Love finds its way, just as it has for Apoorva Mekala and Akash Pillai. They actually go back to their student years when their paths crossed on competitive dance teams in college. But Cupid was yet to strike. And once it did, they realised they had come full circle. Friendship developed into the beautiful awareness that they had found 'the one' in each other. Their journey led to a wedding celebration framed with heritage, family and faith. At Fairmont Jaipur, their Pellikuthuru and Pellikoduku ceremonies honoured cherished Telugu traditions, with rituals that went beyond the customary to become cherished moments of reflection, gratitude and belonging. From the sacred Nalugu ceremony to the emotional blessings of parents, Apoorva and Akash share the memories, meanings and moments that made these pre-wedding rituals an unforgettable beginning to their life together.
The bride admits, "I genuinely believe there was an invisible string connecting us all along,” as the newlyweds take Manifest into their Pellikuthuru and Pellikoduku: Telugu bride and groom ceremonies.
At Fairmont Jaipur, their Pellikuthuru and Pellikoduku ceremonies honoured cherished Telugu traditions, with rituals that went beyond the customary to become deeply personal moments of reflection, gratitude and belonging, each one special. From the sacred Nalugu ceremony to the emotional blessings of parents, Apoorva and Akash share the memories and moments that made these pre-wedding rituals an unforgettable beginning to their life together.
The bride admits, "I genuinely believe there was an invisible string connecting us all along,” as the newlyweds take Manifest into their Pellikuthuru and Pellikoduku: Telugu bride and groom ceremonies.
Our story actually began long before we met. As a little girl, I had an imaginary friend named Akash, which makes our love story all the more special to me. Years later, our paths crossed several times in college, when we were both on competitive dance teams at rival universities. We found ourselves in the same place at the same time on more than one occasion, but somehow never really got to know each other. It wasn't until October 2022 that we finally connected, and what started as a friendship slowly turned into love.
I don't think there was one particular moment when I knew he was the one. It was all the little things. How effortlessly we got along, how much we laughed together, and how comfortable we felt being completely ourselves around each other. With Akash, the butterflies I had always associated with falling in love were replaced by something so much more beautiful: a sense of peace, comfort, and home. I felt safe with him, and I understood what it meant to feel truly loved, cherished, and valued. My love for Akash is immeasurable. Even now, my heart feels like it could burst when I look at him. I think that's how I knew. It wasn't one grand realisation, but the feeling that I had found my person.
Looking back at all the times our paths crossed before we actually met, I genuinely believe there was an invisible string connecting us all along. We just had to find each other at the right time.
Apoorva Mekala (AM): My Pellikuthuru ceremony felt divine. I was surrounded by people who had been part of so many different chapters of my life. The soulful sounds of the sennayi melam echoed through Ajum Terrace at Fairmont Jaipur, with the Aravalli Hills stretching out behind us. The setting was majestic, but what made the ceremony so special was how deeply personal and sacred it felt.
It felt surreal to actually be sitting down for my own Pellikuthuru. As a little girl, I loved playing "bride," and suddenly, here I was, actually becoming one. I remember looking around at my family, taking in the music, the rituals, and the faces of the people I loved most, and feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude. It was everything I had imagined as a little girl, but so much more meaningful than I could have understood back then.
Akash Pillai (AP): For me, the Pellikoduku was about feeling welcomed into an entirely new family with open arms and so much love. It was the realization that I wasn't just gaining a life partner, but an entire family, a rich cultural heritage, and a whole village of people I could now call my own. More than anything, it made me feel that I wasn't simply marrying into a family but truly becoming part of one.
(AM): Absolutely. Pellikuthuru and Pellikoduku are traditionally Telugu ceremonies, and while I grew up with these customs, they were a new experience for Akash and his Malayali family. There was something especially meaningful about celebrating separately, surrounded by our respective families, while participating in the same traditions.
For me, it was an opportunity to honour the customs I had grown up with. For Akash, it was a chance to embrace a part of my heritage that would now become part of our shared family history. I loved that we could each have these intimate moments with our families before coming together for the wedding. It felt like a beautiful way to honour where we came from as we prepared to begin our life together.
