Preparations for the Wedding
TriniView.com Staff Article
Event Date: December 16, 2006
On Saturday 16th December, 2006, at around 4pm, Triniview.com journeyed back to the home of the dulahin (bride to be) and was once again warmly welcomed by all.
Saturday being the eve of the wedding, was all about preparing for the big day ahead. The house, just as it was the day before, was filled with friends and family who arrived early to assist Geeta, the dulahin, in the final preparations for the actual wedding ceremony.
Outside in the garage area, the elder women mainly from the village, sat in a semi-circle cutting and peeling potatoes, shatine (chatâigne), cocorite and mango while chatting about several issues. Listening and carefully observing the group of women confirmed that such community settings have traditionally been an opportunity for people to share and exchange ideas as well as find solutions to problems.
The men, who were mainly the village elders, also had a big part to play in the preparations. They operated in their own space at the back of the house close to the kitchen area. They willingly gave us a first hand demonstration on how to make 'buss-up-shot' (a type of roti also called paratha) big enough to feed at least ten people or more. With some assistance from a few of the women, the men proudly demonstrated the method in kneading, cutting out exact portions, rolling and setting the dough to rise before baking it on the tawah (a large, flat, disc-shaped cooking apparatus). Maneuvering the oversized utensils before and during the baking process of the roti on the tawah was indeed quite interesting. Their expertise in making roti this size clearly could only have come about from their own experiences.
(See video clips of "Making 'buss-up-shot' and Curry")
In keeping with the tradition of serving food on leaves during religious occasions and other festivals such as Hindu weddings, the cutting, washing and drying of big pieces of green bananna leaves were done by the younger village men in another area at the side of the house. It was interesting to see the cooperation among the men, women and children.
During the course of the evening, the children, who were curious about our presence, interacted with us. The young ones aged five to sixteen who belong to a youth group within the village, were very helpful by offering to give us a brief tour along Welcome Road South and the Upper Welcome Shiv Mandir Temple. They were quite knowledgeable about the Hindu religion, identifying the symbols and the functions of the Mandir or temple.
While exploring the area with the children, we were invited by one of the neighbours to take photos of them making roti for a Ramayan function which was to take place later on in the evening at another family's home.
When we returned to Geeta's home, we spent more time chatting with the young ones discussing their views and excitement about the upcoming wedding. It was then that we asked to interview two of them about Hindu weddings to get a better idea of what was taking place. The two teenagers that we interviewed were Hardeo Suruj and Mahindra Maharaj. They explained to us about the different types of Hindu wedding ceremonies and about the processes involved before and after the ceremony takes place.
When most of the cooking was completed, the family invited everyone to join in the food festivity. Long tables with chairs and benches were placed in a special area designated for dining. A variety of dishes were laid out on the table with leaves placed before each person seated. It is also customary for everyone to eat the food with their hands and not cutlery.
On the menu was an array of several delicious vegetarian dishes such as bhaji, channa (chick peas), aloo (potato), curry mango, cocorite, home made pepper sauce (also commonly called 'mother-in-law'), salad, pumpkin, paratha roti (called 'buss-up-shot') and white rice. As we dined, we discussed several things including what was to be expected the next day.
Shortly after the food festivity, we visited Geeta's aunt, Indra, who lived a few houses away. Indra had arranged a small get together of her own and also took the time to entertain us.
When we returned to Geeta's home we had the pleasure of tasting pepper roti, which was a delicacy that we never experienced before.
After witnessing a full day of activities, the TriniView.com team bid farewell until the morrow and left them preparing to put up the final decorations for the ceremony.
Also Read:
Video clips of "Making 'buss-up-shot' and Curry":
http://triniview.com/videos/Hindu_Wedding_161206.html
The Eve of the Hindu Wedding in pictures:
www.triniview.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=154093
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