Kalyana sappadu home-delivered post virtual weddings

The pandemic has redefined the way weddings are now being celebrated. Given the numerous challenges, marriage parties are coming up with innovative ideas, with many in Chennai home-delivering wedding specials.

Local catering company Arasuvai Arasu Pvt Ltd and wedding planners Weddings and Marigolds collaborated together recently to deliver kalyana sappadu to 85 households in the city. Transported in reusable hotpacks and containers in a woven basket complete with the banana leaf, guests were able to have a delicious meal after a virtual wedding. “Earlier, we would transport gifts for New Years and Deepavali across the city. We usually tackle the list based on logistics of areas,” said Mathangi Srinivasamurti, owner of Weddings and Marigolds.

A total of 33 dishes are transported. Catering company Arasuvai Arasu, led by MD Sridhar Natrajan, had already delivered kalyana sappadu for 10 weddings during the pandemic. While only transporting it through cardboard boxes and disposable containers, their knowledge on how best to transport rasam and morukozhambu came in handy to ensure there was no spillage during the delivery process, which was handled by Unanu Technologies Pvt Ltd.

Unfortunately, a few days before one of the weddings, Sridhar’s brother Kumar passed away and Sowmya Ramesh, Kumar’s younger sister, took over the client. After preparing and parcelling the meal, Mathangi’s team and the delivery team from Unanu went across the city to ensure that the food reached all the households 30 minutes after the ceremony ended. “One of our team members went with each delivery and reported to us. Our objective was to deliver the food while it was still warm. Afterwards, guests could keep the hotpacks and containers as a gift,” said Mathangi.

Adapting is crucial for all businesses and companies during the pandemic, and this was one such change that companies had to undergo. “It’s the best of both worlds. Guests can see the virtual wedding, and then have a warm kalyana sappadu right afterwards. Everyone is safe and also celebrating the spirit,” said Sowmya.