the presence of a priest is not necessary for the performance of a valid marriage. The parties can enter into a marriage in the presence of relatives or friends, and each party to the marriage should declare in the language understood by the parties that each takes the other to be his wife or her husband, and the marriage would be completed by a simple ceremony requiring the parties to the marriage to garland each other or put a ring upon any finger of the other or tie a thali.
Here is one such wedding between Meena and Prakash that we documented on March 2021.
![Ambedkar Mani Mandapam](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf5.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/64461897-d541-4c87-892e-33949713ae99_rw_1920.jpg?h=d1043e5a6f50e12cbd3d9b90c773b6e1)
Ambedkar Mani Mandapam
![Ambedkar and his wife](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/45998b75-81ab-4fa1-b619-d3be391cb0e0_rw_1920.jpg?h=a8edd8ae65b0b15e341f09ea5e997ad4)
Ambedkar and his wife
![Buddha statue](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/c9549c94-9d37-472a-ae33-4b8a3fbb9ad4_rw_1920.jpg?h=bb1ffe316324522af457b098c377edcf)
Buddha statue
![Buddha's hands](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/ae99e672-92e4-41a4-9052-fc631b58e57c_rw_1920.jpg?h=6650d0281c0fb73bfcd1c1abb77821ce)
Buddha's hands
![Groom with Ambedkar Signature](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf5.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/6e0de737-56a0-4534-9e22-5fe142fac64d_rw_1920.jpg?h=182538d28da7683351f17ec1bad6ee51)
Groom with Ambedkar Signature
![With the conductor of the wedding](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/7fecf9fd-e7ae-4fa7-be60-9100e54be530_rw_1920.jpg?h=48fdf1ecbc26d7612a6a26770be25c19)
With the conductor of the wedding
![Guests take a look at the hall](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/5a958f55-739e-474a-b8a9-f295d9b6dea9_rw_1920.jpg?h=3a36ffbf9b12d4933bef1e77477f45e3)
Guests take a look at the hall
![He finds a place to relax](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/1b03851a-2dc5-4fe6-9efd-33d55d968602_rw_1920.jpg?h=9e92863801d34fdbf3c09dff6307a3c8)
He finds a place to relax
![Feeling shy :)](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf5.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/687cd61c-a9f9-45bb-84dd-10599f77c964_rw_1920.jpg?h=e484d99d80a0e0a7307c3b20f5c401c2)
Feeling shy :)
![A guest making a garland](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/090bca18-f80e-4f1c-a219-18768bd08058_rw_1920.jpg?h=f595673d85efb23d85fb2fa27616b344)
A guest making a garland
![A light moment before the wedding](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/14ac509c-7c3a-4d0a-8363-793c6b4a7381_rw_1920.jpg?h=b773d40aabbbda365525c98cbb4afd2d)
A light moment before the wedding
![Women enjoy making garland](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/28bdd294-b423-43ef-9e01-7abf9128b662_rw_1920.jpg?h=ed284b46ac1a08a12f7e31fc02da1084)
Women enjoy making garland
![Bride enters and takes the first look](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/067137b4-6ad9-47bf-a842-97e2b269271b_rw_1920.jpg?h=ca4ec230a4e9162c4b07db695c70dcef)
Bride enters and takes the first look
![Bokeh in bride's hands](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/2a7f6500-91dc-4ec9-953c-39c9b2ce4faf_rw_1920.jpg?h=782c174d9f9a2bac2afe1041e6293956)
Bokeh in bride's hands
![The couple get ready for the wedding](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/b7b6ca4c-1f2d-4744-b4c6-5a5ae54504a0_rw_1920.jpg?h=06963347e1dba05b651fdfd94c66c4b4)
The couple get ready for the wedding
![He reads out the wedding vows](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/8269cde9-4c7d-4087-8868-761441c1e348_rw_1920.jpg?h=75ef3a53608b0c25115b690ff48df09b)
He reads out the wedding vows
![Declaration of wedding](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/cead1685-2a39-42fe-b611-aac69d0462e4_rw_1920.jpg?h=d62b73ad2ed0c168c355d7fb039b1376)
Declaration of wedding
![Parents of bride & groom](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/47aaa1d7-6b65-42f1-96e9-bca0378f6129_rw_1920.jpg?h=6e980bf9c69aeaf2c3e208793e471f93)
Parents of bride & groom
![Bride with bokeh and groom with garland](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/83da8faf-16a4-4a21-ab33-2e379a4f0c66_rw_1920.jpg?h=ac273072efcce50d4bcb99186637dea5)
Bride with bokeh and groom with garland
![Parents and guests paying attention to vows](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf2.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/d3b82a35-08bd-4dc1-a01e-f47f12cb7dfe_rw_1920.jpg?h=e0121ebe939a77167d50462b6b3ddbc3)
Parents and guests paying attention to vows
![Thaali](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/afeff5b6-cdcc-4ed1-9a06-d83b50456a27_rw_1920.jpg?h=cd8440e350fc7add6011cf576111cdae)
