With the blessings of our families
சாய் விஜய்
రత్నశ్రీ
Sunday, 13 September 2026
Muhurtham · 8.30 am – 10.00 am
Sai Jewel Convention Centre
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
A Tamil boy, an Andhra girl, and one very long lunch.
Two traditions, one kolam
சாய் விஜய்
Sai Vijay
Pondicherry
రత్నశ్రీ
Ratnasri
Andhra Pradesh
The Groom's Family
Chi.
Sai Vijay Moorthi
Only son of
(Late) Mr N Pranava Moorthi
and Mrs Ramadevi
Standing with him
Nirmal · Visvashwarr · Rama · Sitharth
The Bride's Family
Chi. La. Sow.
Ratnasri Panchumarthi
Elder daughter of
Mr Ravi Babu Panchumarthi
and Mrs Mekhala
and loving sister to Lakshmi Sri
Three days, two cities
The wedding is in Vijayawada. The reception is in Pondicherry the following evening — a different city and a full day's travel, so check the city on each line before you book anything.
The muhurtham and the reception are fixed. Everything else is the customary shape of a Tamil–Telugu wedding and is still being settled between the two families.
A glossary
Tamil Iyer rites from Sai Vijay's side, Telugu customs from Ratnasri's, and a good deal that both families share. Almost none of it is self-explanatory, so here is what is happening and why.
From both
காசி யாத்திரை · కాశీ యాత్ర
The groom announces he is abandoning worldly life for the holy city of Kashi and walks off with an umbrella and a fan. The bride's father catches him and makes the case for marriage instead. He is persuaded. He was always going to be persuaded.
From the Tamil side
மாலை மாற்றல்
The couple exchange flower garlands three times, each lifted by their cousins and uncles, who make it as difficult as possible. It is a contest and everyone knows it.
From the Tamil side
ஊஞ்சல்
The couple sit on a swing that is rocked slowly back and forth — the rhythm of a life together, steady through whatever moves it. The married women of the family circle them with coloured rice and lamps to turn away ill fortune.
From the Tamil side
அம்மி மிதித்தல்
Sai Vijay holds Ratnasri's foot and helps her place it on the ammi, the granite grinding stone, while he asks her to be as steadfast as the rock beneath it. One of the quieter moments, and one of the oldest.
From the Tamil side
லாஜ ஹோமம்
Ratnasri's brother pours parched rice into her cupped hands and the couple offer it into the fire together — her family's blessing on the marriage, given with their own hands.
From the Telugu side
జీలకర్ర బెల్లం
At the exact auspicious moment, the couple place a paste of cumin and jaggery on each other's heads. Bitter and sweet pressed together and made inseparable — the clearest statement of intent in the whole ceremony.
From the Telugu side
తలంబ్రాలు
The couple pour handfuls of turmeric-tinted rice and pearls over each other's heads, faster and faster, until it stops being dignified. Photographers wait all day for this.
From both
மாங்கல்யம் · మంగళ సూత్రం
The sacred thread is tied in three knots while the nadaswaram plays at its loudest, so no inauspicious sound can reach the couple. This is the instant they are married.
From both
சப்தபதி · సప్తపది
Seven steps taken together, a vow spoken at each one. In law and in custom, the marriage is complete at the seventh.
The auspicious window opens at 8.30 and closes at 10. Be seated by 8.15 — the almanac does not wait for anyone.
Full vegetarian, served on banana leaf, with Tamil and Andhra dishes side by side.
Traditional South Indian dress for the ceremony. If you don't own any, smart formal is entirely fine. Shoes come off in the hall.
Getting there
Two cities, two nights apart. The wedding is in Vijayawada on the Sunday morning; the reception is in Pondicherry on the Monday evening.
The Wedding
Sunday, 13 September 2026·8.30 am – 10.00 am
Open in MapsThe Reception
Monday, 14 September 2026·7.00 pm onwards
Open in MapsVijayawada
Vijayawada airport (VGA) is about forty minutes from the hall, and Vijayawada Junction has frequent trains from Chennai, Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.
Pondicherry
Chennai airport is the usual way in, about three hours by road. Villupuram is the nearest railway junction. Allow a full day to get across from Vijayawada.
Please reply
There is no gift registry and there never will be. Your presence in the hall on Sunday morning is the whole of it.
A message or a call to either family is the fastest way to let us know you are coming.
Phone number still to be added
Phone number still to be added