subject: Ingrdients for Indian wedding [print this page] Ingrdients for Indian wedding Ingrdients for Indian wedding
Signficance of Cereals:
Traditionally, grains are an essential ingredient at weddings, representing fertility and prosperity. It is a prayer that we offer to the almighty to see that no household is berth of them during the lifetime. It is also the continuation of a legacy from the days when cereals were the only form of wealth known to man.
Rice:
Rice plays a significant role. The bride's mother welcomes the groom by putting tilak on his forehead. The red vermillion signifies 'sau bhagya' meaning good luck and long togetherness, while the rice grains signify 'happiness,good health, peace and prosperity'.
At the time of the bride's departure from her parental home, she throws back over her head, handfuls of rice as a gesture of wishing prosperity to the family she is leaving behind. In her new home, as she enters in, she tilts a vessel of rice with her foot to spill the grains over the threshold-indicating that she enters the house as an avatar of Goddess Laxmi, bringing with her an abundance of wealth.
Rice husk and puffed rice:
In all Indian weddings, fire is the chief witness to the vows taken by the couple and hence no ceremony is complete without Lajahom. Arya Samajis and several Hindu sub-castes, offer 'Laja' (puffed rice, a symbol of prosperity) to the fire. The brides brother stands behind the couple while they face each other. The bride place both her hands in the groom';s and her brother then puts the puffed rice into them. Together they offer this an ahuti to the fire.
Among Bengali's, when the bride enters the home of her in laws, she is blessed with 'dhan and durba' through which prosperity and fertility are sought for her. The ceremony is called 'Bou Baran'. In the northeastern state of Tripura, a tribal community called the Tripuris has a ceremony called the 'Kaksunga' that takes place in the bride's house. Family enders sit together with two pots of rice beer and two lit earthen oil lamps. They bless the couple thrice and then drink the beer.
Wheat:
Punjabi'sss have a ceremony called Matha Teka- a prayer offered by a newlywed couple to the place where the wheat (kanak) is kept. On the eve of the wedding day. Gujatis performs ghari puja that is carried out in the respective homes of the couple. The priest performs the prayer with rice, coconut, wheat grains, oil, betel nuts, turmeric and a number of other spices. Married ladies grind wheat on a small old fashioned grinder to symbolize everlasting prosperity. The groom offers a handful of grains to the priest indicating that although he is changing the lifestyle, he will always give to charity and look after those less fortunate than he.
Cooked Cereals:
Cooked cereals also constitute a vital part. Newly-weds are fed with Kheer considered a vital omen. In some regions the bride cooks Kheer as the first dish in her new home.
Oil Seeds:
In Punjab a 'fertility rite' is performed by the bride on reaching the groom's house. Known as til methre khedna, it literally translates to playing with til (sesame) and methra seeds (oil seeds). A handful of this poured into the cupped nads of the bride by her mother-in-law, who then passes it back to her. This exchanges takes place five times to the accompaniment of a song, and the amount retained in the end is believed to measure the level of compatibility between the two.
Dry Dates:
In a traditional Sikh wedding, a ceremony is performed in which items that include coconut, chhuare (dry dates), sugar and money are exchanged by the families.
Coconut:
The coconut or nariyalis used on all auspicious occasions. It signifies prosperity and is offered in temples as a symbol of the completeness of life. According to myth, in bygone ages, seers used to sacrifice a goat in order to ward off evil forces during their religious rituals and marriages. As time passed, this practice of animal sacrifice become obsolete and religious rituals became non-violent. The coconut, called the fruit of lust-re, replaced the sacrifice. Legend also decrees that the coconut is the primary fruit of the earth. It is liked to the head of Brahma, the creator of the universe. During weddings, coconuts are exchanged by both families and also distributed to guests. When elders are honored, a coconut symbolised respect.
The traditional Sikh wedding is arranged in a Gurudwara. Auspicious items including coconut, dry dates, sugar and honey are sent to the boy's family. Following the tilak ceremony, the groom's father sends gifts of sugar, coconut and rice to the bride.
