More articles by

Cithara Paul
Cithara Paul

WEDDING DESTINATION

The Kerala fixation

92aazhimalatemple Wedding with a difference: An Italian couple atop an elephant during their wedding at Aazhimala temple | Binu Azhimala

Aazhimala temple is one of the most sought-after wedding destinations for foreigners in Kerala

Franco Valbonesi and Roberti were in a live-in relationship for a long time. The Italians had decided that if they were to marry, it would be in India. On every trip to India, they were scouting for a place that would make them feel, “Yes, we want to get married here!” In one of the trips, Franco and Roberti visited a small temple located on a hillock facing the Arabian Sea. It was the Aazhimala Siva Temple, with its turquoise blue backdrop, in Kovalam, Kerala. On that day, a wedding was in progress at the temple. Franco and Roberti were taken aback by the simplicity and beauty of the traditional Kerala Hindu wedding and they decided that this was the place where they would get married.

In 2011, Franco and Roberti got married at the temple in the traditional Kerala style. Franco wore a white dhoti, and Roberti a red silk sari for the brief ceremony.

In 2016, they came again to the temple for the wedding of their son Yuri Valbonesi, to his girlfriend Francisca. This wedding was a bit grander with Yuri coming to the marriage venue on top of an elephant. Francisca, who looked radiant in sari, wore flowers in her hair. The couple got married amidst nirapara (a vessel of rice) and nilavilakku (oil lamp). This was followed by a traditional Kerala sadya (feast).

Said Sree Jyotish, head priest of the temple, “Franco and Roberti told us that their relationship became more meaningful and stronger after their marriage in our temple and that they wanted the same for their son. We were touched by their devotion and faith.’’

It is believed that if one gets married at the Aazhimala Siva Temple, the marriage would last longer.

Said Vysakh, an office-bearer of the temple, “Most foreigners insist on a traditional Kerala wedding with all the rituals. But some find tying the mangalsutra around the bride’s neck trickiest and opt for ring exchange.’’

The Aazhimala Siva Temple is one of the most sought-after wedding destinations for foreigners in Kerala. That the temple is located near Kovalam, amidst mushrooming tourist cottages, is also of help. Russians are the largest group of foreign devotees at the temple. Following them closely are Ukrainians, Germans and Italians.

“The depth of a Russian’s devotion is quite surprising. Russians are the most devout lot. It could be due to the fact that their communist past had deprived them of faith,’’ said R. Sreekumar of the Avaduthura Devi Temple, another sought-after wedding destination in Kovalam. The temple recently witnessed the marriage of Rose Thomas Williams and Deborah Kim from Australia. Both are in their 60s, and they were in a live-in relationship for decades.

The Avaduthura Devi Temple has conducted about 100 marriages for foreign tourists in the last decade. Many domestic tourists have also got married here. With the number of foreign tourists getting married in Kovalam increasing, the temples here have started keeping proper registers.

This browser settings will not support to add bookmarks programmatically. Please press Ctrl+D or change settings to bookmark this page.
Topics : #Wanderlust | #travel | #Kerala

Related Reading