He was tall and majestic at 80 and she was just 12! But not a soul complained as Aswath Narayan married Sree Lakshmi at a solemn ceremony at Edapally in Kochi on Sunday.
Of course, we are talking about trees: Aswath Narayan, the peepal and Sree lakshmi, the neem.
For ages, the pipal has been a revered tree in Kerala’s temples while the neem had been a symbol of good health and an essential ingredient of several ayurvedic preparations.
In the hustle and bustle of modern life, a marriage of this kind would not have happened but for the word given by 82 year-old Venkitachelam Iyer to his father years ago.
“Iyer and the pipal tree had both gone through the Upanayanam (tying of sacred thread to Brahmin boys at early age) in 1935 along with three other boys,’’ Mr D S S  Mony, secretary of the Edapally Brahmana Samooham, told Deccan Herald.
Brahmin rituals
Later, Iyer’s father also expressed the wish that the tree also should be married as per the age-old custom followed by Brahmin communities.
To fulfil this wish, they planted a neem tree near the pipal 12 years ago.
“It was a bit late for the pipal to get married at 80. But such ceremonies happen perhaps once in a lifetime for a community. Those who attend this function are believed to get their wishes fulfiled,’’ said Venkitachelam.
On Sunday, about 350 members belonging to the samooham turned up for the wedding which had a bride’s group as well as bridegroom’s entourage from among the community.
“The pipal was wrapped with a traditional kasavu mundu and the neem by a Pattu saree,’’ Mony said.
The rituals which were supervised by a priest according to the Brahmin customs began around 7 am with a naming ceremony.
Vishnu-Laksmi knot
In Hindu mythology, the peepal symbolises Lord Vishnu and neem stood for Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.
After the bride and bridegroom were given their names, the priest performed the Kaappu kettal and thaali kettal.
Various pujas and homams were also conducted as part of the function. The guests were later served a sumptuous lunch at the samooham hall.
“Though it used to be a commonly followed custom earlier, this is the first time that I myself have witnessed it,’’ Mr Mony (67) said.