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will our akshara wear a crown??
Or she will be like this??
Pre-wedding Rituals:
A number of pre-wedding rituals take place in a traditional Marwari Wedding. Please read on to know more about them.
- Engagement (Tika) Ceremony:
Engagement ceremony takes place at the home of the
groom. The ceremony makes match making official and binding for
both bride and groom. Only the bride's father, brother and other
close relatives attend this ceremony. Ladies not even the bride
accompany men folk for the 'tika'. The ceremony is so called
because the bride's brother actually applies a tilak to the
groom's forehead and makes the alliance or engagement official.
A sword and other presents including clothes, fruits, sweets etc
are also given to the groom.
- Ganapati Sthapna (installation)
and Griha Shanti Ceremony: Ganapati sthapana and
griha shanti is the second most important ceremony of any
Marwari wedding performed usually a few days prior to the
wedding. In this, a havan is performed by the groom or bride's
parents to propitiate the gods. An idol of Lord Ganapati is
installed. All ceremonies commence only after the sthapana.
- Pithi Dastoor Ceremony (Ban):
The pithi dastoor is one of the first important
ceremonies, which involves the bride/groom and continues until
the day of the wedding. The actual ceremony consists of
application of turmeric and sandal wood paste to the bride/
groom. Custom goes that once the pithi starts the bride and the
groom cannot leave the house.
The pithi dastoor at the bride's house is an elaborate affair. The bride dresses in a traditional orange poshak and is then brought under a silken canopy, which is held with the help of swords on the four corners by four ladies who must belong to the same clan as the bride. She is brought to the ladies gathering, who then apply the paste to her. A similar ceremony takes place at the groom's house as well, although it is not as elaborate. Dholans (women singers with dholak) sing auspicious pre-wedding songs while the ceremony is in progress. It is interesting to note that dholans are omnipresent in throughout the Marwadi wedding celebrations. They are accompanied by the Shehnai and the nagara players.
- Mehfils: Mehfils are
the integral part of a Marwari wedding. These are usually held
in the evenings. Separate mehfils are organised for the women
and the men. At the ladies' mehfil, all the womenfolk gather at
a central place in an enclosed courtyard or hall. Dressed in
dazzling dresses, they perform the ghoomar (a special dance done
in a group). The bride at the mehfil is given an important
position to sit and watch the proceedings. Of course, the men
have their own mehfil, where singers perform and these are
strictly all male parties.
- Mahira Dastoor: The
mahira dastoor is yet another important ceremony, common to both
the bride and the groom's families. This ceremony is performed
by the maternal uncle (Mama) of the groom/bride, who, along with
his wife and family, arrives with much fanfare, and is received
by the bride/groom's mother with the traditional welcome. The
uncle then gives clothes, jewellery, sweets etc., to the entire
family and relatives. The ceremony signifies that since at the
time of a wedding there is considerable expenditure, it is the
duty of the brother to help his sister at her child's wedding.
- Janev Ceremony: Following
the custom, the groom has to be dressed in saffron robes like an
ascetic and perform a havan before wearing the thread. The
saffron robe signifies that the groom now has two choices before
him. That is either he renounces the world and becomes an
ascetic, or he accepts the institution of marriage and its
responsibilities. After the havan is completed and the thread
given, the groom has to make a mock attempt to run from the
chains of marriage while the maternal uncle must catch him and
convince his nephew into accepting marriage.
- Palla Dastoor: On the
day of the actual wedding, or maybe a day prior to it, the palla
dastoor is brought in by a few of the groom's relatives to the
bride's house. The palla dastoor consists of clothes, jewelery
and gifts from the groom, which the bride has to wear during the
wedding ceremony.
- Nikasi: In a Marwadi
wedding, the groom wears a padgi or headgear which is tied up by
the jija (sister's husband). The groom also wears 'pecha',
'kalgi' and 'tani'. A sehra either of flowers or of pearls is
tied on the pagdi. The sister in law (brother's wife) of the boy
applies kajal in his eyes. Later, groom's sisters tie golden
threads to the reins of the mare in a ceremony called
'vaag-gunthai'. While the sister is performing the ritual, her
husband holds the reins of the horse. As a custom, the groom
pays a visit to the temple first before proceeding to the girl's
house.
- Toran: The entrance of
the girl's house is decorated with a 'toran'. As a custom the
groom hits the toran with a stick of neem. This ceremony is
called 'toranachar' and is symbolic of warding off the evil eye.
