Sashi, with a playful yet authoritative tone, turned to Gowthami, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Gowthami," she began, "since my mother-in-law has granted you the go-ahead, you are free to interact with Rajeev, albeit for short periods of time. But remember, after that, the two of you ought to remain apart until your wedding is lawfully consummated."
Gowthami blushed slightly, the idea of such restrictions both amusing and oddly comforting. There was a warmth in Sashi's words, a sisterly teasing that made her feel welcome and accepted within this new family. Sashi then turned her gaze to Rajeev, her playful expression unwavering.
"And you, Rajeev," Sashi continued, a mock-seriousness in her voice, "you could only kiss your wife whenever you wanted to *after* you were hitched. Until then, act in a way that a nice person would."
Rajeev chuckled, his usual confidence slightly dimmed by Sashi's light-hearted admonition. He knew she was just teasing, but there was a part of him that felt a bit of the tension as he glanced over at Gowthami. Her cheeks were still tinged with the soft pink of embarrassment, and she met his gaze with a shy smile.
Sashi, sensing the moment's tenderness, decided it was time to give them some privacy. She turned to Abhi and Ram, who had been quietly observing the exchange with grins on their faces. "Now, you two," she said, pointing a finger at them in mock command, "leave the pair alone. Let them have a moment together before they are bombarded with all the wedding madness."
Abhi feigned reluctance, sighing dramatically as he took Sashi's arm. "Fine, fine," he muttered, "but only because you insist." Ram, too, nodded in agreement, a playful glint in his eye as he caught Rajeev's gaze.
"You owe us one, Rajeev," Ram quipped, winking at him before allowing Sashi to usher them out of the room.
As they left, the room grew quiet, leaving Rajeev and Gowthami standing there, suddenly alone. The air between them was thick with unspoken words and emotions, both of them feeling the weight of the moment. Rajeev stepped closer to Gowthami, his smile softening as he reached out to take her hand.
"Seems like we've been given some time," he murmured, his voice low and full of affection.
Gowthami looked up at him, her heart swelling with emotions she couldn't quite put into words. The teasing and the laughter from earlier still lingered in the air, but now, there was something deeper, something more profound that connected them in that quiet moment.
"Yes," she replied softly, her fingers curling around his. "Let's make the most of it."
Rajeev turned to face Gowthami, his expression a mix of anticipation and seriousness. "Gowthami," he began, his voice gentle yet purposeful, "right now I arrived here to have a conversation regarding all the customs that we must observe during our wedding."
Gowthami nodded, her curiosity piqued. She knew the wedding would be a grand affair, steeped in tradition, but hearing Rajeev speak about it made it feel all the more real. She listened intently as he began to explain the various rituals, the significance of each, and who would perform the duties associated with them.
He started describing the customs related to marriage. Traditions pertaining to marriage.
" First, there's the Tilak Ceremony," Rajeev started.
For the formal engagement ceremony, only the girl's male family members visit the boy's house. Only the bride's brother, father, and other male relatives are present during this event. In this case, there are simply males present. The groom is coated with tilak by the bride's brother, as the ritual's name suggests. Abhi will take your brother's position and complete the ritual in his place. Usually, knives, other gifts, clothes, candy, fruits, and other items are given to the boys by the lads in the girl's family. At this ceremony, the engagement is officially sealed."
Gowthami smiled at the thought of Abhi performing this role. She already felt a deep connection with him and Sashi, and knowing that they would be standing in for her family brought her comfort.
"Next is the Ganapati Establishment and the Griha Shanti Initiative," Rajeev continued
A few days before to the wedding, there is the Griha Shanti ritual and the Ganapati installation. This involves invoking Lord Ganesha's blessings for our marriage and ensuring peace and prosperity in our home. This is more of a religious ceremony, and it's crucial because it sets the tone for a harmonious married life. Sashi and Abhi will also be a part of this, acting as the spiritual guides alongside the priest .It takes occur in lieu of the ring ceremony. The bridegroom's or bride's parents perform the Havanam rite in order to appease the gods and install the Ganapati statue. Only the rites (establishment) really start after Sthana.
He paused, gauging her reaction. Gowthami nodded, understanding the importance of seeking divine blessings before embarking on this new journey together.
"Then we have the Pithi Dastur celebration," Rajeev explained, his eyes twinkling slightly."This is where we get smeared with turmeric paste by our loved ones. It's meant to cleanse and purify us before the wedding. Ram will be there to ensure I don't get completely covered in turmeric," he added with a chuckle, imagining the playful chaos that would undoubtedly ensue.
Gowthami couldn't help but laugh, picturing the scene. It was a light-hearted ritual that would bring both families together in joyous celebration.
