Friday, March 26, 2010

Thanjavur Marathi Weddings

TMD weddings have their own fare of rituals and ceremonies with some of them being preserved customs and some adopted, and yet more observed!

Every single function would entail a "HALEDH-KUNKU" ceremony when all the married women present would be given haldhi and kumkum and sometimes arecanut with 2 betel leaves( called "VIDAACH PAAN -SUPARI") and a fruit.

Also every occasion involves an arathi performed by two married women ..SAVASHNIS
along with a song sung

A bride is called "NAVRI"and the groom is called "NAVRA"

Engagement ceremony is called "VAAKNISCHAYA"

Before the wedding preparations start, there would be a special function with at least 5 ladies, who would get together and pound the turmeric rhizome and powder it.

This function is called "HALKUND THENCHNA" As the name suggests 'pounding of turmeric rhizome'
The bride is also made to wear green bangles, which she cannot remove for one month after the marriage.

The day prior to the wedding would be "DEV-DEKH" ; also called "Deversamaradhana".
when the family "KULADEVA" or family deity is worshipped. There is also "NAANDI" ceremony when the forefathers are invited to witness the marriage and bless the couple.

That evening before the wedding day, which is the the wedding eve, are two functions.

The first of these functions is "MOOL PHANA" . MOOL means girl and PHANA means 'seeing' so this is basically "girl seeing" . However, this is honoring of the bride by the groom's parents.
Mool Phana 

The bride is given decorative , artistic gifts, pleasing to the eye; she is offered all the 16 shringaar samaan.... The groom's mother ritually 'dresses' her up offering cosmetics and a saree, jewelry etc.

The second function is "JHANVAAS". Here the groom is honored by the bride's parents. He is offered clothes, some jewelry etc. He too is offered eye pleasing decorative gifts and 'laadus' and sweetmeats.

Following this would be a formal introduction of the both families with "Bhukka powder"

After the function is a grand "JHANVAASACHA JEVANA" which is a grand dinner!

The wedding day begins with a ritual "abhyanga" performed for the bride and parents and the groom and his parents separately. Oil applied and an arathi performed followed by the oil bath.

The bride is dressed in a yellow saree and the groom in a yellow dhothi. Originally this saree and dhothi would be cotton cloth soaked in Haldhi (Turmeric). A lot of flowers would adorn the bride's head and two limes hung from 2 sides. A special type of kunku adorns her forehead...it is shaped like a vertical line with a small half "U" that cuts the  line.

Here some people have the custom of "MADHUPARKACHA JEVAN" whereby the groom is fed "doodh bhath" or milk, sugar and rice.
Otherwise, both the groom and bride and their respective parents do not eat any food till the marriage is over. This is because no "daan" including "kanyadaan" can be made or received after partaking food

Once dressed up the bride would perform "GAURI PUJA" this puja is performed in "mouna"(no talking by the bride).

In the meanwhile, the groom adorned with "kaajal" and wearing huge earrings made of wheat atta and haldi , carries a walking stick and wearing slippers heads for "KASHI YATRA"
Ironically, he is supposed to be saying he does not want to get married but wants to go on a pilgrimage to Kaashi!

While he thus heads for Kaashi, the bride's father approaches him, even as simultaneously the bride's brother holds an umbrella to the groom's head, and "pleads" with him not to go to Kaashi but to marry his daughter.
Not surprisingly, the groom agrees and they all give him new clothes and march him back to the marriage hall!

The next important step is the "ANTHARPAT". Interestingly, this has to be done in the "muhurth" time frame. Antharpat is the holding of a white or turmeric dipped cloth in front of the groom just as the bride is brought by her maternal uncle and aunt (mama and mami) to the marriage hall.
The
antharpat continues as the bride takes her stand in front of the groom
Both cannot see each other as the cloth is held firm by two people. The bride and groom hold
akshata in their hands to sprinkle on each other soon as the antharpat is off.
Antharpat

While the bride and groom wait thus in anticipation, the priest and the ladies assembled sing songs inviting all the gods, nature, the rivers, mountains and so on to witness the wedding..."saava dhaan"

Finally the curtain is off and as the bride and groom get to see each other amidst applause and all assembled sprinkle akshatha on them.