(AM): Nalugu is a deeply sacred Telugu tradition, symbolizing purification, prosperity, and the blessings of our elders as we prepare to enter married life. In our tradition, Pellikuthuru and Pellikoduku are also about preparing the bride and groom to embody Lakshmi Devi and Narayana Swami, representing the divine union of prosperity, love, and preservation. I find that symbolism incredibly beautiful. The ceremonies aren't simply about preparing us for marriage physically, but spiritually as well.
Before my Nalugu began, one of my aunts asked me to chant "Om Hreem Shreem," a mantra associated with invoking divine feminine energy and the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi. I continued chanting it quietly to myself throughout the entire ceremony. It made the experience feel deeply meditative and sacred, almost as though I was being reminded to recognise the divinity within myself as I prepared to become a bride.
I actually have a very special childhood memory associated with Nalugu. For my fifth birthday, I insisted that my parents organise a Nalugu ceremony for me. Silly, I know. But my parents just went with it and allowed me to be me. Amma, Papa, Apsimama (my maternal aunt), and Babai (my uncle), who have always been a second set of parents to me, lovingly applying Nalugu, a ceremonial paste made with sesame oil, besan, and turmeric. I can't quite explain why I wanted this at such a young age. Perhaps I romanticised these rituals while watching Telugu films growing up. But I distinctly remember how loved and blessed I felt that day.
All these years later, sitting at my actual Pellikuthuru, I felt that exact same love. It was such a beautiful full circle moment, and one I'll never forget.
(AM): When my parents came forward to bless me, I had to fight back tears. In that moment, it felt as though my entire childhood flashed before my eyes. I thought about the home I grew up in, the people who raised me, and all the little moments that had shaped my life.
I was reminded that before I became a bride, I was first a daughter, a granddaughter, a sister, and a friend. And there I was, surrounded by the very people who had loved me through every version of myself, blessing me as I stepped into this next chapter.
I think that's what made the ceremony so emotional for me. It wasn't just about becoming a bride. It was also about honouring the family, the love, and the life that had brought me to that moment.
(AM): To me, Mangala Snanam represented both a spiritual cleansing and a new beginning. There is something so beautiful about the idea of washing away the old and stepping into a new chapter with the blessings of your family.
What I found especially meaningful was that this transition wasn't something I experienced alone. I was surrounded by the people who had cared for me throughout my life, and through these rituals, they were preparing me for a new beginning. It felt like a moment of renewal, but also one of immense gratitude for everything that had brought me there.
(AM): Preserving the authenticity of our ancestral Telugu traditions was incredibly important to me. Although we were celebrating in Rajasthan, I wanted the ceremonies to remain deeply rooted in the rituals and customs that have been passed down through generations of my family. There was something incredibly meaningful about honouring these age-old traditions and knowing that I was taking part in the same rituals as the generations of women who came before me.
What made the experience even more special was having Akash wholeheartedly embrace these traditions alongside us. We wanted our wedding to be a celebration of both our cultural identities, honouring the richness of each while bringing our families together in a way that felt natural and meaningful.
(AM): One of the most beautiful aspects of the ceremony is the symbolism behind changing into a fresh sari after Nalugu and Mangala Snanam. Traditionally, the sari worn during Nalugu is discarded, representing the shedding of the old, the removal of dishti (the evil eye), and the beginning of a new chapter.
For my Nalugu, I wore a pink Narayanpet handloom sari from Telangana, honoring my paternal roots. After Mangala Snanam, I changed into a beautiful mango pink Kanchi pattu sari that was especially close to my heart.
My mother and some of the most important aunts (Cheematha & Chandana Atha) in my life traveled to Kanchipuram and Chennai to find it, eventually selecting the sari from Tulsi Silks in Chennai. It was then gifted to me by my maternal grandmother, ‘ammamma’, making it all the more sentimental.
There was something incredibly special about wearing a sari that had been so lovingly chosen by the women who helped raise me and gifted by the matriarch of our family. It felt as though I was being wrapped in their love and blessings as I prepared to begin this new chapter.
(AP): After Mangala Snanam, I changed into a beautiful Sabyasachi kurta inspired by the Indian wilderness. My mother-in-law had come across it while shopping and immediately thought of me. She FaceTimed me to see if I liked it, and I absolutely loved it. I've always had a particular love for tigers, so the motifs inspired by India's forests felt especially personal to me.
