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INDIANS IN MALAYS IA

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INDIANS IN MALAYSIA
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CONTENT

NO. Preface 1. 2. $. 4. 5. ,. 7. #. (. 1+. 11. 12. 1$. Introduction Birt Cere!on" Traditiona% &e%co!e &eddin' Cere!on" Na!a)*ar / Na!a)te -i' tin' %a!. / /i"a

TOPICS

PAGE/PAGES 4 5 -7 # -21 22 - 2$ 24 - 4( 5+ - 54 55 5, 57 7+ 71 #2 #$ 1++ 1+1 - 112 11$ - 11, 117 - 125 127 - 12#

Pro)tratin' 0efore .arent) and e%der) Be%ief) and )u.er)tition) 1unera% Tradition) / /eat Cere!on" 1e)ti2a%) Cui)ine) C%ot in' 3eference) / 3ecour)e)

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P3E1ACE T i) 0oo* i) de)i'ned to .ro2ide infor!ation for one of t e !ain race in 4a%a")ia. In 'enera%5 t e Indian) ad .%a"ed an i!.ortant ro%e contri0utin' .eace and unit" a!on' 4a%a")ian). &it tec nica% 'uidance i) e6.ected to 0e 0eneficiarie) under)tand t e !i))ion5 'oa%)5 and e6.ected tar'et5 and a2e a co!!on .erce.tion in i!.%e!entin' a))i)tance 2ie7) i) in accordance 7it 7 at a) 0een de)cri0ed in t e 'uide%ine) effecti2e%" and efficient%". Infor!a%%"5 )ti!u%atin' and u.%iftin' !" o7n 2ie7 and *no7%ed'e of !" fe%%o7 4a%a")ian). I o.e !" findin') 'enerate !ore under)tandin' of t e Indian) in 4a%a")ia for t o)e 7 o! read t i) 0oo*. I 7ou%d %i*e to con2e" a i' 'ratitude for !" %ecturer 7 o! ad a))i'ned !e for t i) ta)* t at e2entua%%" o.en !" e"e) u.on ot er cu%ture) t at are 8uite )i!i%ar to !ine.

NO3A9-I4A BINTI -I4AT 7#+(1+-+1-5(#2 PPG TES- SPECIA- INTA:E 1EB3;A3< 2+1$ / SE4ESTE3 $
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Introduction

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T=E IN/IANS IN 4A-A<SIA

T e Indian >and Ara0? trader) and !erc ant) fir)t ca!e ere !ore t an 5++ "ear) a'o and e2en 0rou' t I)%a! to t i) countr". But t e @ot erA Indian)5 t e 7or*er)5 ca!e at a0out t e ti!e t at <a. A -o" and 3aBa A0du%%a 7ere turnin' :ua%a -u!.ur into a t ri2in' !etro.o%i). So5 in t e !id-1#++)5 t e Briti) 0rou' t t e ne7 une!.%o"ed Ce"%one)e cocoa 7or*er) to t i) countr" to 7or* t e 4a%a"an cocoa .%antation). Since 4a%a"a ad to c%o)e do7n a%% it) cocoa .%antation) and it no7 ad id%e .%antation %and and )ur.%u) Ce"%one)e 7or*er)5 t e Briti) .%anter) decided to )7itc o2er to ru00er. And 0ecau)e t e Briti) too* ad2anta'e of re)earc and tec no%o'"5 t e 4a%a"an ru00er tree) 7ere !ore .roducti2e and .rofita0%e. E2entua%%"5 4a%a"a di)%od'ed BraCi% a) t e to. ru00er .roducer in t e 7or%d.
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So5 fro! t e !id-1#++) to around 1(2+5 Indian) and C ine)e ca!e to 4a%a"a in 'reat nu!0er). T i) 7a) !ore or %e)) t e )econd 7a2e of !a)) !i'ration. And it 7a) for econo!ic rea)on) and to .ro2ide t e %a0our for Bo0) t at t e 4a%a") 7ou%d ne2er do. But t ere 7ere ear%ier and ot er !i'ration) a) 7e%%.

On t e co!!ercia% )ide5 t ere 7ere !an" Indian 0u)ine))e) and 7or*er).So t e Indian) fro! t e C ettiar co!!unit" ca!e ere to )et u. !one"-%endin' 0u)ine))e) to )er2ice t eir co!!unit". & en t e 4a%a"an rai% net7or* 7a) 0ein' de2e%o.ed5 7 ere e%)e to 'et t e 7or*er) if not fro! t e countr" 7it t e %ar'e)t rai%7a" in t e 7or%d5 India. 3i' t fro! 0irt to deat 5 Indian) in 4a%a")ia *ee. on .erfor!in' 2ariou) cu)to!) and tradition). A%!o)t e2er" occa)ion )uc a) 0irt 5 en'a'e!ent5 !arria'e5 deat and )o onD a) a cere!on" attac ed to it.

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Birth Ceremony
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T e Indian Cu)to!) /urin' Birt /urin' .re'nanc" Ea%ai*aa..u cu)to! i) cu)to! !ade 7 en content e%de)t .re'nant 7o!en reac t e a'e of )e2en to nine !ont ). Pre'nant 7o!en 7i%% 0e a..%ied a!orou) ne7 0race%et *no7n a) Suu%*aa..u . SuFu% !ean) F 7o!0 and :aa..u a%)o !ean) F .rotection F . T e 0race%et i) 7orn intended to .rotect t e fetu) fro! difficu%tie) durin' c i%d0irt . Ea%ai*aa..u cu)to! e%d on t e da" and a 'ood ti!e accordin' to t e Indian ca%endar . T i) cere!on" 7i%% 0e e%d at u)0andA) o!e or i) .arent)A o!e and acco!.anied 0" 7o!en 7 o a2e 0een !arried and a2e a )on ca%%ed cu!an''a%i . Brace%et 7 ic 7a) a..%ied in t i) ritua% con)i)t) of )e2era% t".e) of '%a)) 0an'%e) 5 and 'o%d a%%o") accordin' to t eir a0i%it" . Once t e c i%d i) 0orn 5 t e 'o%d 0race%et Be7e%r" 7i%% 0e !e%ted do7n to 0e !ade for t e 0a0" and 7i%% 0e u)ed durin' t e na!in' cere!on". At 0irt T e ti!e of 0irt i) i!.ortant for t e Indian co!!unit" in 7 ic it 7i%% 0e recorded accurate%" to deter!ine t e 0a0"A) )tar accordin' to t e =indu a%!anac . T e )tar 7i%% deter!ine t e !enta%5 . ")ica% and ).iritua% fro! infanc" to adu%t ood. Once t e 0a0" i) 0orn5 !on*) or an"one
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*no7%ed'ea0%e a0out =indui)! 7i%% 7 i).er 4antira! Ga"atri !antra 7 ic i) a God in "our 0a0"F) ear 0efore t e u!0i%ica% cord cut. =o7e2er5 t i) cu)to! tai%ored Bu)t once t e 0a0" 0ecau)e !odern !edicine doe) not a%%o7 an"one to enter t e de%i2er" roo! . God 7 i).er) in t e ear) of 0a0" i) to a%%o7 t e 0a0"F) earin' t e na!e of God 0efore earin' an" ot er . It ai!) to 0rin' 0%e))in') to t e 0a0". T e .roce)) of cuttin' t e u!0i%ica% cord and 0ur"in' t e .%acenta to'et er around t e o!e 7it )o!e !one" 5 tur!eric .o7der 5 )a%t and nut). T e)e !ateria%) are .ut to'et er to a2oid 0ein' 'ou'ed 0" 7i%d ani!a%) and are not u)ed 0" !a'ician). Ne70orn) 7i%% a%)o 0e a..%ied to one" !i6ed ' ee on i) ton'ue . In addition to one" 5 )u'ar 7ater can a%)o 0e u)ed . Sa22ennai oi% 7 ic i) a !i6ture of )e)a!e oi% and tainted a%)o )o!eti!e) u)ed. T i) oi% i) 0e%ie2ed to 0rin' 0eaut" and )o t e 0a0" 7ou%d not 0e attac*ed 0" an" di)ea)e. =one" i) )aid 0e a0%e to )often t e 0a0"F) ton'ue and ea)e 0a0" ).ea*in' )*i%%. A dro. of )e)a!e oi% !i6ed 7it a %itt%e 0rea)t !i%* into t e 0a0"F) !out and ru00ed into rou' a'e 7i%% act in t e di'e)ti2e )")te! and e%.) t e 'ro7t of t e 0a0". After 0irt Ba0ie) 0orn at t e o).ita% 7i%% 0e 0rou' t 0ac* to t e ou)e on t e t ird5 fift 5 )e2ent or odd nu!0er) of da") . Before t e 0a0" i) 0rou' t into t e ou)e aa%ati cere!on" i) .erfor!ed. It ai!) to a2oid t e .%a'ue or an" natura% di)a)ter occur). 1or aa%ati cere!on"5 t e tra" containin' tur!eric
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.o7der 5 di%uted 7 itin' 5 c arcoa% 5 0ete% and ca!. or %it %ifted and rotated t ree ti!e) c%oc*7i)e and counterc%oc*7i)e. T e tra" 7i%% a%)o 7a2ed t ree ti!e). Ne6t t e cu!an''a%i di..ed i) t u!0 into t e tra" and ru0 to t e !ot er and c i%d)A fore ead. After t at t e !ot er and c i%d 'o into t e ou)e. & en t e 0a0" and t e !ot er returned o!e5 t e" 7i%% 0e )e.arated fro! ot er fa!i%" !e!0er) in a roo! t at i) a%7a") *e.t c%ean . 1or t e fir)t t7o 7ee*)5 t e out)ide i) for0idden to 2i)it t e! e6ce.t for !edica% .ur.o)e) . If t e )ur'ica% .roce)) of c i%d0irt 5 !aternit" ne7 !o! i) not a%%o7ed to ) o7er for t7o 7ee*) on !edica% 'round) due to .oor . ")ica% ca.ita% for o.eration and effect of t e 0irt . 1or nor!a% 0irt !ot er 5 t e !ot er 7ou%d 0at e e2er" ot er da" after de%i2er". So!e er0) and %ea2e) a) aadatoodai 0oi%ed 7it 7ater . T e 7ater i) u)ed for 0at in'. Parent) 7i%% dried air i!!ediate%" 7it incen)e )!o*e to a2oid eadac e) 5 co%d) and a%)o to refre) "our 0od" after c i%d0irt . Ba0ie) are u)ua%%" 0at ed in t e e2enin' 0" a 7o!an 7it e6.erience . T i) 0at i) done 7it 7ar! 7ater5 )o!eti!e) !i6ed 7it er0a% in'redient) . It ai!) to .re2ent e.i%e.)" or "e%%o7i) di)ea)e.