Thaali
![Prayers before the wedding](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/14f11c9d-ed93-43ca-8bb1-b88643b056e0_rw_1920.jpg?h=2cb21670d1c101b23905a6f9decac91e)
Prayers before the wedding
![Parents beless the couple](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf5.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/66f0a697-790f-4231-9190-5493fdd1b01f_rw_1920.jpg?h=0e25a7682798e8c974d72dc53223fbf0)
Parents beless the couple
![Couple take blessings from Dr Ambedkar](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/43ee8f34-5368-4ad9-a40a-585c2a48064a_rw_1920.jpg?h=21807183bd5fb469bdcea4da827942d8)
Couple take blessings from Dr Ambedkar
![Bride's prayers](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf2.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/dd7e0200-5a50-4c9a-8255-c6516084a69e_rw_1920.jpg?h=a9b4d2f70fa9c7d3b13fa43f88a4d2a6)
Bride's prayers
![Groom's prayers](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/f3043433-f64b-4af9-8019-6e8c1f5a4e3d_rw_1920.jpg?h=ab6241f3853accaa3cdd9447f31d67f0)
Groom's prayers
![The wedding conductors](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/464579df-9e41-4a20-b0b8-91d077e214a8_rw_1920.jpg?h=8e940405e3ea130b80c954a52e56ac9d)
The wedding conductors
![The way it happened](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/e0fd6f1d-4c66-440d-b03d-38b45833ea6d_rw_1920.jpg?h=c40329447822d851d06e371e4960b385)
The way it happened
![Bride leaves the bokeh](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/8e49e268-3807-4510-8b7b-84107e94fa62_rw_1920.jpg?h=f3a92b9313bf905db5167ed1d5bb409a)
Bride leaves the bokeh
![The conductor of the wedding](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/28ba82e5-622f-465e-a74c-dcaced925cfe_rw_1920.jpg?h=ad38434311a7015303816bad703222c6)
The conductor of the wedding
![Prayers before exchanging garland](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/f6a90f85-d1f7-4646-90ac-06834f2df7c8_rw_1920.jpg?h=3b05c3e14b7130920057a71dfafeaadb)
Prayers before exchanging garland
![Bride happily accepts the garland](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/893e2e0e-e592-4a99-b3ba-9f1a325060df_rw_1920.jpg?h=63eba7cd9ca838b071ffe48fbd627588)
Bride happily accepts the garland
![Long wait comes to an end](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/aa485527-43ad-4411-b977-eafb5927bebb_rw_1920.jpg?h=ab84f908a7dbbef230f7701841c1cd4a)
Long wait comes to an end
![Of course she had something to say](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/aa62e04f-987a-4f41-bd4e-dd1db839122f_rw_1920.jpg?h=6157774f76e98173ad156e83cab88b51)
Of course she had something to say
![Showing thali to the guest](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/b745fce9-4ac3-4cda-a688-91c090703d96_rw_1920.jpg?h=88a83c62383acde5bc8b00b88aaaab97)
Showing thali to the guest
![Blessings with achadhai flies as the thali is tied](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/bac4b634-766d-4459-926e-b3c75a1b83ad_rw_1920.jpg?h=0aa3d13bf44a842768c6c0a9068b7065)
Blessings with achadhai flies as the thali is tied
![Groom kisses the bride after wedding](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/b9751ed2-0ef6-42b9-af60-66cf452b2496_rw_1920.jpg?h=6f372efcf8941c19a485ae44952b03d4)
Groom kisses the bride after wedding
![Guest offer their blessings](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/18edd99e-30b1-4018-b178-da67326e72d3_rw_1920.jpg?h=56ffdd4c2236148b7fd0e9ed590baaa9)
Guest offer their blessings
![Bride signs](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/5eb7fd8c-2020-47a4-a513-51476174e821_rw_1920.jpg?h=ab6e99dbb76099ce72b6144b713278cf)
Bride signs
![Groom signs of th ewedding](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/06a319e5-26f8-4b1d-921c-dddc6a6d32dd_rw_1920.jpg?h=666a8c5ebb6ae1112c702133b359de66)
Groom signs of th ewedding
![One of the few pictures of the couple](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/02964217-6d3d-4ff7-b869-b91324cf1de4_rw_1920.jpg?h=eeddf9debe67cd5cb1a4d4ab675b6930)
One of the few pictures of the couple
![She love it on her :)](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf2.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/35e5e2d0-84a5-4d32-bb47-958ed1ebc798_rw_1920.jpg?h=74dd14fba0f206dc8ed6484d6e3bffbd)
She love it on her :)
![Signed off by Ambedkar :)](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/f48e007c-2bd4-4936-aa59-565f1a4e0734_rw_1920.jpg?h=86e25b40f54f0cac57394d4364477ea5)
Signed off by Ambedkar :)
![Under the light of Periyar](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/a48ad611-9fcf-4440-9c20-26774b0d2be3_rw_1920.jpg?h=10a1936212ac7a7c03d150c4b5dbaded)
Under the light of Periyar