Betel Nut:
Betel nut (supari) is also used in Indian weddings. On the morning of the wedding day, the bride and groom (in their respective homes), have the sacred thread or 'mouli' tied to their right wrist. The 'mouli' has an iron ring tied to it with turmeric sticks, supari and shells. The thread should have as many knots possible in order to make it difficult for the spouse to untie later!
Haldi:
Haldi or turmeric is considered a purifies and an antiseptic substance. 'Haldi' is also a ceremony in which the bride and groom (in their respective homes) are anointed with turmeric paste. The ceremony takes place on or two days before the wedding day. In a Sikh wedding, vatna- a scented powder consisting of barley flour, turmeric and mustard oil is applied to the bride and groom, a couple of days before the wedding.
Cumin Seeds and Jaggery:
In Telugu marriages there is a custom where a mixturef cumin ('jeera') and jaggery ('gur') is applied to the couples hands. This symbolishes that the bride and groom have now become inseparable through life's bitter and sweet times.
Leaves too have their significance
Betel Leaves:
The betel leaf denotes freshness and prosperity. In some weddings, a betel leaf is tucked into the headgear of the bride and groom. The groom's family is welcomed with betel leaves and every event in the wedding is solemnised with this leaf. In yet another ritual comprising the betel, the girl's brother gives the ceremonial first betel to the couple to chew. This ritual is called 'Thamboola Charvanam'. Betel leaves with coconut are given as a token of thanks to every guest attending the weeding.
Banana Leaves:
The banana tree has been considered the evergreen tree of plenty for generations. On an auspicious day, married women of the bride's family perform a puja of a full-grown plantain tree before it to one of the posts of the marriage canopy. Festoons of mango leaves are also ties. This function is called Pandhakaal. In most South Indian and Bengali weddings, food is served on banana leaves.
Mango Leaves:
These are associated with prosperity and happiness. The residence of every Hindu bride and groom is decorated with festoons of mango leaves. These are also associated with purification. Clusters of mango leaves are also placed atop a silver or brass vessel filed with water which is sprinkled on the couple.
In Bengali weddings, small banana trees are placed at the entrance of the house under which a mangal ghot (small copper or any other material vessel) is placed. In the ghot, a mango stem with five leaves is placed in water. This is kept for ten days after the wedding. In Assamese weddings, there exists a wedding ritual called Marol Puja where the bride is made to sit on a mandop made of mango leaves and is asked to look into a mirror. Only this mirror may be used till the wedding day.
Neem Leaves:
Neem also signifies good health, prosperity and progeny. In certain parts of India, the bride is given a bath with neem water. She is bathed early in the morning and then adorned with gold jewelery. Need leaves are placed on her head, shoulders, waist and feet, and then removed with a stick. The priest performs a Ganesh Puja and the bride has bath again. This is a ceremonial virgin bath.
Basil Leaves:
"Tulanaa naasti athaiva tulsi"- that which is incomparable it its qualities is the basil or tulsi, one of the most sacred of plants for Hindus. Tulsi symbolises Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Vishnu's consort and is regarded as self-purifying. No ceremonial gift to god or man is complete unless accompanied by a tulsi leaf. Even a daughter given away in marriage must be given a tulsi leaf to signify the permanence of the gift.
Some More:
Milk:
In a Sikh wedding when the bride's family welcomes the groom, the bride's brother offers him hot,sweetened milk, as a sweet start to his married life, before he alights from his horse. A coconut is dashed on the round in front of the bridegroom, and sliced lemons are thrown over his head to scare away evil spirits.
Buttermilk:
During Punjabi and Sikh weddings, the chooda or auspicious bangles of the bride are dipped in kachchi lassi or buttermilk before being worn.
Ghee:
An Indian marriage and, in fact, all auspicious occasions are marked with the havan ceremony as an offering to Agni (fire). Among other items, ghee (clarified butter) forms an essential ingredient by cleansing the impurities present in the physical and psychic bodies.
welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net)