4i%* i) a%)o u)ed a) t e !ain in'redient to )often 0a0"F) )*in. & en t e 0a0" 0at ed5 )%o7 )e8uence !o2e!ent) are .erfor!ed on t e 0od" of t e 0a0" and t at t e 0a0"F) ).ine doe) not 0end . 1or t e .ur.o)e of 0eaut" 5 no)e 5 e"e0ro7) and ear) 7ere !a))a'ed . So!e !ateria%) )uc a) tur!eric .o7der 5 )e)a!e oi% 5 .ounded 'reen 0ean) are u)ed a) 0a0" 0od" c%ean)er de)i'ned to .re2ent )*in di)ea)e) and )!oot 0a0" )*in . /one 0at ed5 0a0" 7i%% 0e %ifted 0ot %e') u. 7 i%e
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.attin' t e 0uttoc*) to .roduce ).utu! . Once t e 0a0" i) )!o*ed 7it incen)e )!o*e 5 and .ainted 7it .o7der !ade fro! rice f%our t at i) not contracted a ra) . 1ina%%"5 t e"Fre 7ra..ed in a c%ot 0a0" 7i%% ai! to )trai' ten %i!0 0a0" 0od". On t e )i6teen da"5 c ri)tenin' done. It i) done 0" in)ertin' 0a0" into t e crad%e and o.erated 0" t e o%de)t fa!i%" !e!0er) 7 o *no7 a0out re%i'ion and !atter) re%atin' to t e 'od) . Cere!on" 0e'an 7it a .ra"er a) a )i'n of 'ratitude. T ere are a%)o ritua% 7or) i.) Godde) :aatteeri Pecci"a!!an done 0" t e %eader of Indian )ociet" . 3itua% .erfor!ed 0" c%eanin' and .uttin' u. oi% %a!.) around t e ou)e . Pre)entation !ateria%) are a%)o a2ai%a0%e a) en curr"5 0oi%ed e'')5 dried fi) and )o on . T en 7 en e2er"t in') are read"5 t e 0a0" i) .ut in t e crad%e5 and i) na!e i) announced to t e cro7d . 3e%ati2e) 7i%% .re)ent 2ariou) 'ift) and t e cere!onie) conc%uded 7it a 0an8uet and .ra" .ra"er) for t e 0a0". Se%ected na!e) 0a)ed on t e a%!anac nor!a%%" 0" fo%%o7in' t e 0a0"F) 0irt date . T e na!e) of .ro!inent i)torian) 5 and t e ance)tor) a))ociated 7it t e =indu re%i'ion i) a%)o )e%ected for t e 0a0" 0ecau)e t e na!e )e%ected 7i%% affect t e c aracter %ater. Soon after t e 0irt of a c i%d5 a cere!on" for na!in' t e c i%d ta*e) .%ace. A .rie)t te%%) t e fir)t a%. a0et fro! 7 ic t e na!e of t e c i%d ) ou%d )tart. T e 0irt of a c i%d in a fa!i%" i) an occa)ion t at 0rin') Bo" and a..ine)) to e2er"one a))ociated 7it t e fa!i%". T e fir)t t in' t at co!e) to !ind after t e 0irt of a c i%d i) c oo)in' an a.t na!e for i!/ er. T i) na!e 7ou%d 'i2e a uni8ue
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identit" to t e 0a0" and 7i%% )ta" fore2er. Na!in' a 0a0" i) con)idered to 0e )acred and t erefore i) an i!.ortant Indian tradition. It in2o%2e) t e i!!ediate fa!i%ie) and a%)o c%o)e re%ati2e) and friend). Traditiona%%" *no7n a) Na!*aran or Na!a*aran San)*ar5 t i) cere!on" i) conducted in an e%a0orate for!. T e Na!a*aran San)*ar i) u)ua%%" e%d after t e fir)t 1+ da") of a 0a0"F) de%i2er". T e)e 1+ .o)t-nata% da") are con)idered to 0e inau).iciou) a) t e !ot er and c i%d are con)idered to 0e i!.ure. After t o)e 1+ da")5 t e ou)e i) c%eaned and )anctified for t e cere!on". T e !ot er and c i%d are 0at ed traditiona%%" and are .re.ared for t e cere!on". 3e%ati2e) and c%o)e friend) are in2ited to 0e a .art of t i) )acred occa)ion and 0%e)) t e c i%d. Prie)t) are ca%%ed and an e%a0orate ritua% ta*e) .%ace. T e .eo.%e in2o%2ed in t e 0a0" na!in' cere!on" are t e .arent) of t e ne7 0orn5 t e .aterna% and !aterna% 'rand.arent) and fe7 c%o)e re%ati2e) and friend). T e c i%d i) dre))ed in ne7 c%ot e) and t e !ot er 7et) t e ead of t e 0a0" 7it a 0it of 7ater a) a )"!0o% of .urif"in' t e c i%d. T e 0a0" i) t en anded o2er to t e .aterna% 'rand!ot er or t e fat er 7 o )it) near t e .rie)t durin' t e ritua%. T e )acred fire i) %it and t e .rie)t c ant) )acred "!n) to in2o*e t e God) in t e ea2en to 0%e)) t e c i%d. Accordin' to t e date and ti!e of 0irt of t e c i%d5 a .articu%ar a%. a0et i) c o)en 7 ic 7ou%d .ro2e %uc*" for t e 0a0". T e 0a0" i) t en 'i2en a na!e )tartin' 7it t at a%. a0et. ;)ua%%" t e fat er 7 i).er) t e na!e four ti!e) in t e ri' t ear of t e 0a0". T e 0a0" recei2e) 0%e))in') fro! a%%5 inc%udin' t e .rie)t). An e%a0orate fea)t i) or'aniCed for t e .rie)t) and t e 'ue)t)5 a) a c%o)in' e2ent of t e cere!on".
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Na!*aran i) one of t e !o)t i!.ortant of t e 1, =indu F)a!)*ara)For ritua%). In t e Eedic traditiona%5 FNa!*aranF >San)*rit Fna!F G na!eD F*aranF G create? i) t e for!a% na!in' cere!on" .erfor!ed to )e%ect a ne70ornF) na!e u)in' traditiona% !et od) and a)tro%o'ica% ru%e) of na!in'. T i) i) 'enera%%" a a.." ritua% - 7it t e ten)ion) of c i%d0irt no7 o2er5 t e fa!i%" co!e) to'et er to ce%e0rate t e 0irt of t e c i%d 7it t i) cere!on". Na!*aran i) a%)o ca%%ed FPa%anaro anF in )o!e tradition)5 7 ic refer) to .uttin' a c i%d into t e crad%e >San)*rit F.a%anaF G crad%eD Faro anF G on0oard?. & en i) Na!*aran =e%dH Traditiona%%"5 t e Na!*aran cere!on" i) conducted after t e FIata*ar!aF )a!)*ara5 7 ic i) .erfor!ed at t e ti!e of t e 0irt of t e c i%d. No7ada")5 7it !ore and !ore 0irt ) ta*in' .%ace in t e o).ita%5 t i) ritua% a) 0eco!e a .art of t e Na!*aran cere!on"5 7 ic i) .erfor!ed 7it in a fe7 7ee*) of t e 0a0"F) 0irt . Strict%" ).ea*in'5 t e na!in' cere!on" ) ou%d 0e e%d 11 da") after 0irt -i!!ediate%" .recedin' t e FSuti*aF or FS udd i*aranF .eriod 7 en t e !ot er and c i%d are confined to inten)i2e .o)t-.artu! or .o)t-nata% care. =o7e2er5 t e 11t da" i) not fi6ed and can 0e decided 0" t e .arent) 0a)ed on a .rie)t or an a)tro%o'er) ad2ice5 and can e6tend e2en u. to t e 0a0"F) fir)t 0irt da".

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=o7 i) t e Na!*aran 3itua% Perfor!ed in =indu TraditionH T e !ot er and fat er )tart t e ritua% 7it .rana"a!a5 .ra"er) and !antra c antin' in .re)ence of t e fa!i%" .rie)t. In a0)ence of t e fat er5 t e 'randfat er or unc%e can .erfor! t e ritua%. T e .rie)t .erfor!) t e ritua% 7it .ra"er) to t e God)5 A'ni5 t e 'od of fire5 t e e%e!ent)5 and t e ).irit) of t e ance)tor). 3ice 'rain) are ).read on a 0ronCe Ft a%iF or di) and t e fat er 7rite) t e c o)en na!e on it u)in' a 'o%d )tic* 7 i%e c antin' t e GodF) na!e. T en e 7 i).er) t e na!e into t e c i%dF) ri' t ear5 re.eatin' it four ti!e) a%on' 7it a .ra"er. A%% ot er) .re)ent no7 re.eat) a fe7 7ord) after t e .rie)t to for!a%%" acce.t t e na!e. T i) i) fo%%o7ed 0" t e 0%e))in') of t e e%der) a%on' 7it 'ift) and end) 7it a fea)t 7it fa!i%" and friend). ;)ua%%"5 t e fa!i%" a)tro%o'er a%)o .re)ent) t e c i%dF) oro)co.e at t i) cere!on". =o7 i) t e =indu Ba0"F) Na!e Se%ectedH =indu fa!i%ie) count on Eedic a)tro%o'" to arri2e at t e na!e of a c i%d. T e initia% %etter i) con)idered 2er" au).iciou) and i) decided accordin' to t e FIana! Na*) atraF or 0irt )tar of t e c i%d5 t e .o)ition of .%anet) at t e ti!e and date of 0irt 5 and t e !oon )i'n. So!eti!e) a na!e i) )e%ected 0a)ed on t e na!e of t e deit" t e !ont 5 or e2en a dead ance)tor. In )u!5 t ere are 5 'enera% .rinci.%e) of na!in'J Na*) atrana! >0" %unar a)teri)!?D 4a)ana!>accordin' to !ont of 0irt ?D /e2atana!a >after t e fa!i%" deit"?D 3a) ina!a >accordin' to 9odiac )i'n?D

and Sa!)ari*ana!a >t e 7or%d%" na!e?5 a) an e6ce.tion to a%% t e a0o2e. It i) traditiona%%" 0e%ie2ed
16 | P a g e

t at a 0o"F) na!e ) ou%d a2e %etter) in e2en nu!0er) >25 45 ,5 #? and a 'ir%) ) ou%d con)i)t of odd nu!0ered %etter) >$5 55 75 (?5 11 0ein' t e 0e)t for 0ot 'ender). T e fo%%o7in' .a'e %i)t) t e fir)t %etter) of na!e) 0a)ed on t e c i%dF) 0irt )tar or Na*) atra. =indu) 0e%ie2e in )e%ectin' a c i%dA) na!e 0a)ed on i) or er @Na*) atraA or 0irt )tar a) ca%cu%ated 0" a Eedic a)tro%o'er durin' t e Na!*aran or na!in' cere!on". In a0)ence of a fa!i%" a)tro%o'er5 "ou can re%" on a)tro%o'" )ite) to a)certain t e Na*) atra 0a)ed on t e c i%dA) 0irt date5 ti!e5 and .%ace. If "ou *no7 t e 0irt )tar5 "ou can u)e t e fo%%o7in' ta0%e to arri2e at t e fir)t %etter) of "our 0a0"F) na!e a) reco!!ended 0" Eedic a)tro%o'er) and )e%ect a na!e 0" referrin' to t i) Ba0" Na!e 1inder.

