Indra pours rice into Geeta's cupped palms
TriniView.com Staff Article
Event Date: December 15, 2006
On Friday 15th December, 2006, the first night of preparation for the wedding between Geeta Maharaj of Welcome Road South, Enterprise Chaguanas and Kishan Seegobin also of Chaguanas, Triniview.com was able to share in this celebration.
It was beautiful synchronicity to be driving up to Geeta's home where family and friends gathered to join in the festivities, and simultaneously be welcomed by the sounds of the village Raghu Boys Tassa group raising a rousing welcome to all guests, and signaling to the village that the wedding celebrations was about to begin. This is a key element of the traditional format of the night; the entire close-knit village is involved and welcomed as a wedding is an occasion for all to share and celebrate. The energetic and pulsing rhythms of the Tassa drums started off the mood of celebration. This was not to be a solemn ceremony but one that embraced life and energy and the joy of female sensuality. This celebratory tone was to continue for the rest of the evening, interspersed with rituals, all performed with joyous festivity.
The traditional Hindu wedding can take place over a three day period the first of which is called Matikor/Maticoor. Maticoor night is an important zone of female empowerment. The almost exclusively female-centered ritual is meant to instruct the Dulahin (bride to be) on sexual matters through humour, dance song and role - play. It was in this zone that Hindu women throughout the centuries found a safe haven where they could express themselves without the prying eyes of men, pass on valuable traditions from mother to daughter and be free to be sensual, ribald and spicy without judgment or censure. This night is composed of three parts, the Maticoor, a ritual performed in an area of clean earth with clear running water, the Saffran/ Saffron, a ceremony where the bride to be is purified and adorned by the youngest female of the gathering and the application of Mehendi, where the Dulahin's hands and feet are adorned with henna to enhance and celebrate her beauty. This night is a time of celebration and togetherness that highlights the importance of family and of the traditions of women.
The Matikor/Maticoor ceremony begins with a ritual which involves the elder married women and the youngest girl of the household. The bedi/baghie, an altar where the puja will be performed is located inside the house and next to it is placed the ceremonial tray of hardie, sindur, deeya, lota and traditional sweets. The tray is then lifted by five elder, married women and placed upon the head of a young unmarried girl. The girl is then responsible for carrying the tray to the site outdoors where the actual Maticoor ceremony will be performed. A young girl is chosen because of her youth, innocence and purity.
The young girl leads the procession to the designated area, followed closely by the married women, one of whom carries a hoe to dig the earth and another one carries the flambeau/candle. Traditionally, lively Tassa drumming leads the procession. Despite the fact that on this night males were allowed to be present, they were far fewer than the females. Traditionally only women, family and friends of the Dulahin, were allowed to attend this ceremony.
Indra, Geeta's aunt, explained that over time many traditions were relaxed to accommodate modern times, while always attempting to maintain the essence of the ritual. While many men are not invited to this night, particularly the party of the Dulaha, the close friends and family of the Dulahin are, in some households, permitted, especially since the Maticoor night, famed for the sensual dancing of the women, holds much fascination for the younger men.
When the procession stops at a place of rich earth, near running water, the tray is placed on the earth and the flambeau/candle is placed beside it. A woman digs the earth and places some of the loose earth on the tray. At this point Sindur is to be placed on the heads of the five married women and sweets are to be shared amongst the guests. At this point the dancing begins in earnest. The women wine and gyrate much to the delight of the other guests. Other women are invited to participate but the men are not under any circumstances allowed to dance at this time. The tray is placed once again on the child's head and the procession returns to the Dulahin's house.
The party rejoins the bride at the house and the dancing continues. At this time the ceremony takes on a real party atmosphere with more women, young and old joining in on the dancing. Younger males and boys also join in at will. One female relative places a pillow under her dress and pretends to be pregnant, signifying the sexual act and the expected offspring that will result. Indra explained that this is all in fun and a customary part of the ceremony.
While the Tassa continues in the background, the bride goes into the house to the bedi/baghie escorted by her mother, Samdai. Samdai's white orni is extended over her head and one corner or it is placed on the head of her daughter. Indra pours rice into her hands after which Geeta sits in a low stool beside the baghie where the pundit performs the puja. It is customary for five young girls to anoint the Dulahin with saffron/saffron, but in this case the girl who carried the tray is chosen to anoint Geeta with saffron from the tray. Geeta explained that this ritual is to purify the bride and as a result, it is essential that a child who is young, pure and unmarried be chosen to perform this task. The saffron is also said to be good for the skin, so in addition to its ceremonial purpose it is also important in the beautification of the Dulahin's skin. The young girl then takes doop, grass from the bedi/baghie, and touches Geeta's toes, her knees, her shoulders and then up over her head. This cycle is completed five times. When the Saffron ceremony is completed, the bride is ready for further adornment.
Apart from the red bridal sari of the traditional Hindu bride, the henna decorations that adorn the palms and feet of the Dulahin are probably the most outstanding and well-known adornments. Mehendi is an ancient practice, which beautifies the bride. A preparation of henna dye is made and intricate designs are then drawn onto the palms and fingers of the bride and the tops of her feet. Riannah, who designed and adorned Geeta's Mehendi, has learned the art through watching family members and friends. It is often a practice that is passed down in families and among friends and learnt through observation. However, she notes that there are course and training sessions where young women are instructed in the art of Mehendi. It in indeed a much-valued skill and professionals are paid handsomely for their skill.
Riannah explains that henna takes approximately two hours to dry and for the design to set into the skin. The henna penetrates the skins surface, staining the design a brown red into the skin and the excess crumbles off on its own. Provided the Dulahin does not do too much work with water, the beautiful designs can stain the skin for up to one week. By Sunday, the actual wedding ceremony where Geeta will greet her Dulaha Kishan for the first time in two weeks, the henna would have taken hold firmly and her hands would be beautifully adorned for the occasion.
Friends and family gathered around to watch the decoration. Like much of the ceremony it is an exciting time; watching the design begin with one small motif, then spread across Geeta's palms and take its full shape. Onlookers assist in holding Geeta's skirt to ensure it does not obstruct the work and ensure that its folds do not brush off the henna prematurely. Every one talked excitedly of the coming two days after which all will be tired but happy that all has proceeded well. The next day, food will be prepared and the tents will be decorated and on Sunday, the main night, the wedding will take place.
With the completion of the Mehendi, the Matikor night officially ended. The music was lowered and the Tassa drums trailed off. Family members then bid each other good-bye until the next day.
Geeta chatted quietly about Kishan her intended. She told us they met on a camping trip in Toco and found each other to be a good match. Although their courtship was not long, the close relationship between their families made the union a natural one and a long courtship unnecessary. She looked forward to seeing him again on Sunday as they have not seen each other for two weeks. She smiles when she spoke of him and the ceremony of the next two days.
The next two days promise further excitement and festivities, leading up to the climactic event, Sunday's wedding.
Also Read:
Maticoor Night in pictures:
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