Then the "KANYADAAN" takes place. The bride's parents hand over or give daana of their daughter along with betel leaves, coconut, supari and dakshina to the groom.
Kanyadaan 

Next is the elaborate "KANKANA". For this, a large ball of twine is soaked in milk and haldi by the priest. All married couples close to the family are called up on stage and form a huge circle. This ball of twine is passed on around few times until it makes two strong binding strings, one for the bride and other for the groom.

The groom then ties this on the bride's left hand and the bride on the groom's right hand.

This "Kankana" is very symbolic in displaying the strength of the bond of the husband and wife.

Following this is the tying of "MANGALASUTRA" . Prior to tying the Mangalasutra, it is placed on a coconut , sanctified with haledh and kunku and taken around to be blessed by the savashni women.

This is followed by showering each other with handfuls of yellowed rice grains.

Tying of the mangalasutra culminates the marriage though there are other functions following.
Putting of the "Jodvi" or toe rings by the groom on the bride's toes, while she stands royally.

Then the vedic part of the marriage ceremony includes the ' SAPTAPADI' (circumambulation) of the sacrificial fire seven times. Each circle represents a given promise between the husband and wife to support, nurture and love each other through the various steps of life. At the end of the Saptapadi, the bride and groom are taken to be shown the Pole star or Arundhati . This is to symbolise to them..as the pole star follows the moon, so should the wife follow the husband!

This is followed by "LAJA HOMA" where the bride's brother offers popped grain to the fire. This about concludes the marriage.

This is followed by a grand "Jevana" for all. Five banana leaves are arranged together , decorated with rangoli and candles for the bride and groom .

The afternoon or post wedding functions though dispensed with in most households still needs a mention as all customs need to be included in this.

There is the "NAAGOLI" with the decorated colored pots. "Rukhout" refers to the silver etc. given to the bride by her parents.

"GRIHAPRAVESH" is when the bride wears a nine yard saree, and dresses like the goddess Lakshmi and enters the groom's house for the first time.
Grihapravesh 

A silver cup filled with rice is kept at the entrance and as the bride enters to the singing of 'Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma'; she gently topples the cup with her right foot, thus splattering the grains .
This is symbolic of the bride entering her husband's house like the very Goddess Lakshmi and the splattering of rice grains symbolises the rush of wealth that she will bring to the house.

The bride then gives haledh kunku and vida to all present and "SOOP VANA" (Maruda bagina in Kannada) to 5 married ladies.
This is the time she gives "SOOP VANA" to her own mother, as she now belongs to another family.


"SOON MUKH PHANA" refers to the bride being accepted by the groom's parents and his relatives.

Finally is the "NISHAAK MUHURTH" referring to the consummation of the marriage.

The next day is "VYAAHYANCHA GHARCHA JEVANA" refering to the meal hosted by the groom's family.

Various Occasions in a Thanjavur Marathi Deshastha Household

The Naming Ceremony is called "BARSA"

The Tonsure ceremony for a baby is called " Jawla"

The Sacred Thread Ceremony is called " Munj"

Engagement Ceremony is called "Nischayathaarth"

Housewarming is called "Grihapravesh"

Marriage is called "Waraad"

In the seventh month of pregnancy, a special function is done in her parent's house called "Sreemanth"

"Atangul" is a special function held in in-laws house. ATANGUL means EIGHT FINGERS. In the month this is held, it is believed the baby would have developed 8 fingers!

Birthdays are called "UJALA DIVAS" which precisely translates to "birth day"

More later....

More Phrases

Here are yet more words and phrases.....

Phaati maga .. Behind the back

Upnetra .. eyeglasses

Khara ka? ..Is it true?

Kivaad .. Door

Thond-layangaala ... probably derived from Thondala layangala
( This is a bit complicated..it means an accompaniement to make the food tasty...
usually had with dahi bhaath Curd rice)

With the advent of mixed cultures and the English language supremacy and Tamil and sometimes Kannada influence there are some phrases which I remember my grandmother frequently used and we don't use them anymore.

In my family, after my great grandmother, who was a descendant of the marathi families who landed in Pudukottai, all the daughters-in-law are originally Kannada speaking. So along with corruption, the Marathi language got diluted further until today, we no longer use the words my grandmom(who, also was kannada) or my great grandmother used!

