06. ANGIRASA

YEAR 1943

CONTENTS

Introduction (message from me)................................................. Page 0

Contents............................................................................................Page 1

Marriage............................................................................................Page 2=3

Marriage (Continued

The important close relative from my mother's side were my Grandfather and my aunt Shakuntala ( mothers only sister) She was married and had a child. She and her husband attended the marriage. She was quite young and last child of my Grandfather. She was very fair and beautiful.

The evening marriage ceremony started with Janvasam in the front Pendal where in the introduction of both families takes place and the bride and bridegroom are presented with gifts by their parents.

My uncle and Aunty goes with Nadaswaram team to the bridegrooms place and invites them for the Janvasam ceremony and they are escorted with Nadaswaram music to the Pendal.  Everyone is now seated in the Pendal mostly on floor laid with carpets. Few chairs and sofas hired for the purpose are provided in the end  for

The priest or the Purohit performs the normal rituals. Later reads out the names of three earlier generations (parent, grandfather and great grandfather, mother, grandmother and great grandmother) of both bride and bride groom and announces the marriage between the bride and bridegroom to be performed next day. The kalyana patrika or the marriage  invitation which was exchanged earlier in Nishitartham ( Engagement ceremony) is again exchanged again

The engagement ceremony is usually done much earlier but it is stopped in our family due to certain problem. You will know about the change in practice in future Pages subsequently.

First the bridegroom is presented with clothes and jewelry by brides parents. My father and mother garlanded the groom and presented the clothes. He goes to dressing room and changes his dress with new clothes. The eldest son in law of the family my eldest sisters husband is called. My parents honor him and wash his feet with water . He places his feet in a new brass Thambhanam (a plate ) of adequate size. After washing his feet they are dried with a new cotton cloth. He is then presented with new clothes. Next the bridegroom takes his position. My parents wash his feet  placed in an another new brass Thambhanam with water. After washing his feet they are dried with another new cotton cloth . The bridegroom sits on a special wooden stool 18 inches square in size about 12 inches in height.

Bridegroom is presented with the new brass Thambhanam and the new wooden stool used for the purpose

Next the bride is called in . She will be honored  with new clothes and a jewelry after garlanding her by parents of bridegroom. The bride changes her  dress with new clothes

Meanwhile the important relatives from both sides get introduced exchanging thamboolams  first the gents and later ladies

The bride and bridegroom exchange the new  golden rings given by their parents

sugar, sugar candies, dry coconut betel leaves, flowers, etc are distributed  to all guests present. All guests are invited for dinner.

The cooks have completed the cooking and are ready to serve. In the house and behind the house where Shamiana is erected for dining, plantain leaves are placed for dinner in rows on the floor. Special decorations for the bride and bridegroom are made with oil lighted brass or silver lamps with colored Rangoli designs to give a festive look and silver plates for dining for them.

There is a prescribed menu  for this Dinner and some items are MUST. The items cooked are pickles, Papad, Bajji, Plain Rice, Curd Sambar  with white pumpkin vegetable pieces,(Morkolambu in Tamil or Perugu Pulusu in Telugu)  Potato Bhaath, Jilebi, Payasam, Ginger Chatni, any two vegetables, Raita and curds.  The same menu was followed as per tradition. There were no ice creams.

The Dinner was completed in batches due to space constraints Pan supari is served. The bridegroom party goes back to their lodging. After all people finish the dinner the maid servants will start cleaning the premises and wash the vessels for next morning cooking. it will be late night when all people go for sleep.

NOTE: THE PARA ON MARRIAGE CONTINUES SUBSEQUENTLY

Concept: KRISHNA RAO KHANAPUR

Graphics Support: MANU KONNUR