THE VEDIC PRACTICE OF SENDING MARRIAGE DOCUMENT ( LAGAN CHEER IN KASHMIRI ) CONTINUES WITH KASHMIRI PANDITS
DELIVERING LAGAN-CHEER AT BRIDEGROOM’S HOUSE BEFORE THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY ..
(This Ancient Vedic Custom is still practiced in marriages by kashmiri Pandits..)
Before the actual date of marriage or Lagan , the priest from Bride’s
family visits the family of Bridegroom carrying the LAGAN-CHEER . LAGAN-
CHEER is a photo cum written document . The LAGAN CHEER has images of Sri Rama and Sita or Shiva and Parvati
apart from other details like the actual Date of LAGAN, Names of the
Bride and Bridegroom , Names of the parents of the Bride and Bridegroom,
Place of residence of both the families ,Auspicious time for start and
end of the LAGAN Ceremony , Number of persons accompanying the
bridegroom as Baraatis, Number of priests who shall perform the Lagan ceremony and Gotra of the Bride and the Bridegroom .
Family members of the Bridegroom invite their relatives for this
function and make them sit comfortably in a spacious room where the
priest from the bride's family is supposed to sit and deliver the
LAGAN-CHEER to the elders . The priest ( who is made to sit on a
decorated seat with cushions ) reads everything written on the LAGAN-CHEER
with recitation of Mantras wishing the would be couple a long and
blissful married life. Women from the bridegroom's family join together
and sing the Traditional Vanvun (folk singing without any musical instrument ). i quote some lines ...
.
Aaei’dd Aayii Vokhaeill Ta Aaei’dd *Ranga Naavun
Haavus Geer Aayi *Khraavun Pyaath….
( To Join this function , some guest traveled on foot
others came in Coloured Boats .
Some eager put wooden sleepers in their feet to travel )
Koh Tala Seeriyo Draakho Nonna’ye
Lagan Cheer Hyaathh Yendraaz hai Aav..
( As if the bright sun emerged from the hills ,
Behold ! Here comes Lord Indra with lagan Cheer )
Lagan cheer hyathh aayi krishen Bagvaanus,
Devaan khaanus burr mutchraav.
Paa'na Chhu'ss Raatchh Mahadeev shuer paanus,
Vaen Tche ishaanus kaar pushraav..
( Here comes the LAGAN CHEER for our Krishna ,
Now Open the door of the sitting room for guests..
Lord Shiva is himself the protector of our innocent bridegroom,
Now let us entrust this task to Almighty *Ishaan only.)
The family of the bridegroom also
serves food to guests. The Priest is also given some DAKSHINA ( cash for
performing the ritual ) apart from Naabad (sugar) , sweets and fruits .
This system of documenting
marriages traces its origin to Vedic period when wife was known as
*Bharaaya (Dharampatni ). She was a source of Strength in helping the
husband uphold cultural, religious, and righteous principles which were
the integral basis of a spiritually centred society. Further *Bhoj Patra
( Birch tree bark known as Burza Pattar In kashmiri ) and palm leaves
were used in ancient times for writing and drawing images .Aryans also
used Bhoj patra for medicinal purposes . Himalayan Bhoj Patra was also
used by Kashmiri Pandits for writing their sacred Texts and drawing
images of Gods or illustrating scriptures .
( Autar Mota )
PS
Mahabharta also refers to wife as Bharaaya apart from detailing the Institution of marriage.
In Mahabharata , Yaksha asks Yudhishtira
"kimsvin mitram Grihesatah?"
Who is the friend of a householder?
To this the prince answers ,
" Bhaaryaa Mitram Grihesatah"
The friend of a householder is his spouse.
In another question Yaksha asks Yudhishtira:
“kimsvid daiva krutah sakha”
Who is man's god-given friend?
Yudhishtira's answer was,
Bhaaryaa daivakrutah sakha?
For a man , A wife is God’s given friend .
In ancient times, Talismans were also written on Bhoja Patra .This is
mentioned in Panch Tantra Text . According to legend , this tree bark
was also used as clothing by attendants of Lord shiva . Images and
paintings were also drawn on Bhoj Patra by kashmiri Pandits .Bharaaya is
a popular word with Kashmiri Pandits .
*Lord Shiva is also known as Ishaan..
* Khraav ( Khraavun ) is a wooden sleeper that was used in kashmir .
* Before the arrival of motor transport in kashmir , Apart from Tongas ,
Boats were used as mode of transport. A marriage procession or Baraat
would generally make use of this water transport .A ranga Naav or Ranga
shikaaer was a colourfully decorated VIP Boat used for bridegroom and
some VIPs while the General Baraatis would sit comfortably in Doongas or
bigger boats to travel to Bride's house .Tea and kashmiri Bakery was
served to Baraatis in Doongas or Boats during this journey.
*Kashmiri Muslims also follow a
some what similar practice of sending marriage document or Saata- Naama
through some elder relation. The middleman or Manzimyo’r who arranged
the marriage also joins the elderly relative .
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