Kerala's three major communities marry very differently, and knowing which ceremony you are at changes everything about it. Class 122 gave you the guest's practical guide. This class shows you what you are actually looking at. First the shared elements: the engagement, the invitation delivered by hand, gold, new clothes, huge guest lists and a long photo session. Then each community's ceremony in turn, with its own words for the pendant, the bride, the groom and the feast, and finally what to ask, what to wear and how to give. Words and phrases in this class: കല്യാണം (kalyaanam) – wedding വിവാഹം (vivaaham) – wedding (formal) താലി (thaali) – marriage pendant മാല മാറൽ (maala maaral) – exchange of garlands മണ്ഡപം (mandapam) – ceremonial pavilion വരൻ (varan) – groom വധു (vadhu) – bride കല്യാണ സദ്യ (kalyaana sadya) – wedding feast മിന്ന് (minnu) – marriage pendant (another community's form) മന്ത്രകോടി (manthrakodi) – wedding saree placed by the groom സ്വീകരണം (sweekaranam) – reception മണവാട്ടി (manavaatti) – bride (Malabar usage) ഒപ്പന (oppana) – women's clapping dance around the bride കല്യാണം എത്ര മണിക്കാണ്? (kalyaanam ethra manikkaanu?) – what time is the wedding? ചടങ്ങ് എപ്പോഴാണ്? (chadangu eppozhaanu?) – when is the ceremony? In this class: • What every Kerala wedding shares, from engagement to photo session • The short ceremony timed to the minute, and the താലി • The longer ceremony with the മിന്ന് and the മന്ത്രകോടി, and a very different feast • The contract ceremony, the Malabar celebration, and how to dress and give as a guest Quizzes below. Dr. Reshmi R Nair — SpeakMalayalam.