BIG FAT GUJJU WEDDING!!

Marriage is a highly auspicious occasion in the Indian culture. According to the Vedas, the Hindu scriptures, marriage is a sacred lifelong commitment between a man and a woman. It is considered to be the strongest of all social bonds and is the initiation into a lifetime of togetherness. The Vedic wedding ceremony consists of prayers, invocations, and vows recited in Sanskrit, the most ancient surviving language. The Vedic wedding ceremony dates back to over five thousand years. The ceremony is performed under a decorated canopy, the Mandap. The four pillars that surround the mandap represent the four parents. This signifies the important part they have played in raising their children to become the responsible adults they are today. The ceremony is performed before a sacred fire, or Agni, which is the eternal witness of the marriage and all vows were taken.

Gujaratis are known for their rich, vibrant and colourful culture. Moreover, they are warm and cheerful, who are fond of celebrating festivals with fervour. This is quite evident in a Gujarati marriage as well. Lots of money is used for the wedding and it is by far, one of the best things you could witness! The wedding rituals in Gujarat are simple and filled with fun. The unique blend of traditions and ingenuousness is something which makes Gujarati weddings a sheer delight.

Pre Wedding Rituals

Sagaai

The Sagaai is the engagement ceremony and begins when the bride-to-be arrives at the groom-to-be’s place with the matli, a package that represents good luck. The matli is a container which is now often made of steel and contains sweets and gifts for the groom and his family. This symbolises the bride’s family’s acceptance of the union of their daughter and the groom-to-be. There is then a short ceremony where five women from each side of the family bless the couple-to-be which represents a promise between the two families.

Garba

The Garba is usually held the night before the wedding and involves plenty of dancing. It provides the opportunity for the each side of the family to meet, greet and have some fun before the wedding begins. The main event is the Raas which is a dance involving pairs of people and dandia sticks. The dance involves hitting your partner’s sticks while following the rhythm of the music. The Garba is also an ideal place for future couples to meet and begin their own stories.

Pithi

This is a ceremony where the both the bride and groom are covered in a yellow powder that is made into a paste.  The bride and groom have their own ceremonies and usually invite their close family and friends. The Pithi is used to cleanse the bride and groom before the wedding day. The paste is said to brighten and soften the skin to produce that healthy glow.

Mehndi

On this occasion, the bride’s hands and feet are adorned with mehndi or henna. Female family and friends are also invited to have their hands adorned. There is dancing and cheering all throughout. The houses of the bride and bridegroom are also decorated with lots of lights and other decorative items.

 Mangal  Muharat

Mangal Mahurat ceremony is performed by both the bride and the groom in their respective houses. Prayers are offered to Lord Ganesha to remove all obstacles. After matching the horoscopes of the couple, Griha Shanti puja is held. This is done by the priest at the houses of both the bride as well as the groom. It is considered very auspicious.

Baraat or Jaan

The next ritual is known as 'Jaan' and it is performed to ward off any evil. It is quite interesting as the groom visits the bride place and touches his mother in law's feet to seek blessings. While he does so, she tries to clutch his nose and he tries to escape. The groom arrives at the wedding ceremony location with his baraat of family and friends. Many grooms choose to arrive on horseback or in a horse and carriage. The Baraat gathers together and everyone dances in celebration. Traditionally Gujarati’s did not marry someone from their own town so the baraat signified the groom entering the bride’s village.

Wedding Rituals

Ponkvu

The arrival of the groom, or the Ponkvu, is the official start of the Gujurati wedding. The groom is welcomed by his mother-in-law at the entrance. She will perform the aarti and will playfully try to grab his nose. This tradition reminds the groom that he has come rubbing his nose at their door asking for their daughter’s hand in marriage.

Jaimala

Then is the Jaimala, wherein the couple exchanges garlands twice. Next is the Madhuparka ritual in which groom's feet are washed and he is given honey and milk to drink. During this, the sisters of the bride try to steal the groom's shoes, known as 'Juta Churai'.

Kanyadaan

One of the most important rituals on the wedding day is Kanyadaan, in which the bride's parents give the groom the hand of his daughter. This is followed by Hasta Milap, wherein the groom's shawl is tied with bride's saree. The tying of the holy knot and the joined hands of the couple, signify their union. Rose petals and rice are showered upon them, during this time. After this, the couple takes rounds, around the sacred fire, while the priest chants mantras. These are known as Mangalpheras. There are four pheras in Gujarati marriage. This is followed by Saptapadi, which are seven steps and vows taken by the couple together. Subsequently, they are blessed by their parents and elders. This is followed by the Vidaai ceremony, in which the bride is bid a tearful farewell by her family. On reaching the groom's house, the bride is asked to knock down a vessel filled with rice, with her right foot, kept at the entrance. This ritual is known as Ghar Ni Lakshmi as the bride is considered Goddess Laxmi.

Post Wedding Rituals

Reception is a post-wedding ritual, wherein all the near and dear ones give gifts to the couple. Next is the fun filled ritual called Aeki Beki, which is a wedding game played by the couple. A vessel is filled with water and coloured by putting sindoor and milk. After this, several coins and a ring are put in it. Both the bride and the groom are then asked to find it. Whoever succeeds four out of seven times is deemed to rule the household.

Movie Review

      

Known for its amazing music, The Pianist (2002) is a movie about the survival of a young man against all odds. Based on the autobiographical book written by Wladyslaw Szpilman, it deals with the sensitive issue of the oppressive measures adopted by Adolf Hitler to wash away the Jews from the face of the earth. Although, there isn’t direct reference to Hitler in the entire movie, somewhere in the back of our minds, he is present throughout. With various scenes ranging from extreme violence to very emotional ones, the movie is a story of a person’s fight to survive.

The movie opens with Szpilman (Adrien Brody) playing a melodious tune on the Polish Radio; ironically followed by a sudden sound of explosion. This first explosion is soon followed by another louder one and the entire atmosphere turns from one of soothing music to that of disturbing bombings and cries. The element of music plays a very important role and continues to do so during the entire course of the movie. The character of Szpilman is explored in the first scene itself as he calmly responds to a fan, Dorota (Emilia Fox) amongst all the bombings and people running.

The direction of the movie is amazing, owing to the fact that the director is none other than Roman Polanski. The Polish director was a Jew born in the WARSAW region and provides us with a bleak, acidic humour added with ruthless cynicism. Szpilman is one man, not representing the large number of Jews that were executed and murdered but the smaller group of Jews that came out alive; although after suffering extreme violence and seeing their own families die in front of them.

This brings us to one of the most important aspects of the protagonist who is shown as a passive human that refrains from indulging into anything that would threaten his life. His character is explored as a human trying to save himself and not as a Jew fighting against the Nazi government. Although one might think this act as selfish, there’s nothing wrong in self-preservation.

The movie is all about Szpilman running away from the Nazis and ironically, ending up in front of one. But once again,it is his music that helps him survive. Thomas Kretschmann acting as Captain Wilm Hosenfeld helps Szpilman to survive by providing secrecy and food; two things he needed most then. It is interesting to note that when asked what he would do after “this” ended, he replied, “I’ll play piano on the Polish Radio” which is exactly what he did until he died.

The fingers of the pianist skilfully move in the air and play a beautiful music inside the head of Szpilman. The power of music on people is clearly shown in the movie and Szpilman is seen casting the magic of his music over his audience, whoever it may be. The movie ends portraying a free Poland where people listen to Szpilman in a huge concert. Sticking perfectly to its genres; drama, war and music - the Pianist is one of the most successful movies in the history of Jewish movies.