Na!in' a Ba0" Accordin' to Birt Star >Na*) atra?

Ba0"F) Birt Star >Na*) atra? 1 A)7ini > ? 1ir)t -etter of Ba0"F) Na!e C u >? 5 C e >?5 C o >?5 -a >?

2 B arani >?

-ee >?5 -u >?5 -e >?5 -o >?

$ :riti*a >?

A >?5 E >?5 ; >?5 Ea >?

4 3o ini >?

O >?5 Ea >?5 Ei >?5 Eu >?

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5 4ri'a) ira >?

&e >?5 &o >?5 :a >?5 :i >?

, Aard ra > ?

:u >?5 G a >?5 In' >?5 I a >?

7 Punar2a)u > ?

:e >?5 :o >?5 =a >?5 =i >?

# Pu) "a!i > ?

=u >?5 =e >?5 =o >?5 /a >?

( A) %e) a > ?

/e >?5 /u >?5 /e >?5 /o >?

1+ 4a' a/4a* a > ?

4a >?5 4e >?5 4u >?5 4e >?

11 Poor2a P a%'uni > ?

4o >?5 Ta >?5 Ti >?5 Tu >?

12 ;ttara. a%'uni > ?

Te >?5 To >?5 Pa >?5 Pe >?

1$ =a)ta > ?

Pu >?5 S a >?5 Na >?5 Te a >?

14 C itra > ?

Pe >?5 Po >?5 3a >?5 3e >?

15 S7aati > ?

3u >?5 3e >?5 3o >?5 Taa >?

1, Ei) aa* a > ?

Tee >?5 Tue >?5 Teaa >?5 Too >?

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17 Anuraad a > ?

Na >?5 Ne >?5 Nu >?5 Ne >?

1# I"e) t a > ?

No >?5 <a >? <i >?5 ;u >?

1( 4oo%a > ?

<e >?5 <o >?5 Ba >?5 Be >?

2+ Poor2a) aada > ?

Bu >?5 / a >?5 Ea >? Eaa >?

21 ;ttara) aada > ?

Be >?5 Bo >?5 Ia >?5 Ii >?

22 S ra2an > ?

Iu >?5 Ie >?5 Io >?5 S a >?

2$ / ani) ta > ?

Ga >?5 Gi >?5 Gu >?5 Ge >?

24 S ata0 i) a > ?

Go >?5 Sa >?5 Si >?5 Su >?

25 Poor2a0 adra > ?

Se >?5 So >?5 /a >?5 /i >?

2, ;ttara0 adra > ?

/u >?5 T a >?5 I a >?5 Ina >?

27 3e2ati > ?

/e >?5 /o >?5 C a >?5 C i >?

19 | P a g e

4undan Cere!on" T ere are !an" traditiona% ritua%) t at )urround t e 0irt of c i%d in a t".ica% Indian fa!i%". T e)e tradition) and ritua%) ai! at 0%e))in' t e c i%d to a2e a %on' fu%fi%%in' %ife. One of t e)e )acred cere!onie) i) *no7n a) 4undan San)*ar or t e fir)t aircut of t e 0a0". T e !undan cere!on" i) an i!.ortant tradition for India and re%ati2e) and friend) are in2ited to 0%e)) t e c i%d. T i) fir)t aircut of a c i%d a) an i!.ortant )i'nificance5 7 ic i) di)cu))ed in t e fo%%o7in' %ine). T e c i%d u)ua%%" recei2e) i)/ er fir)t !undan in eit er t e fir)t "ear or t e t ird "ear of a'e. A .rie)t i) ca%%ed to conduct t e ritua%) accordin' to t e tradition) and a 0ar0er i) ca%%ed to ) a2e off t e air. T e .rie)t recited )acred "!n) and c ant) and ) a2e) a .art of t e
20 | P a g e

ead. T e 0ar0er t en ) a2e) t e entire ead5 )o!eti!e) %ea2in' a c%u!. of air at t e 0ac* of t e ead. So!e of t i) air i) offered in t e )acred ri2er) in o%" citie) %i*e =arid7ar and Earana)i. To coo% do7n t e ead and to cure nic*) and cut)5 a .a)te of tur!eric and )anda%7ood i) )o!eti!e) a..%ied on t e entire ead. T ereafter5 a c i%d !a" 0e ) a2ed no7 and t en or ne2er5 de.endin' on t e de)ire of t at .articu%ar fa!i%". T ere i) a )i'nificant rea)on a) to 7 " t e ead i) ) a2ed in )uc an e%a0orate ritua%i)tic 7a". Accordin' to t e =indu 0e%ief)5 t e air .re)ent at 0irt i) )u..o)ed to re.re)ent un7anted trait) fro! t e .a)t %i2e). In order to !a*e )ure t at t e c i%d a) no unde)ira0%e 8ua%itie) of t e .a)t 0irt in t i) %ife5 t e ead i) ) a2ed off to en)ure a ne7 0e'innin' and a fre) )tart. 4edica%%"5 it i) )aid t at ) a2in' off t e air )ti!u%ate) t e ce%%) and i!.ro2e) 0%ood circu%ation to t e 0rain. So!e a%)o 0e%ie2e t at t i) 'i2e) t e c i%d a %on' %ife T e Crad%e of Indian fea)t T e cere!on" 7a) e%d on t e da" of 0irt to )i6teen. T e e2ent 7i%% 0e e%d at t e fa!i%" o!e of t e 0ride.

21 | P a g e

On t at da"5 a ne70orn 0a0" 7i%% 0e 0at ed 7it t ree different t".e) of oi% Coconut Oi%5 1ue% Oi% and -en'a /i)tance. After t e 0a0" i) 0at ed5 .ra"er) 7i%% 0e e%d. T en5 t e o%d !an of t e fa!i%" of nine 'ir%) 7i%% 0e 7earin' a 0%ac* 0race%et and FEa)a!0uF on 0a0" and). T e ai! i) to .re2ent t e 0a0" fro! 2o!itin' accordin' to ance)tra% 0e%ief) Indian). Brace%et) 7i%% 0e re!o2ed one 0" one at a ti!e unti% e6 au)ted.

After t at5 t e o%d K7o!anL in t e fa!i%" 7i%% 0e t e na!e of t e 0a0" t ree ti!e) in t e 0a0"F) ear.

22 | P a g e

Traditional Welcome

23 | P a g e

Indian) 0e%ie2e in t e . ra)e MAtit i /e2o B a2aM5 !eanin' a 'ue)t i) t e ref%ection of God. In t e traditiona% 7e%co!e5 t e 'ue)t i) 'ar%anded and a ti**a >2er!i%%ion? i) .ut on i)/ er fore ead. E2en t e Touri)! 4ini)tr" of India a) %aunc ed t e FAtit i /e2o B a2aF ca!.ai'n to !a*e .eo.%e a7are of IndiaF) ric cu%ture and tradition).

ATIT=I /EEO B=AEA i) a San)*rit . ra)e 7 ic !ean) NGue)t i) di2ineO P PA=;NC=A3 !ean) N o).ita%it"Oin !arat i. &e Indian) 0e%on' to a tradition 7 ere 'ue)t) are treated 7it t e )a!e de2otion5 %o2e P re).ect 7e )et a)ide for GodQ It i) not unu)ua% or )ur.ri)in' 7 en .eo.%e dro. in Bu)t %i*e t at 7it out an" notice or Bu)t )ta" 0ac* for %unc /dinnerP fu%% !ea% i) .re.ared 7it in !inute) for t e!.

24 | P a g e

Wedding Ceremony

Arran'ed 4arria'e
25 | P a g e

T e traditiona% arran'ed !arria'e a) %on' 0een an inte'ra% .art of t e Indian cu%ture. A) a'ain)t %o2e !arria'e5 it i) t e conce.t in 7 ic t e .arent) and fa!i%" !e!0er) )earc for t e

.ro).ecti2e 0ride or t e 'roo!5 t rou' t eir ac8uaintance) or ad2erti)e!ent) in ne7).a.er) and !arria'e .orta%). In t e ear%ier ti!e)5 7it e2er"t in' 0ein' fi6ed 0" fa!i%" !e!0er)5 t e 0ride and 'roo! u)ed to 0e .ractica%%" c%ue%e)) a0out t e .er)on t e" 7ere !arr"in'. Toda" t e arran'ed !arria'e )")te! of India a) 0eco!e !ore f%e6i0%e. Ta*in' t e con)ent of t e 0o" and t e 'ir% 0efore !arria'e i) i!.ortant no7. T e" !eet eac ot er 0efore !arria'e5 'au'e t eir co!.ati0i%it" P if e2er"t in' fit)5 t e" 'et en'a'ed. T e duration 0et7een !arria'e and en'a'e!ent !a" 2ar" fro! fifteen da") to o2er a "ear. /urin' t i) .eriod5 a %ot of acti2itie) ta*e .%ace in t e 0rideF) a) 7e%% a) t e 'roo!F) fa!i%ie). It i) a%)o durin' t i) ti!e on%" t at !eetin')5 cere!onie) and con)tant contact o2er t e . one e%. t e 0ride and t e 'roo!to-0e to *no7 and under)tand eac ot er 0etter. Genera%%"5 t ere are )e2era% factor) %i*e co!.ati0i%it" of t e to-0e-cou.%e)F oro)co.e)5 fa!i%" 0ac*'round5 7ea%t 5 )ocia% )tandin'5 ca)te and )o on5 7 ic are ta*en into con)ideration 0" t e .arent) of 0ot )ide) under arran'ed !arria'e). T e in)titution of !arria'e i) con)idered 2er" )acred in t e Indian )u0continent. So5 t e .arent) t in* t at )ince t e" are o%der and t u)5 7i)er5 t e" can ta*e 0etter deci)ion) in co!.ari)on to t eir .ro'en". T ou' t i) )")te! of !arria'e i) on t e dec%ine in ur0an India5 itF) )ti%% )tron' in t e rura% re'ion).

