10. DHARA

Yes the concluding part of the Marriage of my sister Sharada, Read in this DHATRI  Page 10

Year 1943

CONTENTS

Introduction  (message from the author)........................................Page  1

Contents................................................................................................Page  2

Marriage (Concluding part)..................................................................Page 3-5

MARRIAGE (CONTD)

The next day after the rains, addition labor force was obtained and whole area both inside and outside the house was cleared and cleaned up, fresh flower decorations, mango leaves were put up, the carpets in the Pendal were changed to new dried carpets, the water drums were cleaned up and fresh water was stored for drinking purposes, the area near the cooking was also cleaned up and dried and whole house brought back to festive look by 6 am.

Relatives and guests started their morning ablutions and were getting ready for the breakfast. The morning coffee was served by the cook and his assistants by 5:30 am itself. The breakfast was served at 7:30 am in the back side tent as usual by squatting on the floor where fresh dried carpets have been spread. A breakfast consisting idly, upma with chutney and sambar were served on plantain leaves, In addition sweet already prepared in advance for the occasion Mysorepak and besan laddu were  served with coffee/Tea in brass tumblers.

By 9:00 am the Purohit with his assistants were ready for the further religious  rituals at the Pendal after their preparations for the rituals. The bride and bridegroom were called in and the religious  ritual of Nagavalli started by 9:30 am. This is a ritual invoking the family deities for blessing of the couple for long married life. A homam is performed amidst chanting of sacred mantras. This is accompanied by Saptapadi taking solemn vow by the couple for their eternal bonding, love and trustworthiness. The ritual also include a mock child birth  with a wooden small baby putting it into the cradle and care by its parents and the running of the family for the shape of things to come in future. This is watched by all relatives and  guests. During the rituals the bride is presented with a silk saree by both parents and fresh jewellary for the occasion. The bridegroom gets presents of a woolen suit , a wrist watch and a gold chain to adore his neck as part of presents. The whole ceremony of Nagavalli ends by around 1:30 pm.

The lunch starts immediately as usual served on  plantain leaves in the back side erected tent. Now here the special seating is arranged for the Bride and Bridegroom . This place is decorated with oil lamps, rangolies of different designs and colors are arranged. Silver plates are placed and drinking water a silver container with two silver glasses provided all as presents to the couple from brides side. Amongst Aarthi to the couple the lunch goes on.

All other people will complete the lunch by 2:30 pm and relax. The evening functions start at 5:00 pm with small rituals for the couple . The rituals complete by 7:00 pm and the dinner served subsequently.

The next day the final ceremony starts with Raja Homam invoking the God of fire . The rituals last for few hours and there after the Kanya Danam ceremony starts. Here the parents hand over the Bride to the Bridegroom and to his parents. A new jhampakana is spread over which the parents of the Bride sit and in opposite side the Bridegroom and his parents sit. The Bride parents say that they have brought up their child with greatest love and care and seek an assurance that the Bridegroom and his parents will continue to give all that care, love and affection to their child. The other senior members of the Bride's family will also hand over the Bride.

The lunch continues thereafter and the Bridegroom party leaves with the Bride for their home. The send off ceremony is a painful thing for my parents and my second sister  is leaving to set up her own family.

The party departs in a decorated car with full of flowers and invites all of us for a Lakshmi pooja and reception followed by lunch  in their house the next day.

The next day we all relatives go to my sisters new home to attend the Lakshmi Pooja and have lunch.

My sister after spending three days in her laws house comes back to our house. She is just 14 years not matured yet.

On the 16 th day of the marriage again all the relatives assembled and a small function was arranged for completion of the marriage ceremony. A pooja was performed to the Pendal as well. After lunch all people dispersed. In the evening the Pendal people came for removing the tent and Pendal.

Thus completed my sisters 16 days marriage.

My Grandmother is very happy that she could get married her granddaughter before maturity. My sister continued to live with us. My brother in law though married is a Bachelor. He used to come to our house daily after his office hours to talk to his wife (my sister) in privacy and goes. This continued for couple of months.

After 2 months my sister matured. I was not aware what maturity is. My mother told me that my sister is a women now all these days she was a girl. Again a big functioned was arranged in our house  with decorations, calling the cook, Nadaswaram music and all that paraphernalia. A day was fixed for the nuptials ceremony (also called Garbha Dana)  thereafter.  My mother told me on questioning that it is Shobhanam and from that day onwards the couples sleep together. The  bridegroom was again presented with new clothes and my sister also got new silk saree with some more jewellary on the occasion. They left for their home after the Nuptials ceremony to live happily.

This marriage of my second sister SHARADA was fully enjoyed by me as a boy of 8 years where I had full knowledge of what was going on in the house. In our whole relations circle it was a talk of the town the way in which the marriage was celebrated for full 16 days. My parents were proud. Having born in 1935 I do not recollect what was happening till 1941. I could only visualize or remember  from 1942 onwards. Therefore I could narrate every moment of my second sisters marriage in 1943 vividly. My first sister Hemalatha  marriage was celebrated in 1939 but I do not recollect any of those events. What has happened in my life prior to 1942, was told by my mother of several incidents which I will narrate in subsequent pages.

Lastly do u guess the marriage expenses in 1943 for this 16 days marriage celebrations which my father spent? No guess Don't be surprised It was Osmania Sikka 1500 rupees SHOCKED.

Concept: KRISHNA RAO KHANAPUR

Graphics Support: MANU KONNUR