Here are a few of them.... I will appreciate any additions and or corrections, if any to my version.

Just as this blog, this post, too is dedicated to continuing and preserving a language in its beautiful authenticity! Readers, please join me in my efforts.



Maaku Ghalna.... माकू घालना means giving an oil bath.

Chitaangul.... चितान्गुल .. This word was largely used by TMD children to describe something filthy...yucky!

आन्गोली .. Aangoli or Snaan...स्नान ...Both used to describe bath

Unu Paani... उनु पांणी .. for Hot Water

Himsa paani... हिंसा पाणी.. for cold water

naani... नाणी .. for बाथरूम

फणी..phani..for Comb
vinchringay, विन्च्रिंगे ...for "to comb"

Funnily the root word for cleaning seems to be "Dhu", "धू" as opposed to 'dhool', धूळ which means 'dust'/'dirt'

Words used in the Kitchen... सम्पाक खोली/ सम्पाक घर sampaak kholi/sampaak ghar

We all know the वाटी, थाट, पहली, चमचा, (vaati, thaat, phali, chamcha).. but here are some others...

पोन्नी टाकना ponni...which seems to be an aberration of the word 'phodni' 'फोडनी'
विर्जन घालना.. virjan ghalna...making curds or yoghurt
chool petiva..चूल पेटिवा...light the स्तोवे

INTERESTING!
भाजी चीरे ..bhaaji cheeray (cut the vegetables) ,
पाला नीसे.. paala neesey (chop the greens)...
फणस कापे...phanas kaapay (cut the jackfruit)
चटनी वाटे... chutney vaatay (grind the chutney)

Doodh utive ..दूध उथिवे (boil the milk)
सार कडीवे ..saar kadivay (boil the rasam)

Deeg bhar kapada डीग भर कापड़ा refers to a 'pile of clothes'

Basic Phrases

Namashkar- "hello/greetings"

Kasha ahent?- "how are you?"

Mee besh aahen - "I am fine".

Tumcha naav kaay? - "What is your name?"

Maja naav ______ . - "My name is _____."

Tumi kona? - "Who are you?"

Hoye - "Yes"

Bara - "Okay"

Nahi/Noko - "No"

Ek - "One"

Don - "Two"

Tumal kaay pahije?-"what do you want"

Daahvah patees-"Left side"

Ujvah patees-"Right side"

Heja mol kevda?-"How much does this cost?"

To kota jatees? -"Where are you going?"

Food

While TMDs have adopted various kinds of diets picked up from the place where they lived, it is interesting to note that on festival days they revert back to their traditional food! Also the food given to a new mother soon after delivery is once again traditionally marathi.

Sambhar, once again an adopted dish, even tho' originated from Sambhaji Rao is not prepared on festival or "सना दिवस ". On the other hand, Khadi, Pitla, Bhakri , Koshimbir and Puran Poli is made! Not to forget the Saar and Bhaaji. Tho' many of the foods mentioned above somehow got converted to a totally different dish but maintained the name, like Pitla and Bhakri! More of that later.

Udad dal is never made for festivals as it is made for Shradh. With this, I remember in my childhood when we lived at Chennai, on auspicious days like Deepavali and Vijaya Dashami , we had Tamil neighbors who got us their "Vade and Payasam"! The delicious looking Urad Medhu wada made crisp with the hole in center had our mouths watering! In vain, as the wadas would straight find its way to the backyard for the maid to take!

Similarly a new mom, would get to have "लसन्नाचा सार" garlic saar, गोंदाचा लाडू gond laddu, while the baby would be given 'gutti'

Dishes still made by the TMDs are Sappak Pitla 'सप्पक पिटला', 'ambat भाजी' ambat bhaji, 'सार 'Saar, 'कोशिंबीर' Koshimbir, 'भाजी' Bhaji, 'मेथकुत' Methkut 'गोद्दू पिटला' Goddu Pitla, Sambhar'साम्भर', 'भरीत' bharith , (वांग्याचा भारित vangyacha bharith), 'ठेंचा' Thencha, 'लोणचे' Loncha

Recipe for all the above follows...