Check out the theme here: A Retelling of Valli and Karttikeya’s Love Story
This post is a part of BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2026.
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It was the busiest week of Valli’s life. No harvest season could compare to the activity in her village, the preparations for her wedding with Skanda himself. The news spread so fast that people from near and far arrived in Merpati with families to become a part of the divine celebration.
Nampi and Mangai were worried whether they had enough gold and coins to arrange for a lavish feast. Valli assured them they didn’t have to spend everything they had on this and that her brothers deserved their share of wealth.
“We cannot compete with the devas, but that doesn’t mean we will let you have a simple wedding. You don’t worry about it. Your amma and I know how to manage,” Nampi told her.
With a sigh, Valli called Murugan through her thoughts. He assured her that he wouldn’t let anyone suffer or struggle with finances. Her parents only had to think about buying for the wedding or arranging an offering for the bride and groom. The items appeared in their house right away.
“Please, appa! Don’t spend the money saved for my brothers’ weddings when you have this,” Valli implored again.
Mangai took her daughter’s side. “She is right, you know.”
He agreed reluctantly at first, but realized it was the right decision, as they had to feed thousands of people three times a day, and that too with a variety of dishes. The ingredients appeared out of nowhere as the men and women cooked in batches. They built a makeshift central kitchen where food was always being prepared to serve the new arrivals.
The rituals began a day before the wedding. The village women gave Valli a long oil bath. Nila, her best friend, was by her side throughout, grinning from ear to ear, but also sniffling at the thought of not seeing her again after the wedding.
“Will I meet you?” Nila asked.
“Think of me, and I will come,” Valli replied.
“You will attend your brothers’ weddings?”
Valli nodded. She wouldn’t miss any of those.
The women washed Valli’s long and thick hair in fresh river water and gave it the sambrani smoke to dry it into wavy curls. Later, they strung beads into new chains, bracelets, armbands, and waistbands for her to wear.
On the day of the wedding, they were dressing Valli’s hair with flowers when trumpets blew nearby. Everyone stopped whatever they were doing as a young boy announced that the king had arrived.
“O deva! The king came to attend your wedding!” Mangai gasped. She and Nampi worried for a few minutes until Valli once again assured them that Skanda would take care of everything. They didn’t have to do anything extra.
The king and his queen brought their servants along with them to take care of the special arrangements. The servants set up a large tent for the king and queen to rest in the noon and be ready for the wedding in the evening.
The entire family went to welcome their ruler, who thanked them for being the auspicious ones to bring Skanda to Merpati.
“We are grateful to your daughter for giving us this experience of witnessing a divine wedding.” The royal couple gifted Valli golden jewelry and a red saree glittering with gemstones. They also brought gifts for her family members and the villagers.
While all this made her happy, nothing came close to the knowledge that she was marrying her Skanda. He was the only one she wanted as her husband.
The stars shone bright in the sky as the ladies ushered Valli toward the wedding mandap. Skanda sat there, resplendent in a cream dhoti, his wavy hair pushed back and held in place by a diadem. Peacocks danced around the mandap, their tails fanning in delight. Six stars appeared bigger and brighter in the sky, as if they had gotten closer to the earth than the rest.
Narada muni was in his usual wear, the saffron robes he loved, and his eternal companion, the veena. He was officiating the wedding, bridging the worlds with his celestial powers.
Valli smiled shyly as Skanda winked at her. Her parents placed her hand in Skanda’s hands over the yajna fire, with Narada declaring them a couple. Even the devas witnessed the event, the proof of it in the flowers they showered from heaven. The celebrations continued all night.
Finally, as the new day dawned, everyone, including the king and queen, waved a teary goodbye as Murugan and Valli left the village to start their new life together.
The hills where Valli was born and got married became popular as Vallimalai.
A new story for me.