Traditionally grains have always been an essential ingredient at weddings, representing fertility and prosperity. Wheat, rice and barley are the commonly used grains that participate in the wedding ceremonies in two forms - as part of a ritual where their significance is highlighted, which is a legacy from the days when cereals were the only form of wealth known to man. And the second when they are partaken of in a form dictated by customs during the wedding ceremonies.
Cereals as part of rituals
This is almost a universal phenomenon and is reinterpreted globally according to local tradition - such as tossing rice onto the path of the departing newlyweds at a Christian wedding to customs closer to home like the new bride tilting a vessel of rice with her feet to spill the grains over the threshold of her new home. This indicates that the bride enters the house as an avatar of Goddess Laxmi, bringing with her abundance of wealth. There are many other interesting customs relating to this, which are followed in various regions of our country.
Grains are used in the follow up to the wedding ceremony itself on various occasions and form an integral part of the wedding traditions.
Several communities also follow the Phalikalu ceremony. Navadhanyams or nine varieties of grains are sprinkled on nine earthen plates (painted white) filled with soil. These are allowed to germinate for sixteen days. On the sixteenth day after the marriage, the mangalsuthrams (108 strings of sacred thread twisted together and dipped in turmeric) are strung together and the germinated grains are immersed in a flowing stream. In cultivating communities, the bride goes to the site where the seedlings are raised and an image of Lord Ganesha is created in mud. She worships the image and then breaks it up.
Also upon the arrival of the baraat the groom is greeted with the ubiquitous aarti or tilak, of which rice grains are an essential component.
In some communities, a rice and mango leaf bracelet is tied to the right wrist of the groom and a similar one to the left wrist of the bride.
In Telegu and Oriya speaking regions, it is customary to impose a curtain between the bridal couple over which the bride throws rice on the groom's head.
Grains are also used as offerings during the puja ceremonies that precede the wedding.
The Ghari Puja is one of the most important pre-wedding pujas amongst Gujaratis. Carried out in the homes of both - the bride and the groom - the Ghari Puja is conducted on the eve of the wedding. The priest performs the prayers with rice, coconut, wheat grains, oil, betel nuts, turmeric and other spices considered to be auspicious. All the married women then grind wheat on an old fashioned grinder to symbolise everlasting prosperity. The groom offers grain to the priest also, indicating that he will always help those less fortunate than him. At the end of the ceremony the bride and groom are dressed in old clothes. Friends and family then tear off these clothes symbolising the end of their single existence.
In the course of the wedding ceremony itself also grains play their part.
Seven heaps of rice symbolizing the seven hills and the saptakulaparwata are worshipped during the saptapadi rite.
In all Indian weddings, fire is the chief witness to the vows taken by the couple and hence no ceremony is complete without Lajahom. Arya Samajis and several Hindu sub castes, offer 'Laja' (puffed rice, a symbol of prosperity) to the fire. The bride's brother stands behind the couple while the couple faces each other. The bride places both her hands into the groom's and her brother then puts the puffed rice into them. Together they offer this laja as an ahuti or sacrifice into the fire amidst the chanting of mantras.
Similar to western customs, the newlyweds are blessed by all the elders by showering coloured rice or akshat on the couple.
Grains continue to signify their importance during the bidaai or farewell of the bride from her parent's home and also during the welcome into her new home.
The bride throws a handful of grains over her shoulder during the bidaai to signify that she is returning to her family whatever wealth she has partaken of in the course of her maiden life. By doing so, she also blesses her home and wishes for them prosperity.
In some communities, a mitti-ka-bartan (earthen pot) and a plate of wheat grains need to be placed in the bridal room as they signify fertility and prosperity. The newly weds offer puja here as they start their new life together. This is called maatha tekna.
The measure of the bride's compatibility with her mother-in-law also seems to revolve around a handful of grains. Amongst Punjabis, the bride takes a handful of grains from a plate and passes it onto her mother-in-law who then passes it back to her. The exchange takes place five times and the amount retained in the end is believed to measure compatibility.
Partaking cereals in meals
In the second form of usage, grains are consumed by both the bridal couple and the relatives and guests at the wedding.
Most Indian communities originally used to feed the bridal couple boiled rice with milk and sugar, which gradually evolved into the delicacy - kheer.
Amongst Kashmiris, for the Shagun ceremony, the Vaza or cook prepares a porridge made from rice and finely chopped intestines of the goat. This special delicacy is fed to all the guests and relatives. During the 'Shagun', 'badias' are cooked once again. The lady who prepares the dough for the 'badias' has a special task - in a terracotta dish she places the rice, 'badias', salt and money and holds this on her shoulder while she kneads the dough for the 'badias'. This spread of rice, 'badias', salt and money is known as the "ZUNG". The Zung is then given away to the poor and needy as a gesture of goodwill.
Some communities serve wedding feast on banana leaves following a particular method. Cooked 'tur dal' (lentils) is served on the right lower corner of the leaf followed by 'halwa' (a sweet dish) 'pachadi' (raita or yogurt), chutney, two dry vegetables, gun powder or curry leaf powder, fryums made of white pumpkin, rice fryums and papad, pickle and salt. The above items are served all around the leaf till the left corner. Then mixed rice or vegetable 'pulao' is served in the center of the leaf and curd 'vada' next to that. Two dry sweets - 'bobatlu' (pancakes made of corn flour with cooked 'chana dal' (chikpeas) and jaggery, or boorelu), cooked 'chana dal' and jaggery stuffing made into round balls dipped in 'urad dal' (lentils) batter and deep fried, 'laddus' (round sweets made from gram flour, sugar and 'ghee' or clarified butter) are served in a cup. This is how the leaf is set and made ready before the guests are seated to enjoy the meal. After this elaborate meal, 'paan' (betel leaves) and nuts are served.
Bengalis have a ceremony called "Bau Bhat". It is on this day that the bride is formally accepted by all her husband's relatives. The bride personally serves elaborate rice dishes to all the elderly members of the family for lunch. It is at this time that the groom avows to take on the 'bhat' and 'kapood bhar nilan' (literally translated it means - taking on the responsibility of providing food, shelter and clothing for his wife).
Of course the most popular form in which the mandatory cereal is consumed is the wedding cake - a custom adopted from the West.
The cake of yesteryears however was a far cry from the dreamy looking concoction of today. It was meant to be dry and crumbly and was simply broken over the bride's head for good luck!
Traditionally, the cake also contained a thimble, which was supposed to indicate which of the brides' friends was next in line at the altar, by simply landing up in her piece of cake.
Cakes are gaining more popularity in India and it is not uncommon to see a demure, sari-clad bride clasping her husband's hand over the cake knife.
And for the unmarried ladies, there's yet another significance that cereals hold... the belief that if you take a piece of wedding cake and place it under your pillow you will find the man of your dreams!