26 | P a g e

T e )trict ad erence to t e =indu cu)to!) i) 7 at co!.e%) Indian) to 'o t rou' )uc a %en't " .roce)) for fi6in' u. a !arria'e. 4arria'e in t e Indian )ociet" i) con)idered )o au).iciou) t at not Bu)t t e da"5 0ut a%)o t e ti!e of t e !arria'e i) fi6ed a) .er t e a)tro%o'ica% c art) of 0ot t e 0ride and t e 'roo!. In =indu)5 t e !arria'e cere!on" ta*e) .%ace durin' t e ni' t and )tretc e) o2er a..ro6i!ate%" fi2e-)i6 our). A .rie)t i) )u!!oned to .re)ide o2er t e !arria'e5 7 ic i) attended 0" t e a%% t e fa!i%" !e!0er)5 re%ati2e) and friend). T ere i) a %ot of fe)ti2it" and !err" !a*in' 0efore and after t e !arria'e i) fi6ed. E%a0orate trou))eau5 Be7e%%er" and 'ift ) o..in' i) done 0" t e fa!i%ie) of 0ot t e 0ride and t e 'roo!. T e 7eddin' i) .erfor!ed a) .er t e ru%e) )ti.u%ated 0" t e Eedic rite) and ritua%). T e 'roo! .%ed'e) to fu%fi%% t e 0rideF) )!a%%e)t of )!a%% de)ire)5 to t e 0e)t of i) a0i%it". Bot of t e! .ro!i)e to 0e fait fu% to eac ot er. S e5 in turn5 i) to treat i! a) er %ord and !a)ter5 er 'uide and ad2i)or and 0e 7it 0ad5 for t e re)t of er %ife. &eddin') are conducted in India 7it 'reat fanfare5 fo%%o7in' 2ariou) cu)to!) and ritua%). T e 7eddin' i) not a )in'%e da" affair in IndiaD rat er5 t e function) carr" on for $ - 4 or e2en !ore da"). i!5 t rou' 'ood and

27 | P a g e

Sindoor Traditiona% aut entic :u!*u! of India i) !ade 0" 'rindin' t e dried tur!eric to a .o7der. A fe7 dro.) of %i!e are t en added to t i) "e%%o7 .o7der5 7 ic c an'e) it) ue to a 0ri' t red. :u!*u! i) con)idered to 0e 2er" au).iciou) 0" Indian) and t u)5 u)ed for 2ariou) .ur.o)e) on ).ecia% occa)ion) %i*e 7eddin' and fe)ti2a%). Peo.%e5 o7e2er5 u)e 0ot red and t e ori'ina% "e%%o7 .o7der) de.endin' u.on 7 at t e" need t e :u!*u! for. :u!*u! o%d) a 'reat de'ree of )i'nificance in India5 e).ecia%%" for !arried 7o!en. & en an Indian 7o!an 7ear) a %itt%e red :u!*u! in t e .artin' of er air Bu)t a0o2e t e fore ead5 it con2e") t e !eanin' t at ) e i) !arried. In t i) ca)e5 t e Indian 2er!i%%ion or *u!*u! i) referred to a) Sindoor or Sindur. & ene2er a fe!a%e 2i)it) )o!eoneF) ou)e5 it i) cu)to!ar" for t e e%der %adie) of t at fa!i%" to offer or a..%" a %itt%e *u!*u! on er fore ead. In )out India5 7 ene2er !arried 7o!en 2i)it te!.%e) t e" di. t eir fin'er in "e%%o7 tur!eric .o7der and a..%" a dot on t eir nec*). Sindoor i) not Bu)t u)ed 0" t e 7o!enfo%* of India. E2en !en5 0o")5 'ir%) and %itt%e c i%dren a..%" a dot of t i) .o7der on t eir fore ead 7 en t e" 2i)it a te!.%e or attend )o!e re%i'iou) function. =o7e2er5 for !arried Indian 7o!an5 itF) i) a%!o)t co!.u%)or" to a..%" :u!*u! in t e

28 | P a g e

.artin' of t eir air e2er"da". A) .er =indu cu)to!)5 ) e i) )u..o)ed to cea)e 7earin' Sindur on%" after t e de!i)e of er u)0and. In ear%ier ti!e)5 7o!en .referred to .re.are :u!*u! at o!e. No75 !o)t of t e! 0u" t e read"!ade Sindur fro! t e !ar*et. A traditiona% co!.onent of t e )indoor i) .o7dered red %ead and ot er in'redient) are a%u! and tur!eric. Anot er cu)to! fo%%o7ed 0" !arried =indu %adie) of t e countr" i) to 7ear a 0indi on t eir fore ead. At ti!e) 7o!en a..%" a *u!*u! dot in)tead of t e 0indi. Indian 7eddin') are 2er" 0ri' t e2ent)5 fi%%ed 7it ritua% and ce%e0ration t at continue for )e2era% da"). T e" are not )!a%% affair)5 often 7it 4++-1+++ .eo.%e attendin' >!an" of 7 o! are un*no7n to t e 0ride and 'roo!?. T ou' !o)t !arria'e) are arran'ed5 )o!e cou.%e) in ur0an area) a2e %o2e !arria'e). T e true Indian 7eddin' i) a0out t7o fa!i%ie) 'ettin' 7edded )ocia%%" 7it !uc %e)) e!. a)i) on t e indi2idua%) in2o%2ed.

29 | P a g e

Before t e 7eddin' da"J Bari*) a>!eri)i*? Bari*) a >Ear-i*) a .ro0a0%"? i) 7 en t e 0rideF) .arent) a2e infor!a%%" ) o7n intention) t at t e" 7ant a .articu%ar 'roo!5 and t e 'roo! and i) fa!i%" a2e a'reed. In t i) )ta'e5 )e2era% a).ect) need to 0e con)idered factor) )uc a) et nicit"5 )u0-et nic5 ca)te and re%i'ion. In addition5 ot er factor) )uc a) econo!ic )tatu) and )ocia% )tatu) inc%ude a).ect) )uc a) a'e5 education %e2e%5 t".e of 7or*5 et ic) and !ora%it"5 %oo*) and fa!i%" 0ac*'round i) a%)o i!.ortant. Often t e infor!ation 7a) o0tained direct%" fro! t e .artie) in2o%2ed and a%)o indirect%" t rou' friend) and re%ati2e). So!eti!e) t e !idd%e ca%%ed tiru!ana tara'aa*an a))i)t in t i) )ta'e. 3etractin' at t e end of t i) )ta'e i) fro7ned u.on 0ut i) acce.ta0%e. One of t e 2a)t 7a") t at India i) different fro! t e 7e)tern 7or%d i) in t e cu)to! of arran'ed !arria'e).

30 | P a g e

Prior to 'oin' to India a) a cu%tura% re)earc er5 I ad a .rett" !aBor !i)under)tandin' of t e to.ic of arran'ed !arria'e) and in fact ad a fair%" ne'ati2e attitude re'ardin' arran'ed !arria'e). =o7e2er5 one of t e !o)t i!.ortant a).ect) of cu%tura% re)earc i) .uttin' a)ide "our o7n 0e%ief)5 o.inion)5 and .reconcei2ed idea) in order to )ee !ore c%ear%". T".ica%%"5 t e 0urden for t e arran'e!ent of t e !arria'e i) on t e .arent). It i) t e fat erF) re).on)i0i%it" to c oo)e and !a*e t e arran'e!ent) for a u)0and for i) dau' ter. T i) .re)ent) a 'reat dea% of .re))ure for t e fat er5 and a 'reat dea% of ) a!e if e a) not arran'ed a !arria'e for i) dau' ter 0" a .articu%ar a'e. >T e o.ti!a% a'e de.end) on 2ariou) factor) )uc a) ca)te5 education %e2e%5 etc.? It !i' t )ee! %i*e an ea)" !atter for a fat er to arran'e t e !arria'e5 0ut a %ot of factor) !u)t 0e con)idered. 1or in)tance5 'enera%%" ).ea*in'5 !arr"in' out)ide of oneF) o7n ca)te i) fro7ned u.on5 )o t at %i!it) t e nu!0er of c oice). A%)o5 )ince t e !aBorit" of Indian) are =indu5 and =induF) 0e%ie2e )tron'%" in a)tro%o'"5 t e .er).ecti2e cou.%eF) oro)co.e) !u)t 0e ana%"Ced and M)uita0%" !atc edM or t e !arria'e cannot ta*e .%ace. Additiona%%"5 t e fat er 7i%% 7ant to !a*e )ure t at i) dau' ter i) !arr"in' into a 'ood fa!i%"5 )o a %ot of in2e)ti'ation need) to a..en 0efore t e arran'e!ent) are !ade. T e entire i))ue of arran'in' a !arria'e i) one of t e 0i''e)t re).on)i0i%itie) Indian .arent) face. 4o)t Indian) fro7n u.on 7 at t e" refer to a) M%o2e !arria'e).M -o2e !arria'e) do ta*e .%ace in India5 0ut often 7it out t e )u..ort of friend) or fa!i%". And in fact5 !an" .eo.%e in India fee% t at %o2e !arria'e) are doo!ed to fai%ure. T eir attitude i) not 0a)ed

31 | P a g e

.ure%" on .reBudice re'ardin' %o2e !arria'e)5 0ut in fact i) 0a)ed on a i' er di2orce rate of t o)e 7 o)e !arria'e) 7ere not arran'ed 0" t e .arent).

In !an" Indian =indu fa!i%ie) toda"5 tradition) and cu)to!) )ti%% .%a" an i!.ortant ro%e in %ife. Indian 7eddin')5 for in)tance5 con)i)t of !an" traditiona% cu)to!) and cere!onie) 7 ic t e 0ride and 0ride'roo! and t eir fa!i%ie) a2e to 'o t rou' 0efore and on t e actua% 7eddin' da".

4eri)i* In t e )." )ta'e5 )e2era% a).ect) need to 0e addre))ed )uc a) et nicit"5 )u0-et nic5 ca)te and re%i'ion. In addition5 ot er factor) )uc a) econo!ic )tatu) and )ocia% )tatu) inc%ude a).ect) )uc a) a'e5 education %e2e%5 t".e of e!.%o"!ent5 et ic) and !ora%it"5 a..earance and fa!i%" 0ac*'round are a%)o ta*en into account. Often t i) infor!ation i) deri2ed direct%" fro! t e .artie) in2o%2ed and a%)o indirect%" t rou' friend) and re%ati2e). T ere are ti!e) 7 en t e eart i) ca%%ed tiru!ana tara'a 7i%% e%. in t e 7or* of a ).". But no7 t at ro%e a) 0een ta*en o2er 0" a'ent) of re'i)tered !arria'e) .

=o!e 2i)it) to Brida%

32 | P a g e

T e 'roo! 7i%% 2i)it t e 0ride to )ee t e a..earance and )tature candidate 7ife. T i) cu)to! i) *no7n a) a .en .aartta%or t e 4a%a" %an'ua'e ca%%ed i) 7ife to )ee t e .otentia%. & en t e re.re)entati2e of t e !an ) ou%d co!e in e2en nu!0er i) an odd nu!0er and !ore. 1ruit) and) %i*e coconut5 0ete%5 areca nut5 )anda%7ood5 fruit)5 )ound) and *u!*u! .o7der i) ta*en. T e)e 'ood) ta*en a) a )i'n of t eir arri2a% on 'ood fait and to )tren't en fa!i%" re%ation) i.). T e 7o!an 7ou%d recei2e if t e a'reed de%i2er". If not5 t e" Bu)t treat .eo.%e 7 o co!e a) 'ue)t) and can not ta*e t e)e ite!). Pro).ecti2e 0ride 7i%% 7ear a )ari and re).on)i0%e )er2in' of drin*in' 7ater. At t at ti!e t e 'roo! 7ou%d 'et to )ee t e 0rideF) c%o)er. T erefore t e 0ride !u)t )er2e t e 'ue)t) inc%uded t e .ro).ecti2e u)0and 7 o 2i)it. T en reci.rocated t e 2i)it 0" re.re)entati2e) of 7o!en. T i) ti!e t e 0ride did not .artici.ate. In Indian )ociet"5 cu)to! .en) .aartta% a%)o to *no7 t e 0ac*'round of t e 'roo!.

