Steeped in tradition, but not all the way

Photos by SAMUEL ONG 

Photo Gallery 

IT was a dream come true for Tilaga Gunasekaran and Ganasegaran Velumurugan when they sealed their love for each other before family and friends at their wedding on Saturday. 

Tilaga, 27, and Ganasegaran, 29, dated since their teenage years and through their years of courting, both the bride and groom's family have become closely knit. 

The couple's wedding at the Sri Subramaniar Temple in Bandar Sunway was elaborately planned between both families. 

Merry parade: The PJS 7 neighbourhood came alive on Saturday afternood when the wedding procession moved from the bride’s house on PJS 78/7J towards the Sri Subramaniar Temple nearby.

Although the event observed all Hindu wedding customs and rites, it was adorned with a flair of difference. 

A handsome white Belgian horse pulling a simple white carriage waited patiently for the bridal couple at the bride's home at PJS7/7J with horse trainer Fuad Kasa from the Bukit Kiara Equestrian Resort Kuala Lumpur keeping it company. 

Guests dressed in all finery for a Hindu wedding were present at the venue. 

Joining the merriment were members of a kompang group from the Kumpulan Seri Budaya Lindungan, dressed in crisp red batik shirts and black pants. 

Strikingly obvious in the crowd was a tall peacock dancer. 

M. Kaarikalan wore a shimmering turquoise green and gold outfit with peacock feathers adding to its allure, and had his face painted to give off the proud aura of the handsome bird. 

While the dancers and musicians waited for the bridal couple; inside the house, family and friends mingled, old acquaintances were renewed and new friendships formed. 

The groom, surrounded by close friends, was easily identifiable as he sported an off white turban, a brilliant green shirt against a silk veshti. 

He like many others, waited for the bride to descend and when she did, she appeared in a busy blinding gold and green saree. 

Spread out on a carpet were trays and trays of gifts of fruits and sweets. 

At the appointed hour, the bridal couple were ushered to the carriage and instantaneously; the sounds of urumi melam came alive together with the beat of the kompang. 

The Sri Sivasakti Kolatam Group comprising dancers, aged from 11 to 18 added to the merriment by beating sticks to create a musical sound. 

The bridal entourage walked to the temple, about a kilometre from the house accompanied by police escort. 

Onlookers stopped to watch the colourful affair; camera phones came alive as people took the opportunity to capture the moment on picture. 

Although the bridal couple were the king and queen for the day, the peacock dancer was the centre of attention. 

The barefoot dancer leaped graceful on the hot road and many felt that the hot burning asphalt contributed to his brilliant jumps. 

The simple non-elaborate temple had been decorated for the wedding and guests were already waiting for the bridal couple's arrival as early as 10.30am. 

As soon as the bride and groom arrived, temple priests took their places at the bridal dais to prepare for the elaborate ceremony. 

Ganasegaran and Tilaga changed into their wedding clothes before the ceremony began.  

Before family and friends, Velumurugan wed his bride Gunasekaran by tying three knots of the thali around her neck. 

As soon as this was done, guests threw rice confetti wishing the couple all the best in their future.