RHIPO Photography
Anusha and Cole married on 11 April 2026 in a traditional Telugu wedding, with every ritual in its place: from the Jeelakarra Bellam at the muhurtham, through the Talambralu and the Saptapadi, to Cole showing Anusha the Arundhati star and the games that followed.
Two families, one of them new to Telugu traditions, came together for a day of rituals, laughter and lunch. This is how it unfolded.
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Welcoming the groom’s family
The day began with Anusha’s family welcoming Cole and his family with aarti plates and flower garlands, and the two families exchanging garlands before the ceremonies began.
The Jeelakarra Bellam
Cole sat with the priest for his part of the rituals while Anusha waited behind the painted curtain. At the muhurtham the curtain came down and they placed the Jeelakarra Bellam, the paste of cumin and jaggery, on each other’s heads. It lasts seconds, and it is the moment the marriage is sealed.
The Talambralu and the Saptapadi
For the ceremony on the mandap Anusha changed into a cream and red saree and Cole into a gold sherwani. Then came the Talambralu, when the couple pours rice over each other’s heads, and as always the family cheered on whoever was winning.
Then the Saptapadi, the seven steps. With their garments tied together they walked the mandap, and Cole guided Anusha’s foot along the red cloth, one step for each of the seven vows.
Showing the Arundhati star
After the ceremony everyone stepped outside, and Cole showed Anusha the Arundhati star, the symbol of a devoted marriage. In the middle of the afternoon the star is more a promise than a sight, and the family filled the air with flower petals.
The games
Back inside, the women of the family took over, with teasing, a lot of noise and then the ring game: Anusha and Cole reaching into the same pot to find the ring first. Whoever finds it, so the saying goes, will rule the house.
Family portraits and lunch
The afternoon ended with family portraits on the mandap, every branch of both families taking a turn, and lunch, where Anusha and Cole fed each other their first meal as a married couple.
Hitesh and his team did an excellent job providing high-quality photos and a beautiful highlight video for our daughter’s wedding. He arrived earlier than the scheduled time, set up all of his camera equipment professionally, and patiently worked with us throughout the event to capture every important moment.
See the full gallery from Anusha and Cole’s wedding, or read how we plan Telugu weddings on our Telugu wedding photographer page.
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