There was something which was puzzling me about the scene on Friday where Anjali is shown to have forgotten keeping the rice in the aarti thali and asks Shyam to bring it. I was wondering about the significance of this. Since I am not familiar with Hindu rituals, I did a net search and based on what I found, here is my interpretation of that scene.
The rice grain without the husk, called Akshat, is a kind of grain that does not germinate. One cannot grow rice plants by seeding this type of rice. Symbolically it means that rice is the last birth. Offering this shows that one should strive to live life in such a way that at the end of this life one will be liberated and not be born again.
Anjali's life is messed up, thanks to the snake. Since she herself had forgotten to get the rice, it could mean that her life, as it stands, has to end and she needs to be reborn. She asked Shyam to get the rice and he got it. I think this could mean that once she knows the truth and regains her strengthen after the shock, she may demand her freedom from him and he will have to grant her the divorce so that she can start over again to lead a more fulfilling life.
The rice scene could
be interpreted in another way too. They
say that rice also refers to the brain's steadfastness and firmness.
We all are well aware of how fickle Anjali's mind is. No wonder she forgot to get the symbol of steadfastness. Since Shyam was made to get the rice, his truth will ultimately make her firm and strong although she may suffer initially.
Rice is also considered a symbol of wealth and prosperity.
Since she did not have the rice when she did the initial aarti for the Gupta family and had to get it later from Shyam this could symbolize that Guptas' link with the wealthy Raizadas hinges on how Shyam behaves from now on. If he messes things up, their relationship could well be at stake.
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