Thursday, November 24, 2011

The Simplicity of Vishwakarma Matrimony Function


I was invited to attend the Vishwakarma Matrimony function of one of my office colleagues. The Vishwakarma community follows Hinduism and is divided into sub-groups based on their profession. Earlier, the community members were sculptors, blacksmiths, carpenters, coppersmiths and goldsmiths. With the changing times, they have taken to a variety of professions. This particular family hails from the state of Uttar Pradesh. This family is Hindi-speaking people and is vegetarian.  Other states of India like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Kerala also have members from this community.

Matching of the horoscopes and Gotra are essential for finalizing an alliance. This wedding is also an arranged marriage with parents of the bride and the groom fixing the nuptial. What I learnt from others about the Vishwakarma Matrimony functions is that there are many rituals. Like all Hindu wedding customs and traditions, the rituals for this community begins with an offering to the Hindu gods and goddesses. The bride and the groom get up at early, in dawn and have a bath. Then they sit for the puja and seek blessings of the various Hindu gods and goddesses for a happily married life.

One of the relatives also told me that the Kanyadaan ceremony is an important wedding ritual in Vishwakarma Matrimony. The father of the bride gives her responsibility to the groom. Amid the chanting of mantras by the priest, the father asks the groom to take care of his daughter at all times. Another matrimonial ritual is the pheras. The bride and the groom encircle the fire seven times and take vows while circling around the fire. I saw that the groom took short steps with the bride following him. Guests and relatives shower flowers on the couple. After the pheras, the couple seeks blessings of the parents and other elderly members of the family.

Author: Shipra Sinha

Friday, November 18, 2011

Hindu Marriage for Vaidiki Brahmins


Marriages in India differ in rituals and customs for the various religions. India is multi-diverse country, with all the major religions of the world co-existing in harmony. Religions like Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity and Islam have a good population. Hinduism has its roots in India and majority of the population India are followers of this religion. The religion is one of the oldest religions known to humankind and has written rules and regulations on life, birth, marriage and death. Hindu Marriage rules and regulations are prescribed in the ancient texts and manuscripts.

The Hindu Matrimonial alliances are fixed after consultation of horoscopes. Caste and community background are other important factors while fixing a Hindu Marriage. There are four major groups in Hinduism and Brahmin occupy the highest caste order. Under the Brahmin, there are many sub-groups like the Smartha or Advaitic Brahmins, Ambalavasi Brahmins, Vaidiki Brahmins, Sarola Brahmins, Koti Brahmin, Shivalli Smartha Brahmins, Maharashtrian Devrukhe Brahmins, Sthanika Brahmins and Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmins.

Some Brahmin communities in India are region based and one such community is that of Vaidiki Brahmins. The Vaidiki Brahmins are originally from Andhra Pradesh. The community members speak Telugu. Some members have also migrated to the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu. It is said that the members have mastered the Hindu texts, Vedas. The Vaidiki Brahmin community members are further divided into sub sects such as Adisaivulu, Dravidulu, Edavalu, Kasalnatlu, Murikinatlu, Karanakammalu, Mulakanatlu, Saivulu, Telaganyulu, Vaishnavulu, Veginatlu and Velanatlu.

Some more well-known regional Brahmin communities in India are Iyengar Brahmins, Dvaitic Brahmins Madhwa Kannada Brahmin, Shivalli Brahmins, Kanyakubja Brahmin, Bengali Vaid Brahmin, Maithil Brahmin and Telugu Madhwa Brahmin. These communities follow the Hindu Marriage rules and regulations. The matrimonial rituals differ from state to state though the wedding mantras are recited in Sanskrit.

Author: Shipra Sinha

Sunday, November 13, 2011

The Signing Of Nikahnama in Muslim Matrimony


Colourful decoration, sumptuous food and vibrant atmosphere characterize any Muslim Matrimony. I was attending the ‘Nikah’ ceremony for my dear friend. He is a Sunni Muslim from the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. Though the wedding celebrations for the Muslims in India start usually three days before the actual wedding day, I only attended on the day of marriage. The welcoming of guests with sprinkling of ‘ittar’ on the male members is a practice I enjoyed. Moreover, the flower decoration in the wedding venue was making the atmosphere fragrant.

The bride was seated inside a room and her head was covered with a veil. She was wearing a traditional lehenga in green with delicate zardozi work all over. Even her veil had delicate work with golden threads. Only the female invitees can go inside the room where the bride was seated. The gold jewelry that she wore with her bridal attire made her look like a princess.

My friend, the groom was wearing a beige sherwani with golden work. He also covered his head with a traditional Muslim thread cap. He was attending the guests who were invited at the Muslim matrimony. There is no wedding auspicious time as it happens in a Muslim Matrimony. On the arrival of the Qazi or the priest, the wedding started.
Nikahnama
Though there are many rituals in a Muslim matrimony, the main ritual is the Nikah ceremony. The Maulvi or the Qazi presides over the entire Nikah ceremony. The bride arrives in the room where the groom is seated. They sit face to face with a curtain dividing the male group from the female group at the wedding. Both the groom and the bride sign the Nikahnama, which is the contract of marriage. The father of the bride and the groom also sign the contract as witnesses to the wedding. In presence of family members and guests, the Qazi recites some holy lines from the Quran.

What I really liked in the Muslim Matrimony is the consent of the Muslim Brides. In Muslims, the groom gives the dowry or ‘mehr’ to the bride. I also enjoyed the traditional food after completion of the Nikah ceremony.

Author: Shipra Sinha

Monday, November 7, 2011

The New Set of Rules of a Hindu Marriage


The Hindu Marriage customs in India has undergone a sea change and new rules and regulations have come up. In the ancient days, matrimonial relationships were considered sacred and were more of union of two souls. The concept of seven lives of unity between a man and woman existed and couples happily believed in this theory, as mentioned in the Hindu texts and manuscripts.

With the changing mindset of couples and the fast and busy lives, the theory of seven lives in unison is just a mere theory. The sacredness of the matrimonial relationship is giving way to more complex form of matrimony. Earlier, the woman was the dutiful wife at home performing household duties and the man took care of earning money. The modern Hindu man and woman believe in sharing responsibilities, and not just are confined to any fixed roles. The customs are still there in a Hindu Matrimonial but a legal aspect is also adding to the matrimonial celebrations.

The Indian constitution has incorporated detailed guidelines on the various aspects of Hindu Marriage. There are a set of laws and regulations pertaining to the Hindus communities in case of any unpleasant happenings between the couple. The Government of India has set up the ‘Hindu Marriage Act’, which came into effect on 18 May in the year 1955.

According to the guidelines mentioned in the Hindu Marriage Act, there is a fixed marriage age for the girls and boys. Earlier, girls were married very young and did not had any formal education. The government has fixed the age of marriage at 18 for girls. In case of boys, the marriageable age is 21.

Another ancient custom, polygamy and bigamy prevalent in the Hindu community are not permitted. The Hindu Marriage Act prohibits such a practice and it is punishable under law. In addition, the seven lives theory of ancient Hindu marriage is only in texts. The government allows divorces to couples on several grounds related to cruelty, adultery or unsound mind. It is also mandatory for any Hindu Marriage to register under law.

Author: Shipra Sinha