Stud" 4atc in' Brida%

Bride) cu)to! ada.tation *no7n a) T airu!ana! Porutta! Paarta% carried out in ad2ance5 in =indui)! t ere i) no conce.t of di2orce. T ere are 21 a).ect) to 0e ta*en into account to deter!ine t e )uita0i%it" of t e 0ride) !ate di2ination 7a" di!ana* =indu. A!on' 7 ic i) )ti%% .racticed 0" t e =indu co!!unit" of Tina .orutta! / Natcattira .orutta! 5 :ana

33 | P a g e

.orutta! 54a entira .orutta! 5 Pentii**a .orutta! 5 <ooni .orutta! 5 3aa)i .orutta! 53aa)i"aati .aati .orutta! 5 Eai"a .orutta! 5 3acau .orutta! and Eeetai .orutta! .

Pro!i)e Tie

Tie .ro!i)e or nicca"a! done 7it t e con)ent of 0ot .artie). 4a%e re.re)entati2e to co!e to t e ou)e of t e 7o!an in an odd nu!0er to 0rin' ite!) )uc a) coconut5 0ete% nut)5 f%o7er)5 fruit)5 )anda%7ood and *u!*u! to 0e 'i2en to 7o!en re.re)entati2e). I!!ediate%" u.on arri2in' at t e 0rideF) ou)e5 t e fat er 0ot )ide) 7i%% di)cu)) t e !arria'e. If one of t e 0ride) fat er a) died5 a di)cu))ion 7i%% 0e e%d 7it re%ati2e). If 0ot .artie) a'reed5 t e" 7i%% tie t e *not

En'a'ed and .ra"er

.ro2ide *uF'u!e! Ne6t t e 'roo! 7i%% announce tie .ro!i)e) to )tate t eir a'ree!ent to !arr" t e 0ride. T e

Cu)to! feedin' *an% :an/e

4on*

7eddin' 7i%% 0e announced to t e .u0%ic. A) a )i'n of t e 0ond5 t e 0ride and 'roo! 7i%% )7itc 0ete% nut na!ed taa!0uu%an !arruta %. T en t e" 7i%% di)cu)) a0out t e 7eddin' da" and a0out ) o..in' for t e 0ride5 in2itation card) and )o on. T en t e cere!on" nicca"a! 0e done and 7i%% nor!a%%" 0e carried out 0" e6c an'in' 'ar%and).
34 | P a g e

Pari)a!

T e cu)to! Pari)a! di2ided into t7o Pari)a! nor!a% or udan Pari)a! . Pari)a! co!!on i) t e 'i2in' of 'ift) carried out in ad2ance of t e 7eddin' da"5 7 i%e udan Pari)a! i) t e 'i2in' of 'ift) !ade on t e )a!e da" in t e !ornin' 0efore t e 7eddin' ta*e) .%ace. In Indian )ociet"5 Pari)a! %i*e an en'a'e!ent cere!on".T e cu)to! Pari)a! 'i2in' 7i%% 0e e%d on t e da" t at a) 0een a'reed 0" 0ot .artie). T e 'roo! 7i%% .ro2ide )o!e t".e of de%i2er" in odd nu!0er. /e%i2er" ) ou%d 0e .ro2ided 0" t e 7o!an 7 o ad Bu)t !arried and t e" ca%%ed cu!an''a%i.

Pari)a! 7i%% 0e 0rou' t to t e 0rideF) ou)e %ed 0" t e 'roo! to 7ear traditiona% Indian )ociet". At t e )a!e ti!e traditiona% in)tru!ent) %i*e naata)a7ara! and !ee%a! .%a"ed. T e 0ride 7i%% .ro2ide t e .itc er *no7n a) :u!0u! .uurana .%aced in t e %i2in' roo!. Oi% %a!.) ca%%ed *uttu 2i%a**u .%aced ne6t .uurana :u!0u! a) indicatin' di2ine fa2or). To 0e'in t e cu)to!5 .ra"er) 7i%% 0e done fir)t. T en t e 0rideF) fat er 7ou%d 0rin' Pari)a! containin' e6tract and 'i2en to i) )on. At t e )a!e ti!e t e 0ride to 7rite )o!et in' 0" u)in' tur!eric a) )ee* 0%e))in') fro! 'od. On%" t en 7ere t e !en and in2ite ot er) can )ee :u!0u! .uurana c%o)er. /urin' t e da"5 t e 0ride 7earin' a )ari Pari)a! and %ed out 0" anot er 7o!an into t e %i2in' roo!. At t i) ti!e )o!e re%ati2e) can !en'a%un'*an 7reat on t e 0ride. T i) i) *no7n a) orrai-4aa%ai or )in'%e 'ar%and. E)cort) 7i%% 'i2e out in2itation) to 0ot 0ride and 'roo!. T ree i!.ortant ritua% of 2i)itin'
35 | P a g e

t e 0rideF) ou)e > .en) .aarta% ?5 cu)to! )a) .ro!i)e > nicca"a! ? and 'ift 'i2in' > Pari)a! ? i) a cu)to! t at i) often done 0" t e Indian).

Before t e 7eddin' cere!on"

Before t e !arria'e ta*e) .%ace5 t ere are )o!e i!.ortant t in') t at need to 0e carried out in ad2ance5 inc%udin'J

In2itation Card

In2itation card) .%a" an i!.ortant ro%e in Indian )ociet" 7eddin'. T e in2itation 7a) !ade 0a)ed on t e =indu a%!anac. If t ere are error)5 !eanin' t e !arria'e can not 0e carried out )!oot %". In2itation card) 7ere .rinted ru00ed 7it tur!eric .o7der !e%t) a) a )"!0o% of ar!on". Se2era% in2itation card) in odd nu!0er) 7i%% 0e 0rou' t to'et er to t e te!.%e to .ra" 0rou' t > arccanai?. Card) are .%aced on a tra" a%on' 0ete%5 !one"5 oi%5 nut) and )o on a) a )"!0o% of 7ea%t . T e cere!on" i) na!ed a) .aana! .aa*u . T en t e tra") are ta*en to t e o!e of t e 0ride to 0e 'i2en to t e 0ride'roo! and 2ice 2er)a. At t e )a!e ti!e 0ete% nut 7i%% 0e 'i2en a) a
36 | P a g e

to*en of for!a% 7eddin' in2itation). .re.aration

T aa%i

> TBru!aan''a%"a! ? T aa%i

ortBiru!aan'a%"a! i) a )acred )"!0o% of !arria'e 7orn around t e nec* of t e 0ride and 'roo!. At t e t aa%i c%u!. tied 7 ite t read) ru00ed 7it tur!eric.T ere are 2ariou) t".e) of t aa%i u)ed 0" t e Indian) a) %in'at t aa%i5 .ottut t aa%i5 Tennant t aa%i and ot er). T i) i) 0ecau)e t ere are !an" different tri0e) a!on' t e Indian). T aa%i cu)to! .re.aration i) done )e2en or nine da") 0efore t e 7eddin' da". T e 0o") 7i%% 0rin' 'o%d5 )anda%7ood5 *u!*u!5 0ete% nut5 coconut and .a"!ent for t aa%i !a*er). T i) i) to en)ure t aa%i craft)!en *no7 t e ri' t da" to !a*e t aa%i. T ree da") 0efore t e 7eddin'5 t aa%i 7i%% 0e ta*en and .%aced on t e in)truction of t e )"na'o'ue t aa%i !a*er). Brida% .art" i) for0idden to offer a )er2ice t at i) done 0" t e !anufacturer t aa%i.Su0)e8uent%" .ra"er) done and i) na!ed a) t aa%i..adai"a% . In t e cere!on" )7eet .orrid'e and )7eet rice inc%ude d oti and )ari) for t e ne7%"7ed).Genera%%" not re8uired t aa%i !ade of 'o%d. T i) i) 0ecau)e t aa%i )ti%% 0e !ade fro! tur!eric are )aid to 0e )afe and not )to%en. 4u*uurtta :aa% cu)to! !ade fi2e da") 0efore t e 7eddin' ta*e)

.%ace. Cu)to! !u*uurtta *aa% e%d on a 'ood da" accordin' to t e Indian co!!unit" unc . To run t e cu)to! t at a "oun' tree 7i%% 0e cut do7n and )trai' t to 0e !u*urtta *aa% . T e tree) !ea)urin' t7o or t ree !eter) and a) a trun* circu!ference of 2+ to $+ centi!eter). Cu)to!ar" e)ta0%i) !u*uurtta *aa% i) to !ar* t e !arria'e 7i%% ta*e .%ace in t e o!e. Co!!on !ateria%) )uc a) 0ete% nut5 *u! *u!5 tur!eric and )o on are a2ai%a0%e. 1a!i%" !e!0er) of t e 0ride 7i%% i!.%ore t e -ord to t e !arria'e can ta*e .%ace 7it out interru.tion. -o') ta*en and c%eaned and re!o2ed i) )*in. 1i2e !arried 7o!an 7ou%d a..%"in' %i8uid tur!eric and *u!*u! on t e .o%e
37 | P a g e

fro! t e 0a)e to t e ti.. T en t e end of t e )tic* tied 7it fi' %ea2e) or !an'o red co%ored c%ot . &ood 7i%% 0e dri2en into t e 'round a) dee. a) a%f a !eter and a0o2e !ateria%) 7i%% 0e .ut into t e o%e a) a )"!0o% of 7ea%t . T en t e .ra"er i) done 0" t e 0ride and 'roo! a%on' 7it t e fi2e 'ir%). A tota% of nine t".e) of 'rain) )o7n on 7ooden )tic*) and %it oi% %a!.). At t e )a!e ti!e t e 0ride 2o7ed to .rotect t e en2iron!ent a) a )"!0o% of friend) i. 7it t e en2iron!ent. ;)ua%%" cu)to! 0ui%d !u*uurtta :AA % done in t e 'roo!F) ou)e.