After this the girl's mother does 'aarti' and 'tilak' to the
boy.
- Jaimala: The groom is escorted to a dais prepared for the Jaimala ceremony. As is customary in Hindu marriages, the bride and groom exchange garlands. This is the first step of the wedding rituals.
Wedding Rituals:
After jaimala or varmala ceremony, the bride and groom is taken to another mandap where rituals related to phera are performed.
- Granthi-Bandhan: The
next step is 'granthi-bandhan' or tying the knot. In this the
cloth tied around the groom's waist is tied to the chunni of the
bride. The ceremony is symbolic of the union of two individuals.
From this day they become one entity. Either the sister of the
groom or the priest does it.
- Paanigrahan: This is
followed by the 'paanigrahan' ceremony. The groom takes the
bride's hand in his hand. It is again a symbol of this most
pious union. It signifies that they will now be together in good
times and bad.
- Pheras: Then the groom
and the bride go around the fire. This act is called 'pheras'.
In a Marawadi wedding only four 'pheras' are done in the mandap,
rest of the three pheras are performed at the entrance.
Following the tradition, in the two pheras, the girl is in the
front and in the other two the boy leads.
- Ashwahrohan: In the
Ashwarnarohan ceremony the girl puts her foot on a grinding
stone. The custom is symbolic of steadfastness and symbolic of
facing every challenge with courage. Then the brothers of the
bride puts 'kheel' or puffed rice in the bride's hand, which are
passed to the groom's hand and then offered to the fire. This
ritual is symbolic of brother's happiness and wishes of
prosperity for his sister and her husband.
- Vamang-Sthapana and Sindurdaan:
Later, in a ceremony called ' vamang-sthpana' the
groom requests the bride to sit on his left side, because the
heart is in the left side of the body. This signifies that the
groom is accepting the bride and is establishing her in his
heart. This is followed by sindurdaan ceremony wherein the groom
fills the bride's centre hair parting with sindoor or
vermillion. Sindoor is considered to be the most auspicious sign
of a Hindu married woman.
- Saptapadi: Now,
'saptapadi' is carried out. The bride and the groom walk seven
steps together. This signifies that till now they have walked
alone but from now on, they will always walk together in
synchronization. While observing the custom, the bride and the
groom utter seven sentences, which are in fact promises, they
make regarding their conduct towards each other. After this
'pherpatta' is done which signifies that the bride can freely
proceed to her in-laws house. After this the sister of the groom
does the 'sargunthi' or adorning of the girl's hair. This ritual
signifies acceptance of bride by the groom's family.
- Aanjhala Bharaai: Following
the 'aanjhala bharai' tradition, a bag full of money is put in
the new bride's lap by her father-in-law. This is his way of
welcoming her into his family and also to make her aware of her
family responsibilities. The bride then distributes a part of
this money to her sister-in-law and her husband. After this the
new couple get up from the mandap. All the elders bless them
when the couple touches their feet.
- Paharavani: The groom
is then taken for 'paharavani' wherein he is made to sit on a
new cloth or asana and is welcomed by a Tika. He is also given
gifts in the form of money, clothes and other things for his
personal use. A silver utensil or kachola is given to the
groom's father. The woman folk of the bride's side then take the
groom for the fun-filled 'shloka kahalai' session wherein he is
made to recite poems or dohas. After this, the bride worships
the threshold (dahaleez) of her paternal home and breaks an
earthen diya on it. The groom and the bride are escorted out and
they leave for the groom's house.
- Bidai: At the time of the bidai, a coconut is placed under the wheel of the car before the bride lifts her veil for the husband after the wedding. At this stage, the groom usually gives a piece of jewelry to his bride.
Post-Wedding Rituals:
There are a few but interesting post-wedding rituals of a Marwari Wedding:
- Grihapravesh: Grihapravesh
takes place once the baraat returns with the newly weds. The
bride still wears the veil while the puja and other ceremonies
take place.
- Pagelagni: Pagelagni
takes place the day following the grihapravesh. This is a
ceremony where the bride, still in veil, is formally introduced
to all the family members of the groom who bless her and give
her gifts. The veil is then finally removed.
Other post - wedding ceremonies include the 'Chura' wherein the mother-in-law presents bangles to the bride. While during the 'Mooh Dikhai', the bride gets a chance to get acquainted with all her new family members one by one.
Quite interesting rituals... look like two days marriage....45 minutes of the show is not enough ....
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