Sumangali pooja...start of the festivities at home

Sunday, Nov 11th....5 days to the wedding!

  

Muthaide Muthaide bagana thogo...Savitri Savitri bagana thogalthini

...amidst laughter, smiles, this beautiful prayer and a blessing is shared between the happily married women(Muthaide) in the family and the bride-to-be (Savitri)...the  Mora with the auspicious token is given to the Muthaide and the bride-to-be seeks the blessing...

...the bride-to-be is blessed by the elder women to find happiness in her marriage, have the ability to walk shoulder to shoulder with her husband in life and in death and have the courage to fight with Lord Yama (the Lord of Death) for her husband if the case arises...just as Savitri did for her beloved husband Sathyavan...

4 months ago, when the question arose regarding the Sumangali pooja venue, in a blink of an eye, it was decided that the Pooja would be held at 1 Yardley street, the beautiful home of the bride's aunt Prabha Nagaraj or Prabha dodamma (elder mother) as Purni calls her. Pooja at home would be followed by a festive lunch at the Udipi temple.

The Sumangali pooja  as mentioned in the earlier post, is done to invoke the blessings of women from the bride's family, who have lived long and are enjoying prosperous family life with their husband. This is always done earlier to a marriage in the bride's family.Auspicious items like Haldi-Kum Kum, comb, mirror, earrings, bangles, blouse piece and a Saree, Betal (Pan) leaves and betal nut along with fruits and flowers are given to 5 or 7 or 9 women and 1 or 2 young girls. 

Traditionally all of the items is given in a Mora (also called Soopa in Northern India) made of cane and hence called Morada Bangana in Karnataka.

Menus were discussed, invitees listed...and specially designed Evites from Ashwini Acharya Inc were sent out...the Moras were hand painted, the haldi kum flowers were created, the betal nut dolls were ready...the 5 types of grains were put into snack bags, the blouse pieces were folded...All were placed in the Mora and the plates to be given to the Muthaide's on Sunday Nov 11th...



4:30 AM EST

Prabha Chitti and Shyla are up...take shower and come down to start cooking that special lunch for the nine Muthaide's. Prakash Uncle gives company,.. Coffee gets brewed...vegetables are cut...Sambar, Rasam, Godju,...simmers on the stove. Pahlya follows next....and ends with Khus Khus Payasa...Nah not allowed to taste, but we know that the food will be awesome...after all the MasterChefs from Edison and Tampa are holding the fort...
All through the cooking, there is continuous talking...oh yes...we women talk so much and so loudly!!! this Hassan gang of women cannot be quiet!...say many a men sleeping in the adjacent room...

7:00 AM EST

Purni is up...and the Haldi (Turmeric) ceremony begins, with Ashwini/Anpu/Jay/Lynne/Shyla/Prabha chitti appling the turmeric+milk+cream paste on Purnima...and then oiling on her hair. Turmeric to bring in the glow (this is to bring in the extra glow on her face after Raja and the Love happening) and cream to moisturise the skin ...oil to make the hair soft and silky for the special day...

(Amongst us Indians from the South of India, only a bath/shower that involves washing the hair soaked in coconut or Castor oil is considered purifying or sanctifying. A plain body bath is not!..)

13 women in the house!...imagine the chaos!!...Saree's needed to be draped, Hair had to done, Makeup...and then the petticoat string slips!!pallus become loose...more time  wasted! then starts.."you think I am ok" sessions...is my tikka right?....ille...wear a big tikka!! In my time, we never wore...." Is my hair jooda right? Centered?....shall I wear this kundan jooda pin or this navratna one? Bolo...bolo...

Crazy but such fun conversations...

By this time, the men are getting restless, waiting for the women to finish getting ready and empty the rooms, so they can get ready...and then starts...i just need 5 min's to dress up...you women need at least an hour!!..aah my dear Uncles...don't you walk around like you have won a lottery, when you see your pretty women all dressed up?..so hang in there,...and wait...for your turn...

Purnima is looking gorgeous in her green and violet Saree...and is getting her hair done ~ the typical Madrasi style...Hair ready, it is time to decorate the braid with flowers...hmmm, this is not her style...No help!...this is not her!!...180 degree turn...she is going to revert to a simple style...hmmm...she is the bride...and this is her day...she needs to feel good and happy ...let her be folks...doesn't she look gorgeous...

Psst...

-we had picked up about 8 dozens of safety pins in silver, gold, small, big,...even Nappy pins for the Saree pleats

-Double scotch tapes...to be used to stick the dress/blouse seams to the skin ...no peeping, pls, especially with those Choli style blouses....

-Swear on Saree bags...put all required into the bag - Saree, petticoat, blouse, jewelry, purse...so there is no last minute confusion or items missing...

 10:30 AM EST

All are ready...Our nine Muthaide's and 2 lil girls... the weather is fantastic...the bride comes down ...Amidst oohs and aahs, cameras go Click...click.  Saree's are checked out...latest happenings discussed...oh yea lots of gossip! told you it is a ladies function...more pictures are taken...Purni keeps smiling and posing. Then everyone goes to the driveway and the rituals begin...

-Wooden mane's are placed on the ground and all the Muthaide's stand in a row...the women look so beautiful...in their beautiful kanjevarams...

-Shyla washes everyone's feet with warm scented water...Mangala wipes everyone feet Click Click...the feet are all pedicured...and with the painted nails and the toe rings,...they look divine

-Shyla then puts a dot of turmeric by the side of each ear on each lady on the other side of teh palms and on the feet...

-Then Flowers are distributed to all the ladies

-then Purnima and her family go in a circle surrounding the women thrice similar to the pradikshna...

....More pics taken...

Then Shyla and Purnima give the Morada bagane to the women and seek blessing...while singing...

Muthaide Muthaide bagana thogo...Savitri Savitri bagana thogalthini

Finally the Pooja is done...time to leave for the Udipi temple for teh lunch...

Sorry for the longish post...hope you enjoyed...