&eddin' Cere!on"

T iru!anan !ean) union or )acred 0ond t rou' !arria'e 0et7een u)0and and 7ife t at
)ur2i2ed to t e end of %ife. T ere are t ree t".e) of !arria'e in Indian )ociet" Eaiti*at

T airu!ana! 5 Ta!i% T airu!ana! and /i"a T airu!ana! 7 ic a !arria'e i) conducted i)

0a)ed on tri0a% a).ect. T e 7eddin' cere!on" )tarted 7it t e cere!on" nicca"a! >tie .ro!i)e? to 'i2e a) 'ift) and ot er a..are%. In2itation card ru00ed 7it tur!eric 7ater 0rou' t to t e te!.%e in an odd nu!0er a) a )i'n of officia% 7eddin' in2itation. Cere!onie) :an''ena! of .%antin' a tree t at i) )trai' t and ru00ed 7it tur!eric .o7der t ree da") 0efore t e !arria'e ta*e) .%ace. T e 'roo! i) not a%%o7ed to 'o out for t ree da") 0efore t e 7eddin' da".

38 | P a g e

T e 7eddin' cere!on" .erfor!ed 0" Pedanda to .ra" )o t at t e 0ride %i2ed a..i%" unti% o%d a'e. Pedanda 7i%% )o7 nine t".e) of 'rain) after co!.%etion of t e e2ent 7earin' t e rin'. T e 'roo! .ut on t aa%i !ade of "arn end) ru00ed 7it tur!eric and tied 7it a .iece of tur!eric to t e 0ride to c e)t %e2e%. T e 0ride and 'roo! .a" re).ect to t eir .arent) or in-%a7) to c an'e t e fruit tra" and )7ee. o%" du)t on t e fore ead of t e 0ride. Bet7een cu)to! !ade to re).ect and )ecure t e 0%e))in') inc%ude t e coconut 7it o%e on to.5

.our !i%* into it5 'i2in' 0ete%5 *i))in' t e feet of t e .arent) >7a) in' t e feet of t e .arent)?5 'i2e t e 'ift of a d oti >fat er-in-%a7? and )u0tit%e) > !ot er-in-%a7? and !one". ;)ua%%" t e 0ride and 'roo! 7i%% e6c an'e 'ar%and) t ree ti!e) and ) ared !i6ed drin* 0anana !i%* in a '%a)). T i) cere!on" officia%%" !ar*ed t i) cou.%e a) 0een !arried.

39 | P a g e

So!e i!.ortant factor) to 0e con)idered 0efore t e 7eddin' cere!on" 7a) e%d to 'ain a..ine)) in %ife5 a!on' t e! %i*e a 'ood ti!e to 'et !arried5 !eanin' t aa%i 5 2a%atu ca% 5 'i2in' )7eet)5 'ift)5 tri0ute to t e 'roo!5 t e )"!0o% of a 0anana tree5 7eddin' 0an8uet and 7eddin' tent) de!o%ition .

4inBi >G%o2e) 4enF) 3in')? :o%e! and : u!0e! A%i.u >.araded -i' t)?

Paa% >4i%* S7ee.in'?

4inBi >S eat 3in') ?

Paa% >4i%* S7ee.in'?

Paa% A0i)"'e! Ni*a cere!on" Pra"er a..%" S.ectre >Parent) 1oot &a) ?
40 | P a g e

Paa% A0i)"'e! >Parent) 1oot &a) ?

4a%ei 4at e% >E6c an'in' 1%o7er 4a%ei?

A"eer 4ant ere! >Iuru Ni*a ?

Ott iane! >Acce))orie)?

&eddin' Cere!on" 'ift)

&eddin' Cere!on" 'ift)

P a2itire! - T e.er.u% Poree >Burnin' In'redient)? >&earin' 3in' -eaf? Sa!ent i P utu

T a%i >C ain Of T read?

Eaa%e! Earut e% >4a*e) T ree 3ound?

Ta%%a. a >=ead Ie7e%r"?

41 | P a g e

Gri a Pra2e) Cere!on" Gri a Pra2e) cere!on" i) t e fir)t entr" into a ne7%" 0ui%t ou)e. It i) one of t e i!.ortant =indu ritua%) in India. It e2en find) an i!.ortant .%ace in Eaa)tu S a)tra5 t e a)tro%o'ica% 0oo* of arc itecture. Accordin' to t e 0oo*5 after t e ne7 ou)e i) co!.%eted in a%% re).ect)5 an au).iciou) !o!ent i) deter!ined on a)tro%o'ica% con)ideration). To )tart %i2in'5 t e entr" into t e ne7 ou)e
42 | P a g e

on

t i)

au).iciou)

da"

i)

ter!ed

a)

t e

Gra a

Pra2e)

ritua%.

Accordin' to t e =o%" Scri.ture) t ere are t ree t".e) of Gri a Pra2e) J A.oor2aJ A.oor2a !ean) ne7. It )tate) t e fir)t entr" to %i2e in a ne7%" con)tructed ou)e on a ne7%" )e%ected %and. Sa.oor2aJ Sa.oor2a 'ri a .ra2e) )tate) t e entr" to %i2e in an a%read" e6i)tin' ou)e after tra2e%in' a0road or !i'ration e%)e7 ere. /7and7a J /7and7a or o%d Gri a Pra2e) )tate) t e entr" to %i2e in a ou)e after recon)truction or reno2ation on account of da!a'e 0" fire5 f%ood 7ater)5 e%ectricit"5 7ind etc. It i) %aid do7n in t e )cri.ture) t at t e Gra a Pra2e) cere!on" ) ou%d ta*e .%ace at an au).iciou) ti!e i.e. !u urat and defect-%e)) Panc an'. 1or A.oor2a Gra a Pra2e) )tic* to .erfect au).iciou) ti!e and for Sa.oor2a and /7and7a Gra a Pra2e) 5 t e .urit" of Panc an' ) ou%d 0e 'i2en .riorit". A) far a) .o))i0%e Gra a Pra2e) ) ou%d 0e .erfor!ed durin' t e da" ti!e a) it i) con)idered au).iciou). Nor!a%%"5 it can 0e done at an" au).iciou) !o!ent in t e da" or ni' t.

Accordin' to Eaa)tu5 t e fir)t entr" into t e ou)e ) ou%d 0e done on%" after t e door) of a ou)e are fitted 7it ) utter)5 t e roof i) co2ered5 t e God5 Eaa)tu a2e 0een 7or) i..ed and offered )acrifice) and t e .rie)t) a2e 0een offered fea)t. 1ai%in' to a0ide 0" t i)5 one !a" face trou0%e) and .ro0%e!) in t e ne7 ou)e. T ere are a%)o )o!e ).ecific !ont ) for Gra a .ra2e) . T e)e au).iciou) !ont ) 'i2e 'ood re)u%t) and t erefore ) ou%d 0e fo%%o7ed.
43 | P a g e

4a' !ont .ro2ide) 'ain of 7ea%t 1a%'un !ont .ro2ide) 'ain of c i%dren and 7ea%t Bai) a* !ont .ro2ide) 'ro7t of 7ea%t and .ro).erit" Ie) t a !ont .ro2ide) 'ain of )on and catt%e.

Be)ide) t e)e5 Gra a .ra2e) in t e !ont ) of :arti* and 4ar'a) ir) .roduce !ediu! re)u%t). In t e !ont ) of A) ad 5 S ra2an5 B adra.ad5 A) 7in Pau) 5 Gri a Pra2e) i) con)idered inau).iciou) and ) ou%d 0e a2oided. A.art fro! t i)5 t e tit ie) >date)? 45 (5 45 $+5 A!a2a) >no !oon ni' t? and Tue)da") ) ou%d 0e a2oided for Gra a Pra2e) . Ot er t an t i) cere!on"5 t ere i) anot er ritua% of Gra a .ra2e) t at ta*e) .%ace in India t at i) di)cu))ed 0e%o7.

Accordin' to Indian tradition5 after !arria'e t e arri2a% of t e ne7 0ride at er ne7 or !arita% o!e for t e fir)t ti!e i) a%)o ca%%ed a) t e Gra a Pra2e) . & en t e 0ride arri2e) at er ne7 o!e5 er !ot er-in-%a75 7e%co!e) er 7it t e traditiona% FAartiF. T i) i) done in order to 7ard off an" e2i% inf%uence) fro! er. After t i)5 t e 0ride *ic*) a 2e))e% fi%%ed 7it rice and coin). T i) )"!0o%iCe) t e arri2a% of 7ea%t and .ro).erit" in er !arita% o!e. It i) t en fo%%o7ed 0" anot er ritua% 7 erein t e 0ride .ut) er ri' t foot onto a tra" *e.t on t e entrance of t e ou)e. T e tra" contain) 2er!i%ion .o7der !i6ed 7it 7ater or !i%*. S e co2er) er 0ot t e feet in t e red .a)te and enter) t e ou)e 0are feet5 !a*in' foot.rint) on t e f%oor. T i) )"!0o%iCe) t e arri2a% of 'ood %uc* and fortune in t e ne7 ou)e. In India5 t e ne7%" 7edded 0ride i)
44 | P a g e

con)idered a) -a*) !i5 t e Godde)) of 7ea%t and .ro).erit". /ue to t i) t e Gra a .ra2e) of t e ne7 0ride i) a 2er" au).iciou) cere!on".

After t e &eddin' Cere!on"

T ere are )o!e cu)to! done 0" t e Indian) after t e )ide%ine) of a !arria'e. A!on' t e 0rideF) cu)to!5 0ride i) re8uired to 'o to t e 'roo!F) ou)e in onour of er u)0and after t e" confir!ed a) a !arried cou.%e. T en t e 'roo! i) re8uired to 'o to t e 0rideF) ou)e for t ree da"). At t at ti!e .arent)-in-%a7 7i%% onour t e 0ride and 'roo! 7it a ).ecia% !ea%. On t e t ird da" after t e 7eddin'5 tent) u)ua%%" 0e de!o%i) ed. Before t e tent ca!e do7n5 t e c ic*en) are )%au' tered to !ar* t e ce))ation of t e !arria'e cere!on". But t e .ractice i) no %on'er done at .re)ent. On%" %i' t refre) !ent) on%" 'i2en to t o)e 7 o tore do7n a tent 7eddin'. 0an8uet e%d after t e 7eddin' do not !i)) t e 7eddin' cere!on" .erfor!ed. If !arria'e) .erfor!ed in te!.%e)5 2e'eta0%e) 7i%% 0e )er2ed to t e 'ue)t). If t e 0an8uet e%d in t e a%%5 food ot er t an 2e'eta0%e) )er2ed5 e6ce.t !eat 0ecau)e !eat i) for0idden in =indui)!. T e Ban8uet 7i%% 0e Boined 0" re%ati2e) and friend).

Pre-7eddin' Cere!on"

T e fir)t )i'nificant .re-7eddin' cere!on" i) 7 en t e t7o fa!i%ie) !eet to confir! t e .ro.o)ed !arria'e. It i) done in t e .re)ence of e%der) and )o!eti!e) a .rie)t. T en5 a fe7 da")
45 | P a g e

0efore t e 7eddin'5 t ere 7i%% 0e a 0an'%e-cere!on" 7 ere t e fa!i%" of t e 0ride'roo! 'oe) o2er to t e 0rideF) o!e 7it 0an'%e) for t e 0ride. It i) a%)o no7 t at t e and) of t e 0ride are decorated 0" enna.

