Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala got engaged on August 8 this year but never announced their wedding dates. But the festivities have finally begun! Sobhita Dhulipala has posted photos of her pre-wedding ceremonies with the caption, “Godhuma Raayi Pasupu Danchadam 🦜🪷♥️ And so it begins!” In an interview, Sobhita said she wants a wedding that reflects her culture, and fulfilling her wish, the couple has started their wedding festivities with the Pasupu Danchadam ceremony.

What is Pasupu Danchadam?

Pasupu Danchadam, also known as Pasupu Kottadam, is an age-old Telugu pre-wedding ceremony. The groom’s family initiates the ceremony followed by the bride’s side. It is similar to the Haldi ceremony celebrated in North India. The Pasupu Kottadam ritual also features turmeric as an integral part of the ceremony. On the day of Pasupu Kottadam, homes are adorned with banana plantains and flowers, guests are invited, and Ganesha Puja is performed. After Godhuma Raayi (a decoration) is installed, the festivities start. Then, married women take turns to grind dried turmeric into a fine powder using pestle and mortar. This turmeric powder is then applied to the bride and groom during their ‘Pellikoduku or Pelli Kuthuru’ ceremonies.

What happens in Pasupu Danchadam?

Pasupu Danchadam is a culturally significant ceremony and includes everything that is traditionally valued. During the ceremony, Vodiyalu, a traditional snack of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, is prepared. The groom’s mother or any other elderly woman of the family offers thambulam (a traditional offering of betel leaves and areca nuts) and bangles to the guests after the event as a gesture of appreciation.

After the Pasupu Danchadam ceremony, both the families start their preparations for the wedding. These include purchasing wedding outfits for the bride and groom, gold or silver items for the bride or groom’s family, and new clothes for relatives. This ceremony is performed on an auspicious day decided by a Pandit.

For the Godhuma Raayi Pasupu Danchadam, Sobhita opted for a minimal look. She chose a coral and green-toned silk saree and braided her hair with a gajra. She wore green bangles and an assortment of gold jewellery.

Now that the festivities have started, we can’t wait to see more photos from Sobhita Dhulipala-Naga Chaitanya’s wedding festivities.

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Related: Sobhita Dhulipala- Naga Chaitanya Engagement: Why Does A Woman Have To Bear The Weight Of A Broken Marriage?