![I loved this shot :)](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/c7e5421e-9229-4425-a2e0-7b3e71793073_rw_1920.jpg?h=4d3d18d3f3fe4dd407517958023e3a58)
I loved this shot :)
![Waiting for the wedding registration](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/f1e8a11d-0acd-46e4-a60e-301101399433_rw_1920.jpg?h=e263ae431edf1671d18f726c408e5bce)
Waiting for the wedding registration
![Reception day](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/f382a4fa-99e9-4387-a43b-1afa8ba8103b_rw_1920.jpg?h=44e4a956c629760501682f574d9af759)
Reception day
![Baloons](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/e30ced31-713d-4f52-a095-164b5716c83b_rw_1920.jpg?h=571ebbfd811724c959a36466b68f7311)
Baloons
![Right at the dance floor](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/b3e5e6fc-3785-4f3e-b1a2-c960c917c67a_rw_1920.jpg?h=292ee25f3720f832582d97ba0860fca7)
Right at the dance floor
![Mother & child](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/5ee32770-2d69-4db4-bf76-6c843c6e27dc_rw_1920.jpg?h=7513ab95ca1d7a8aeed99c0a98a6e285)
Mother & child
![When children dance](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/9d1f50af-5545-40cc-b6c8-b5a6647a63b5_rw_1920.jpg?h=e1c4e36e42ae7c585c3d5ea02c32bdbe)
When children dance
![Loud music doesn't stop their talks](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/5bf037f6-3238-42f9-add1-b0fa6fcaea9f_rw_1920.jpg?h=2813962c72ca43e614bc67d990f7d938)
Loud music doesn't stop their talks
![Cold... Is it the ice-cream?](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/aa46d592-b9a0-4740-b6da-c2418549ac98_rw_1920.jpg?h=d5e99c61a4958140adcc8614663ffcd6)
Cold... Is it the ice-cream?
![The look professional](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/8c2d29ea-544f-439c-a591-4e3dda4f9187_rw_1920.jpg?h=861febae2b7b53c28e1ea47bd9da8346)
The look professional
![Uncle starts his dance](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/493e783d-c3c5-4ff4-a0b9-971428730acf_rw_1920.jpg?h=3a82b24e2ba936138fdfe567a01042cf)
Uncle starts his dance
![All inhibitions are broken](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/5addc36d-c335-474b-a5cb-c75fc1d89e27_rw_1920.jpg?h=75c9c91dee5d4c3a1bbce352c001e962)
All inhibitions are broken
![At his peak](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/f4f64ada-b3e8-444e-a163-f8771b3a77a3_rw_1920.jpg?h=aac2c376c8c14523ff70dff9bdb9c38e)
At his peak
![She was power supply on the dance floor](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/4f4cc022-f8fa-4540-8847-3085ab281019_rw_1920.jpg?h=989dae486cc58bee9556a5ed8e5dd1ab)
She was power supply on the dance floor
![That power](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/83ae5824-38cb-470e-855c-fd760c1e3015_rw_1920.jpg?h=86f4cfcd392b666fe09fc7b1d1acb944)
That power
![That grace](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/04840abb-fe49-4dbd-a0ec-60c0fc8d88d6_rw_1920.jpg?h=7ca41bdf2fc6e0ea70e149af9894a545)
That grace
![All inhibitions broken](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf2.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/d73d5036-9f47-4acc-adf7-0f922981610c_rw_1920.jpg?h=682e7cf9d790b7e9cf8b001b6e91f810)
All inhibitions broken
![That style](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/cfd0c552-59c7-49d8-b6a8-e0206835c749_rw_1920.jpg?h=87c86844bbcb96556b316a23228883a0)
That style
![That move](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/ed6af5c2-a7f0-446a-b6e2-d90b8e799e91_rw_1920.jpg?h=15af24e46ef9be9080f31813580c9a14)
That move
![Nothing prevents me from dancing](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/5542c9cb-b412-4d2b-b952-3eb09f0ee043_rw_1920.jpg?h=957546f35defe1119d2b7f3849753f9f)
Nothing prevents me from dancing
![Children get along](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/e2840898-aaae-498d-9771-f04db045c0d2_rw_1920.jpg?h=936cce6ad943f0293f778bb73588c0e3)
Children get along
![He becomes a child](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/c98e4844-6a07-422a-9c24-9f2ff440b546_rw_1920.jpg?h=8669425c56ecb02924c67e0ab6a8918b)
He becomes a child
![Whistles blow](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/c0f931fd-43ca-412d-b31c-cbd65be0182b_rw_1920.jpg?h=da560b8d22c077d6b411e66aa7a56822)
Whistles blow
![Ready to go](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/ebef86cd-b676-47c7-b9a1-b8cc7ca10472_rw_1920.jpg?h=b15166982ed42b6f822df8e51293ab58)
Ready to go
![He breaks into couple dance](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/e8784aae-4b3f-4698-88cd-3b8b66d3abb3_rw_1920.jpg?h=7fc76e24a53c0c67305cd0d3fa9a479c)
He breaks into couple dance
![And they dance forever](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf5.myportfolio.com/bcb457de-6e59-457f-aaf9-3fac0a5badb1/643616d9-24b5-4eb8-9834-062f80c6e25f_rw_1920.jpg?h=fc7e9f5fec0ee961040257f623b7f6fd)