Ne6t i) t e )!e%tin' of 'o%d for t e t a%i5 7 ic i) t e .endant t at i) one of t e !o)t re2ered )"!0o% of !arria'e >a%on' 7it t e red .ottu?. T i) i) .erfor!ed a) c%o)e to t e 7eddin' da" a) .o))i0%e )ince t e 0ride and 'roo! traditiona%%" cannot !eet a'ain t ereafter unti% t e 7eddin' da". T e )!e%tin' i) .erfor!ed 0" a 'o%d)!it . A )!a%% nu''et of 'o%d .ro2ided 0" t e 'roo! i) !e%ted and u)ed to for! .art of t e t a%i. A fe7 da") %ater5 .ra"er) are e%d at t e 0ride'roo!F) o!e 7it t et a%i. A )i!i%ar enna-decoratin' cere!on" ta*e) .%ace for t e 0ride'roo!.

&eddin' /a" Cu)to!)

46 | P a g e

On t e 7eddin' da"5 t e 'roo!F) re%ati2e) 7i%% 'o to t e 0rideF) o!e and acco!.an" er to t e te!.%e. 4ean7 i%e5 t e 'roo! arri2e) 7it t e 0e)t !an5 u)ua%%" t e 0rideF) 0rot er5 and fo%%o7ed 0" t ree !atron)5 eac carr"in' a tra". One tra" contain) t ree coconut)5 7it t eir u)*) re!o2ed. & en t e 'roo! and 0e)t !an are )eated5 t e .rie)t 7i%% 0e'in t e cere!on" 7it c antin' and 0%e))in'). At one )ta'e5 e 7i%% tie a .iece of cord round t e 'roo!F) fin'er. A0out a%f an our after t e )tart of t e cere!on"5 t e 0ride arri2e). T e nu.tia% cou.%e )it) on a 0enc in front of 7 ic 5 .%aced on t e f%oor5 are t7o *ut u-2i%a**u or M%a!.)M5 a cere!onia% fire and 2ariou) tra") containin' fruit) and f%o7er). At one .oint durin' t e cere!on"5 t e .rie)t 7i%% tie a .iece of cord around t e 0rideF) fin'er to 0rin' er into t e cere!on" and to unite er 7it t e 'roo!. T e )ari and t a%i7 ic are 'i2en to t e 0ride 0" t e 'roo! are 0%e))ed. T e 0ride t en %ea2e) t e a%% to c an'e. /ate)5 roc* )u'ar and )affron rice are anded round to a%% t e 'ue)t) durin' t e 0rideF) a0)ence. T e 'ar%and) t at t e cou.%e 7i%% 7ear after7ard) are a%)o )ent around to 0e 0%e))ed 0" t e 'ue)t). & en t e 0ride return) in er ne7 )ari5 t e 'roo! tie) t e t a%i around er nec*. T e !u)ica% in)tru!ent) it a cre)cendo and t e )affron rice i) t ro7n at t e cou.%e a) 0%e))in'). T e !arried cou.%e t en e6c an'e 'ar%and). T e cou.%e no7 7a%*) round t e cere!onia% fire t ree ti!e)5 t ro7in' a andfu% of 'rain) into t e fire at eac circ%in'. T i) *ee.) t e fire 0urnin' and i) )"!0o%ic of t e eterna% f%a!e of %o2e. /urin' t e circ%in' of t e fire5 t e 'roo! 7i%% .%ace t e 0rideF) foot on a )tone and )%i. toe-rin') onto i) 0rideF) toe). T e .rie)t t en a)*) t e 0ride to onour5 %o2e and o0e" er u)0and.

47 | P a g e

4a%a")ian) are a )u.er)titiou) %ot and t i) i) 2er" e2ident acro)) a%% t e different co!!unitie) and race) around. A!on' t e 4a%a")ian Indian)5 t ere a) 0een .ractice) 7 ic a2e 0een .a))ed

do7n t rou' 'eneration) 7 ic if u)ed in toda"A) en2iron!ent 7ou%d 0e dee!ed a) @o%dfa) ionedA. =a2in' )aid t at t e" are )ti%% 0ein' .racticed and ad ered to and t ere are )o!e 7 ic

are ta*en 2er" )eriou)%" 7 ic !i' t 0e offen)i2e if "ou do not fo%%o7 t e!. One of t e co!!on t in') not to do in .u0%ic i) for cou.%e) to o%d and). No7 if "ou are !arried t en it 7i%% 0e o*a"5 0ut if "ou are Bu)t datin'5 o%din' and) in .u0%ic 7 et er or not it i) a!on' t e Indian co!!unit" i) )o!eti!e) dee!ed ina..ro.riate. T i) i) due to an o%d tradition 7 ere it i) not a%%o7ed in t e )ociet" )o t ere i) a%7a") a fear of @7 at if .eo.%e )ee u)HA. Since o%din' and) are dee!ed ina..ro.riate5 t en *i))in' and u''in' are tota%%" out of t e 8ue)tion.

1or Indian 'ir%)5 t e" are not encoura'ed to 7ear ) ort )*irt) or ) ort .ant) in .u0%ic. T i) i) 2er" co!!on in fact a!on' a%% cu%ture 0ut it i) re'arded to 0e 8uite a )eriou) ta0oo a!on' t e !ore traditiona% fa!i%ie) 0ecau)e )uc fa) ion tend) to .ro!ote .ro!i)cuit". T ere are an e)ti!ated 1.2 !i%%ion Indian) in 4a%a")ia. T e" are citiCen) of 4a%a")ia a) t e" are t e de)cendant) of t o)e 7 o ca!e to t e countr" t rou' t e cour)e of i)tor" to e%. 7it t e

de2e%o.!ent of t e countr".

4o)t of t o)e 7 o ca!e t at ti!e 7ere at fir)t e!.%o"ed a)

%a0orer) and t i) 7a) durin' t e Briti) co%oniCation of 4a%a"a t en. It 7a) at t i) ti!e t at t e Briti) 7a) a%)o 'o2ernin' India and t ere 7a) a need of !an.o7er to e%. out in 4a%a"aA) .%antation). T e
48 | P a g e

Indian co!!unit"A) ance)tor) ran'e fro! Sri -an*a5 Ban'%ade) 5 Pa*i)tan a) 7e%% a) t o)e 7 o are 4u)%i!) too. T e Indian traditiona% :o%a!) are one of t e !o)t di)tin'ui) ed cu%ture of t e Indian cu)to!). It i) co!!on%" u)ed to )"!0o%iCe au).iciou)ne)) 7 ic !ean) "ou 7i%% co!e acro)) t e! durin' t e 0i' and ce%e0rati2e fe)ti2a%) %i*e t e /ee.a2a%i. Accordin' to t e 0e%ief)5 t e .attern) and de)i'n are u)ed to .ut in front of t e o!e to in2ite Godde)) -a*) !i into t e o!e to dri2e

a7a" ne'ati2e force). T e :o%a!) are u)ua%%" !ade 7it rice f%our 7 ic are d"ed 7it different co%or) and .%aced on t e f%oor in a ).ecific de)i'n. T e 'round need) to 0e f%at and are not e6.o)ed to rain )o t at it 7ou%d re!ain) o for a certain .eriod of ti!e. 3ice f%our i) u)ed t e)e da") 0ecau)e t e" !a*e food for ant) and )!a%% in)ect) )o it 7i%% )%o7%" 0e eaten a7a" a%t ou' t e a!ount !i' t 0e too !uc for t e!. Pre2iou)%"5 'round )tone .o7der 7ere u)ed 7it added rice f%our. :o%a!) a) )ince 0eco!e a )tandard .ractice in fe)ti2a%) and one 7ou%d a%)o )ee t e! at 7eddin') and )uc . T ere are a fe7 !aBor t".e) of *o%a!) t at inc%ude -ine :o%a!) 7 ic are u)ua%%" !ade free and5 /ot :o%a!) *no7n a) Pu%%i and C uCi :o%a!) a!on' ot er). 1unda!enta%%"5 Indian food i) *no7n to 0e ).ic". So un%e)) one can ta*e ).ic" food5 Indian cui)ine !i' t not 0e t e 0e)t c oice of a !ea%. =o7e2er5 a2in' )aid t at5 t e Indian co!!unit"

a) contri0uted tre!endou)%" to t e 2ariet" of 4a%a")ian food.

In fact5 it i) )aid t at a %ot of

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traditiona% 4a%a" food 7ere inf%uenced 0" Indian cui)ine and in'redient). 4a!a* )ta%%) are .art and .arce% of t e %i2e) of 4a%a")ian) t rou' out t e countr" a) t e" are t e .%ace) 7 ere one can )ee o7 t e cu%ture rea%%" i) %i*e. A!on' t e fa!ou) di) e) ere are t e @4a''i Goren'A t e @3oti CanaiA and t eir curr" re%ated !ea%). T e Banana -eaf rice i) a%)o one of t e co!!on fa2ourite) a!on' 4a%a")ian) fro! a%% race). T i) i) 7 ere t e rice i) )er2ed on to. of a 0anana %eaf and t en one i) fed 7it a%% t".e) of ).ice) and acco!.an"in' di) e) %i*e c ic*en curr"5 c ic*en .rata5 0eef curr"5 fi) and 2e'eta0%e). It i) )aid t at if one %i*e) t e food t ere5 t e" ) ou%d fo%d t e %eaf fro! t e to. do7n it !ean) t at t e" enBo"ed t e food and 7ou%d %o2e to co!e for anot er 2i)it. If t e .er)on fo%d) it fro! 0otto! u.5 it !ean) t at t e" did not enBo" t e food and 7ou%d !o)t %i*e%" not return in t e future.

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Namaskar Namaste

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T e !o)t .o.u%ar for! of 'reetin'5 e).ecia%%" t e e%der)5 i) to )a" Na!a)te 7it t e and) Boined at t e c e)t %e2e%. It i) a%)o u)ed at t e ti!e of fare7e%%.

