Rupia Peravanu
Rupia Peravanu marks the unofficial engagement when both the families
acknowledge the acceptance of the marriage alliance. On this day, ladies from
the groom's family pay a visit to the bride's house. The bride is presented
with a gift of silver coins with the usual shagun. Refreshments are served and
the grooms family return home. The bride's family now adds more silver coins to
those presented and go to the groom's home, where this ceremony is repeated.
Adarni
Before third day of marriage it is celebrated as a day for gift exchanging. On
this day the groom's family visits the bride's home to present her with all
kinds of gifts like clothes, jewelry, etc. This is ritual of gifting the bride
is known as Adarni. The relatives, neighbors and friends are invited for a
traditional meal of sev and dahi, boiled eggs and bananas
Supra nu Murat
Supra nu Murat is close to the Hindu mehndi-haldi ceremony and is organized a
day before the wedding. Carrying out the tradition, four married women are
given a supra each, containing auspicious items like paan, supari, haldi, dates
and a piece of coconut. While singing ritual songs, these supras are exchanged
seven times among the women cross-wise, length-wise and breadth-wise. A fifth
lady sits in the middle with khalbatto and dry turmeric. After the four women
finish passing the supras, all five join hands to beat the turmeric along with
some milk in the pestle and this paste is applied by all to the groom and bride
along with a showering of blessings.
Nahan
Nahan is the day of the lagan, on this day the staircase, doorway and gate is
decorated with beautiful decorative designs of rangoli. According to the
Zorastrians the time immediately after sunset or very early in the morning is
considered auspicious for marriage. For the marriage ceremony the bride dresses
in her madhavate the white, ornate wedding saree given by her parents, while
the groom wears the traditional Parsi dagli and feta a white kurta like garment
and a black cap. The Parsi lagan is called Achumichu, which takes place either
at a baug or at an agiary (the fire temple). A stage is build up for the couple
and before they step on it, the groom first, a ritual called achumichu is
performed. The bride's mother takes a tray with a raw egg, supari, rice,
coconut, dates and water and begins the ceremony with her son-in-law to be. In
Ara antar ceremony the couple is made to sit facing each other with a cloth
held between them, so they cannot see the other. Among the other main day
rituals are Chero bandhvanu, Haath borvanu, etc
Achumichu
ThAt the wedding venue, a stage is set for the couple and before they step on
it, the groom first, a ritual called achumichu is performed. Herein, the
bride's mother takes a tray with a raw egg, supari, rice, coconut, dates and
water and begins the ceremony with her son-in-law to be. First, she takes the
coconut and circles it around the groom's head seven times before breaking it
on the floor to his right. The same is done with every other item on the tray,
except the water, which is thrown on either side. The bride then steps onto the
stage for her future mother-in-law to perform the same ritual.
Ara Antar
During the Ara Antar ceremony the couple is made to sit facing each other.
However, a cloth is held between them, so they cannot see the other. Then, each
of them is given rice. With a length of thread, the priests circle the couple
on opposite sides of the curtain seven times and as the seventh round ends, the
couple showers each other with the rice from over the curtain. It is believed
that whoever throws the rice first will dominate the other partner!
Chero Bandhvanu
At this point a ceremony called Chero Bandhvanu takes place. The couple sits
besides each other with the seven strands of string binding them. The witnesses
sit besides them and diyos or lighted lamps are placed on tables on either
side. Priests begins an hour-long marriage prayers or aashirwaad and showering
of rice and rose petals ceremony. At the end of the prayers the bride and groom
exchange wedding rings. The priests now wish the couple the var and bairi. Fire
from the agiary is brought to them to pay their respects.
Haath Borvanu
Fun-filled ceremonies take place on the completion of the lagan. Groom's
sister-in-law begins extracting money from her new brother-in-law first haath
borvanu. She makes the groom put his hand into a glass of water, which he
cannot remove until he pays up. This if followed by pag dhovanu wherein the
groom is threatened with milk on his shoes unless of course, he pays. Later,
chero chorvanu ceremony takes place. Herein, the sister-in-law removes the
seven strands of string binding the couple, again on payment. At the end of it
all the newly wed couple pays a visit to the fire temple for blessings.
Ashirwaad
Both officiating priests recite what is known as the `Paevandnameh` or
`ashirwaad` (blessing). This recital consists of admonitions, prayers and
benedictions. Once the admonitions are over, the priests recite the
`benedictions` invoking the favour of virtues from the `Yazatas` (angels). The
next set of prayers in this wedding ceremony is made in honour of the dear
departed souls. The idea of praying to the dead is basically to wish the couple
with some of the great qualities, which the dead possessed. Another set of
benedictions follow known as the `tandarusti`. These are meant to invoke the
blessings of the Almighty in granting the bridal couple good health and vigor
and a healthy progeny.
Reception
In the post-wedding rituals the reception is held in a grand manner with varied
menu of food, drink and music. The party is a whole night affair where all the
guests have a lovely time. The menu mainly comprises of traditional Parsi
dishes like Parsi bhonu like sarya (crisps), achaar - rotli (pickle and rotis),
patra ni macchi (steamed fish), salli margi (chicken with potato crisps), lagan
nu custard, pulao-dal and ice cream. The wedding ceremony ends with the couple
being accompanied home by the bride`s family and achoo meecho being performed
once again by the groom`s mother for the well being of the couple.
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