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List of ceremonies
1. Nischitartham: The Engagement ceremony
2. Mehndi: The Henna Ceremony
3. Mangalasnana: A Ritual bath
4. Murthasaese: The bride and groom are blessed by their
families
and close friends
5. Muhurtham or lagnam: Commencement of the wedding ceremonies
6. Dharemaipuna/dhareyeruna: The wedding ceremony
7. Homam: Sacred fire sacrifice
8. Saptapadi: The seven steps around the sacred fire
9. Sanmana oota and Mamiseike: Grand dinner hosted in
honour of
the bridegroom
10. Reception: Post wedding celebrations
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Nischitartham: The Engagement ceremony
The men folk from the bride's family proceed to the groom's house carrying a silver platter laden with betel leaves, betel nuts and flowers. An elder from the family is assigned the task of introducing the two families to each other. This visit is a mere formality to confirm the date and time of the forthcoming wedding. The exchange of betel leaves and nuts is a confirmation of the alliance and the elders are a witness to it.
These days the 'nischitartham' might even be a
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Bunt Tulsi Pooja
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more elaborate occasion, where the bride and groom exchange diamond engagement rings and the family follows this up by hosting a lavish party for close friends and relatives.
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Mehndi: The Henna Ceremony
This modern day ceremony is held separately in both homes. Traditionally this used to be a very simple ritual where just a dot of 'mehendi' or henna was applied to the bride's palms and finger tips, but has now evolved into a full fledged celebration complete with professional henna artists or 'mehendiwallis' being invited to weave intricate designs on the hands and feet of the bride and her close female friends and relatives.
'Mehendi is applied on the groom as well - but just as a symbolic dot on his palm.
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Mangalasnana:
A Ritual bath
The 'mangalasnana' ceremony is held separately in both homes one day before the wedding.
The groom's cousins and other close family relatives apply turmeric and coconut milk on his face, body and arms. The barber gives him a haircut and then his sister's husband or maternal cousin leads him for his bath.
A similar ceremony is held at the bride's home, where her cousins apply the turmeric and coconut |
A Ritual Bathing |
milk on her face and body. Her brother's wife or any other older lady from the family leads her for her bath. After the bath she completes the ritual by wearing a new sari, gold jewellery, and black bangles.
The bride and groom then proceed to their 'puja' rooms and after a brief prayer go to the 'tulsi katta' (sacred tulsi plant) to witness the 'tulsi puja' performed by the 'pujari'.
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Murthasaese: The bride and groom are blessed by their families and close friends
This ritual is once again conducted separately in both homes and takes place after the 'tulsi puja'. Primarily a ceremony for receiving blessings, it has however turned into an elaborate function where a 'pandol' or canopy is decorated with flowers and banana palms and owing to the number of invitees, it is not possible to host it inside the homes.
The bride's maternal uncle and aunt slip silver toe-rings on her feet. The eldest 'sumangali' (married lady) distributes red and green glass bangles to all the women present. The bride has to wear black, red and green bangles. All the elders who shower her with rice then bless her.
The groom goes through a similar ritual - where his maternal uncle's wife or his paternal aunt adorns his feet with silver toe-rings. He too is blessed by all with the showering of rice.
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Muhurtham or lagnam: Commencement of the wedding ceremonies
According to tradition the elders in the Bunt community usually officiated during the marriage ceremony. These days however, pujaris do the needful.
The groom is escorted to the venue of the wedding by his sister's husband or maternal uncle. The bride's brother receives him at the venue and welcomes him by washing his feet. The bride's aunt performs the traditional 'aarti' in his honour and the bride's mother follows it up by performing the 'deepa aarti' (welcome ritual performed with lighted lamps) for him.
The bride arrives at the venue of the wedding in all her finery and is received by her brother's wife, a cousin or an aunt, who leads her to the 'mantap' (platform erected for the marriage ceremony). Her brother washes her feet as well and a similar type of welcome ceremony is performed for her.
The 'pujari' requests the groom's sister and her husband or a cousin to hold the hands of the bride and groom and lead them around the 'diyas' (lamps) and the 'mantap'. After this the couple enters the 'mantap' and after a 'puja' is performed, they exchange garlands.
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The Wedding Ceremony |
Dharemaipuna / dhareyeruna: The wedding ceremony
The bride's parents in the presence of her maternal uncle, his wife and elders of her family perform this ceremony. |
A silver or brass 'chembu' (vessel with a spout) filled with holy water is held by the bride's parents and taken to all the elders of both the families for their blessings. A gold coin or 'nanya' is placed on the bride's palm beneath which the groom places his hands and the bride's parents pour the water from the 'chembu' onto the couple's hands. This ritual is called 'dhare'.
The 'mangalsutra' (gold chain with black beads), is blessed by 5 'sumangalis' (married women) and the groom ties it around the bride's neck. The bride then slips a plain gold ring on the groom's finger. The bride and groom are made to hold the 'chembu' and sit down and rise three times in quick succession. This is known as the 'dhareyeruna'. In some families this ceremony is performed without the help of a 'pujari'.
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Homam: Sacred fire sacrifice
Though not traditional to the Bunt community, this ceremony has now become a practice amongst many families.
The 'pujari' lights the sacred fire and a 'homa' or sacrifice is performed amidst Vedic chants. The bride's brother puts fistfuls of puffed rice into the hands of his sister and the groom, which they in turn offer into the sacred fire each time they go around it, namely three times.
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Saptapadi: The seven steps around the sacred fire
The groom holds the bride's hands and together they take seven steps around the fire. With each step the bride has to tip over small heaps of rice with her right foot and repeat the seven marriage vows along with the groom. |
Saptapadi |
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