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Destination - East Indian Marriages

Introduction

Christians include mainly the East Indians i.e the descendants of the converted Hindus and Muslims from Salsette and Vasai, Mumbai, Kurla, Thane and Vasai. Their ranks have also been reinforced by immigrants from Goa. Thus together they constitute the Roman Catholic Christian Community and owe allegiance to the Pope in the Vatican. The Christians also include a number of Anglo-Indians and Eurasians. They have a happy blend of Oriental and Occidental culture with perhaps a greater learning towards the west. Let us ideally learn the customs and rituals observed by them. Here we give you the norms of the East Indian Community.

Before the Wedding

The Preparations start 15 days before the wedding. First the wedding pickle or Varradaccha Lonche is made in large quantities, out of carrots, papaya and green chilies . Papad also has to be made. For this the flour is made at home and the dough is made ready for preparing this Papad.

A day before the nuptials a ceremony called Umracha Pani is performed. The preparations start early in the morning. The guests stay on for lunch and dinner. During the day two kinds of wadas are prepared. One is called Bhokyache Wade (prepared out of wheat flour) and the other is Fooghes (prepared out of maida).

All those attending the ceremony go in a procession around their area, the cross is garlanded and prayers are chanted. Then comes the bangle seller's entry. Interestingly this bangle seller is an important personality here. Light green bangles are chosen from the seller. The married female relatives of the bride wear a dozen bangles each on their hands. The bride also does the same. In a 'soopra, the bride then gives the bangle seller , rice, five paan, supari, one coconut and the amount he demands. The bride then touches his feet. Well isn't this quite interesting?

Dinner is then served. During the dinner the bride is whisked away and coconut milk is applied on her face, hands and legs. All this is accompanied with music, dancing and singing. The father, uncle and brother of the bride are to be shaved by the barber under a canopy erected for these festivities. The barber then trims the nails of the male relatives of the bride. A day before the wedding all ornaments are removed from the bride's body. Whoever goes forward to apply coconut milk on her usually place some money in the soopra. The bride then returns home.

Along with the band, the guests and relatives go dancing to draw water from the well. Coconuts are broken. After the water is drawn from the well and from the coconuts, the papad that is prepared is roasted and eaten right there. The mother's sister then bathes the bride after which the bride adorns her new clothes. When the bride is taken away for her coconut milk bath crackers are lit and songs are sung. Before serving dinner to the guests a portion of the food prepared along with the drinks, cigarettes, pan etc. is kept aside for the departed souls of the bride's relatives.

The Wedding

Before the bride leaves the house for the church,where she is to be married, coconuts are broken and crackers are lit. All the female relatives wear flowers in their hair. The father of the bride presents her to be married to the groom. In case she has no father, an uncle or her brother does the honour.

After the Wedding

The morning after the wedding the girl's relatives pay her a visit. In the evening when the bride leaves for her new home, dinner is hosted by the bridegrooms family. The girl's family members come with the wedding cake and flowers for the bride. The bride wears a red sari and decks herself in gold.

When the pair arrive at the girl's house they are not allowed to enter until they have paid whatever nominal amount is demanded, quite a demand. Meaning the groom should make sure that he has his purse loaded.

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Destination - East Indian Marriages

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