"The ceremony is place at the houses of the bride and groom, and it is a delicate affair. It continues till the last day of the wedding. Sandalwood and turmeric are ceremoniously placed upon the groom. The bride and groom are not allowed to leave their respective homes after pithi begins. Piti Dastur is widely praised in the bride's household. For this occasion, the bride should wear an orange gown. She was pushed inside, and four women held a silk canopy over her with blades at each of the four corners. She is then brought to the ladies' gathering, where the women apply the paste. Before and after the wedding ceremony, female singers known as "dholans" play benevolent songs using dholaks. Shehnai, nagara, and dholan players are often seen at wedding ceremonies.
Rajeev continued, his tone becoming more reflective. "The Dastur Mahira is when gifts from your family will be given to mine.Since you're the bride, these gifts symbolize the love and goodwill your family is extending to mine
It takes place at the homes of both the girl and the guy. This is a rare occasion when one uncle from the mother's side of the family participates. There is much excitement as her parents and her family arrive. We would like to congratulate all of the families. The uncle then presents clothes, jewelry, and candies to the whole family. It stands for the reality that the mother's uncle had to help his sister pay for the costs of her marriage.
Gowthami felt a pang of sadness at the mention of her family, but she knew that Sashi and Uma would handle everything with the care and respect it deserved.
"And then there's the Janev ceremony," Rajeev went on. "One important Hindu wedding custom is the Janev ceremony. It involves the tradition of making the groom put on a sacred thread. Janev is just for males. Janev is made to be worn on the groom's first day of homeownership. They wear saffron linen and engage in yajna with the priest. Saffron clothing is worn by Kshatriyas to represent the groom's two options. The first is to give up on the world and live a monastic life; the second is to get married and fulfill the responsibilities of matrimony. At the end of the Yajna, the groom should seem as if he wants to go away and live a hermit's life. Uncle tries to talk him out of it and force him into marriage.It's more than just a ritual; it's a vow to protect and provide for you, to be a responsible and loving partner. Ram and Abhi will be by my side throughout this, supporting me as brothers do."
Gowthami listened, her heart swelling with emotion. Rajeev's sincerity touched her deeply, and she felt a sense of pride knowing that he took these traditions so seriously.
"The Palla Dastur follows," Rajeev said, his voice softening." There are family members of a boy called Palla Dastur who comes dressed in a trousseau. A day or two before to the wedding, a few members of the boy's family show up with gifts as well as clothes and jewelry for the bride to wear. It's a moment when you and I will exchange our wedding outfits. It's symbolic of our acceptance of each other's family and traditions. Sashi will help you with your bridal attire, and I'll be wearing what your family sends for me."
Gowthami nodded, feeling a surge of warmth at the thought of wearing something that Rajeev's family had selected for her. It was a small but meaningful gesture, a tangible connection between them.
"Finally, there's the Barat and the actual wedding ceremony," Rajeev said, his eyes lighting up
" Kshatriya Barat is different from all other Indian Barat styles. It is sophisticated, calm, and cozy. To begin with, the Kshatriya Barat is once again an event exclusive to men. It is thus largely limited to the males in the groom's family. Women are not allowed in the procession. You will never witness a dance like that of a baraat walking along the street. The groom often rides an elephant or a horse and wields a sword. All of the other male family members have swords as well.The Barat is when I arrive at your house with my family and friends, in a grand procession. It's the most festive part of the wedding, and I'm really looking forward to it"
" Finally the traditions around marriage
Following the customary aarti, the bride's mother leads the husband to the ladies' room. After a while, they succeeded in getting him to the receiving area. Relatives carry the bride in bamboo baskets to the marriage event. A barrier has been placed in front of the bride and groom, who are sitting across from one another. Subsequently, they applied jeera paste on each other's hands from behind the veil. The wall between the bride and groom is removed. Subsequently, the bridegroom secures the managalsutra around her neck with three knots. The unity of the mind, body, and spirit are symbolized by the three knots.The bride and the groom exchange garlands of flowers. They then take the Saptapadi after that. The couple is then formally married when the groom gives the bride a silver toe ring.Yajnagni and Vedic mantras are still used throughout the wedding. The bride's need to cover her face with a lengthy veil is the sole peculiar aspect of the whole ritual.
Homecoming Customs Following Marriage
In actuality, "house entrance" refers to the bride's first visit to her husband's residence. When the bride gets to the father-in-law's house, the mandatory pooja and other rituals are performed. Together, the bride and groom participate in several activities.
Pagelogni, entrance to Pagelagni House takes place the next day. The bride is ceremoniously introduced to the whole groom's family, who bless her and give her gifts while she is still hidden. At last, the mask is removed.
Thus, these rites will be performed continuously during our wedding. I'm reaching out to you to let you know about the customs that Gurdeep Uncle has asked to be followed during our wedding. and to talk about our traditions. Furthermore, he said that tradition should be followed in all aspects of wedding rituals. He also said that Sashi and abhi will take care of everything, so you shouldn't worry about anything."
Gowthami felt overwhelmed, not just by the sheer number of rituals but by the love and care that went into each one. She could see how much Rajeev valued these traditions, and it made her appreciate them even more.
"Wow Rajeev, I'm really excited about our nuptials."