We decided to forgo the traditional pancha in favor of something a little more relaxed, comfortable, and true to my personality, something I could easily transition into our welcome lunch wearing. While the look wasn't entirely traditional, it was deeply rooted in who I am.
Apoorva's parents also gifted me a diamond-adorned gold locket featuring Hanuman, the deity I've always felt a deep connection to. What touched me most was how much thought had gone into these choices. They weren't simply gifts to mark the occasion. They reflected my personality, my interests, and my faith.
Being dressed in clothes and jewelry that had been chosen with such care made me feel truly welcomed into Apoorva's family. It was a beautiful reminder that they weren't just embracing me as part of their family, but embracing me for exactly who I am.
(AM): For my Nalugu, I drew inspiration from the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma. My mother, ‘amma’ was the creative force behind all my bridal looks, personally selecting and styling every ensemble throughout the wedding. When we began envisioning my Pellikuthuru, I wanted my look to feel deeply traditional, timeless, and divine, almost like a portrait brought to life. It was an ode to Lakshmi Devi, my grandmothers, and the generations of women who came before me.
My mother selected a beautiful pink Narayanpet handloom sari from Telangana for my Nalugu, honouring my paternal roots. We styled it with my Ammamma's Chandraharam, which my grandmother personally adorned me with, along with gold earrings, a gold hip chain, and antique silver anklets. The sari represented my paternal lineage, while the Chandraharam represented my maternal lineage. I loved the thought of carrying both sides of my family with me, and it meant even more knowing how thoughtfully my mother had brought these elements together.
For my Pellikuthuru, I changed into a mango pink Kanchi pattu sari, which my mother and aunts (Cheematha and Chandana Atha) had travelled to Kanchipuram and Chennai to select, and which was later gifted to me by my grandmother (my Ammamma). I paired it with a traditional Kasu Haram, a gold coin necklace associated with Goddess Lakshmi, Vadanam, earrings & ample bangles (a mix of polki, gold and glass bangles). The Kasu Haram specifically felt especially fitting for a ceremony centered around blessings, prosperity, and auspicious beginnings.
(AM):There was also a beautiful, completely unplanned moment involving a lotus flower. My photographers had picked one up from the decor and handed it to me to hold before I took the traditional green coconut. My mother's name is Lakshmi, and perhaps because of that, I've always had a special love for lotuses and their association with the goddess. Neither of my photographers knew this, which made the moment feel all the more serendipitous. Here I was, holding a flower that had always reminded me of my mother, during a ceremony that was already such a personal tribute to her and the women in my family. I then held the green coconut, an auspicious symbol of purity, prosperity, and new beginnings. I loved how naturally that little moment came together, without any planning or intention behind it.
Another moment I'll always cherish was having two of my mother's closest friends apply my Pelli Bottu, or Kalyana Tilakam, the sacred ceremonial mark on a bride's forehead. One of them, Chandana Atha, brought the very same kumkum paste that had been used for brides and grooms in her own family, all of whom have gone on to have beautiful, happy, and peaceful marriages. Knowing that the same kumkum was now being used for me made the blessing feel that much more personal, almost as though a little of their happiness and good fortune was being passed on to me.
Looking back, what made my Pellikuthuru so meaningful was that nothing felt purely ornamental. Every sari, every piece of jewelry, and every little gesture carried a story. My mother had poured so much love and thought into every detail, and the women who had loved and raised me were present in so many parts of the ceremony. I wasn't simply dressing as a bride. I was carrying their love, blessings, and a little piece of our family history with me.
If you had to describe Pellikuthuru and Pellikoduku in three words, what would they be?
(AM): Sacred. Nostalgic. Auspicious.
(AM): Our wedding celebrations took place over four days, from August 16 to 20, at Fairmont Jaipur, against the breathtaking backdrop of the Aravalli Hills. We wanted each celebration to feel like its own little world, with a distinct atmosphere, story, and cultural influence. On day zero, we had my bridal mehendi and an intimate family dinner at Sheesh Mahal in Leela.