Na!a)te T e !o!ent "ou )te. into Indian ou)e5 in a%% .ro0a0i%it"5 t e fir)t 7ord "ou 7i%% 'et to ear 7i%% 0e Na!a)teQ Na!a)te5 a%)o )aid a) Na!a)*ar 0" t e nati2e)5 i) a traditiona% Indian )t"%e of 'reetin' or .artin' . ra)e a) 7e%% a) a 'e)ture. /eri2ed fro! t e San)*rit %an'ua'e5 t e %itera% definition/!eanin' of t e 7ord Na!a)te i) MI 0o7 to "ouM. If "ou 7ant to di' dee.er to *no7 7 at doe) Na!a)te !ean5 "ou can it 0rea* u. into t7o San)*rit 7ord) - Na!a) >!eanin' - to 0o7? and Te >!eanin' - to "ou?. T u)5 it) rea% connotation i) FI 0o7 to "ou out of re).ectF. Na!a)te a..en) to 0e 0ot a for!a% and an infor!a% for! of 'reetin' in India and "ou can )a" t i) to an"one irre).ecti2e of a'e. Nor!a%%" 7 en "ou )a" Na!a)*ar to an"0od"5 "ou .re)) 0ot "our .a%!) to'et er 7it a%% t e fin'er) .ointin' u.7ard) in front of "our c e)t. At t e )a!e ti!e5 "ou a%)o 0o7 "our ead )%i' t%"5 %oo*in' at t e .er)on "ou are )a"in' Na!a)te to. E2en
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if "ou )i!.%" .erfor! t e Na!a)te 'e)ture 7it "our and) 7it out actua%%" )a"in' t e 7ord5 it 7i%% !ean t e )a!e t in'. T ou' )a"in' Na!a)te to ot er) in dai%" %i2e) i) a .art of t e Indian .rotoco%5 "et !an" 0e%ie2e it a%)o a) re%i'iou) / ).iritua% connotation. Accordin' to t i) )c oo% of t ou' t5 7 en "ou 'reet Na!a)te5 "ou actua%%" )ee* to reco'niCe a co!!on di2init" 7it in t e ot er .er)on. Intere)tin'%"5 Na!a)te can 0e )aid in different 7a")5 de.endin' crucia%%" on t e .er)on "ou are )a"in' it to. 1or in)tance5 7 en "ou 'reet "our friend or .eer5 t e traditiona% )t"%e Na!a)te 7i%% )uffice. On t e ot er and5 7 en itF) a .er)on 'reetin' Na!a)te to anot er .er)on of a i' er )tatu)5 t i) 'e)ture 7i%% 'et inten)ified. To indicate 'enuine and dee. re).ect for t e ot er .er)on5 "ou .%ace t e and) in front of t e fore ead. & erea)5 "ou a2e to .a" re2erence to God or a o%" .er)on t en5 t i) fee%in' can 0e tran)!itted t rou' t e Na!a)te 'e)ture 0" o%din' / .%acin' t e .re))ed and) a0o2e t e ead. So!e nati2e) .ro)trate on t e 'round in t i) .o)ture to ) o7 t eir dee. re).ect and %o2e to God. T e )"!0o%i)! of t e t7o .a%!) touc in' eac ot er i) of 'reat )i'nificance. It i) t e Boinin' to'et er of t7o e6tre!itie) - t e feet of t e /i2ine5 7it t e ead of t e de2otee. <et anot er t eor" a))ociate) t e Na!a)te 'reetin' 7it a .articu%ar !udra or .o)ture in "o'a. =o7e2er5 Na!a)te

53 | P a g e

0ein' a .o%ite 'e)ture of %o2e and re).ect can 0e )aid to an"0od". But traditiona%%"5 itF) a =indu 'e)ture and .eo.%e of t i) co!!unit" 'reet eac ot er t i) 7a" on%".

& " do t e" do na!a)t H Indian) 'reet eac ot er 7it na!a)t >na-!a)-t?. T e t7o .a%!) are .%aced to'et er in front of t e c e)t and t e ead 0o7) 7 i%)t )a"in' t e 7ord na!a)t . T i) 'reetin' i) for a%% .eo.%e "oun'er t an u)5 of our o7n a'e5 t o)e o%der t an u)5 friend) and e2en )tran'er). T ere are fi2e for!) of for!a% traditiona% 'reetin' enBoined in t e ) aa)tra) of 7 ic na!a)*ara! i) one. T i) i) under)tood a) .ro)tration 0ut it actua%%" refer) to .a"in' o!a'e a) 7e do toda" 7 en 7e 'reet eac ot er 7it a na!a)t. Na!a)t cou%d 0e Bu)t a ca)ua% or for!a% 'reetin'5 a cu%tura% con2ention or an act of 7or) i.. =o7e2er t ere i) !uc !ore to it t an !eet) t e e"e. In San)*rit na!a R te G na!a)t . It !ean) I 0o7 to "ou !" 'reetin')5 )a%utation) or .ro)tration to "ou. Na!a a can a%)o 0e %itera%%" inter.reted a) Mna !aM >not !ine?. It a) a ).iritua% )i'nificance of ne'atin' or reducin' oneA) e'o in t e .re)ence of anot er. T e rea% !eetin' 0et7een .eo.%e i) t e !eetin' of t eir !ind). & en 7e 'reet anot er5 7e do )o 7it na!a)t5 7 ic !ean)5 M!a" our !ind) !eet5M indicated 0" t e fo%ded .a%!) .%aced 0efore
54 | P a g e

t e c e)t. T e 0o7in' do7n of t e ead i) a 'raciou) for! of e6tendin' friend) i. in %o2e and u!i%it". T e ).iritua% !eanin' i) e2en dee.er. T e %ife force5 t e di2init"5 t e Se%f or t e -ord in !e i) t e )a!e in a%%. 3eco'ni)in' t i) onene)) 7it t e !eetin' of t e .a%!)5 7e )a%ute 7it ead 0o7ed t e

/i2init" in t e .er)on 7e !eet. T at i) 7 " )o!eti!e)5 7e c%o)e our e"e) a) 7e do na!a)t to a re2ered .er)on or t e -ord a) if to %oo* 7it in. T e 'e)ture i) often acco!.anied 0" 7ord) %i*e M3a! 3a!M5 MIai S ri :ri) naM5 MNa!o Nara"anaM5 MIai Si"a 3a!M5 MO! S antiM etc indicatin' t e reco'nition of t i) di2init". & en 7e *no7 t i) )i'nificance5 our 'reetin' doe) not re!ain Bu)t a )u.erficia% 'e)ture or 7ord 0ut .a2e) t e 7a" for a dee.er co!!union 7it anot er in an at!o). ere of %o2e and re).ect.

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Lighting Lamp/Diya
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In a%!o)t e2er" Indian ou)e o%d5 a %a!./di"a i) %i' ted 0efore t e a%tar of God in t e !ornin'. So!e .eo.%e %i' t t e %a!. in e2enin' a%)o. A /i"a5 di2aa5 dee.a5 dee.a!5 or dee.a* i) an oi% %a!.5 u)ua%%" !ade fro! c%a"5 7it a cotton 7ic* di..ed in ' ee or 2e'eta0%e oi%). C%a" di"a) are often u)ed te!.orari%" a) %i' tin' for ).ecia% occa)ion)5 7 i%e di"a) !ade of 0ra)) are .er!anent fi6ture) in o!e) and te!.%e). /i"a) are nati2e to India5 and are often u)ed in =indu5 Si* 5 Iain and 9oroa)trian re%i'iou) fe)ti2a%) )uc a) /i7a%iK1L or t e :u) ti cere!on". A )i!i%ar %a!. ca%%ed a 0utter %a!. i) u)ed in Ti0etan Budd i)t offerin') a) 7e%%.

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Prostrating Before Parents and lders

Indian) .ro)trate 0efore t eir .arent)5 e%der) and teac er) 0" touc in' t eir feet. T e e%der) in turn .%ace t eir and on .ro)tratin' .er)onF) ead and 0%e)) i!/ er.

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& " do t e" .ro)trate 0efore .arent) and e%der)H Indian) .ro)trate 0efore t eir .arent)5 e%der)5 teac er) and no0%e )ou%) 0" touc in' t eir feet. T e e%der in turn 0%e))e) u) 0" .%acin' i) or er and on or o2er our ead). Pro)tration i) done dai%"5 7 en 7e !eet e%der) and .articu%ar%" on i!.ortant occa)ion) %i*e t e 0e'innin' of a ne7 ta)*5 0irt da")5 fe)ti2a%) etc. In certain traditiona% circ%e)5 .ro)tration i) acco!.anied 0" a0 i2aadana 7 ic )er2e) to introduce one-)e%f5 announce oneA) fa!i%" and )ocia% )tature. 4an )tand) on i) feet. Touc in' t e feet in .ro)tration i) a )i'n of re).ect for t e a'e5 !aturit"5 no0i%it" and di2init" t at our e%der) .er)onif". It )"!0o%iCe) our reco'nition of t eir )e%f%e)) %o2e for u) and t e )acrifice) t at t e" a2e done for our 7e%fare. It i) a 7a" of u!0%" ac*no7%ed'in' t e 'reatne)) of anot er. T i) tradition ref%ect) t e )tron' fa!i%" tie) 7 ic endurin' )tren't ). T e 'ood 7i) e) >San*a%.a? and 0%e))in') >aa) ir2aada? of e%der) are i' %" 2a%ued in India. &e .ro)trate to )ee* t e!. Good t ou' t) create .o)iti2e 2i0ration). Good 7i) e) ).rin'in' fro! a eart fu%% of %o2e5 di2init" and no0i%it" a2e a tre!endou) )tren't . & en 7e .ro)trate 7it u!i%it" a) 0een one of IndiaA)

and re).ect5 7e in2o*e t e 'ood 7i) e) and 0%e))in') of e%der) 7 ic f%o7 in t e for! of .o)iti2e ener'" to en2e%o. u). T i) i) 7 " t e .o)ture a))u!ed 7 et er it i) in t e )tandin' or .rone .o)ition5 ena0%e) t e entire 0od" to recei2e t e ener'" t u) recei2ed. T e different for!) of ) o7in' re).ect are Pratut ana ri)in' to 7e%co!e a .er)on.
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Na!a)*aara .a"in' o!a'e in t e for! of na!a)t >)ee a0o2e?. ;.a)an'ra an touc in' t e feet of e%der) or teac er). S aa) taan'a .ro)tratin' fu%%" 7it t e feet5 *nee)5 )to!ac 5 c e)t5 fore ead and ar!) touc in' t e 'round in front of t e e%der. Prat"a0i2aadana returnin' a 'reetin'. 3u%e) are .re)cri0ed in our )cri.ture) a) to 7 o ) ou%d .ro)trate to 7 o!. &ea%t 5 fa!i%" na!e5 a'e5 !ora% )tren't and ).iritua% *no7%ed'e in a)cendin' order of i!.ortance 8ua%ified !en to recei2e re).ect. T i) i) 7 " a *in' t ou' t e ru%er of t e %and5 7ou%d .ro)trate 0efore a ).iritua% !a)ter. E.ic) %i*e t e 3a!a"ana and 4a a0 arata a2e !an" )torie) i' %i' tin' t i) a).ect. Touc in' 1eet T o)e 7 o do not *no7 !uc a0out t e Indian cu%ture and tradition 'et 2er" 0aff%ed 7 en t e" )ee c i%dren in India touc in' t e feet of t eir e%der). T i) i)5 infact5 t e co!!one)t Indian 'e)ture and touc in' )o!eoneF) feet !ean) t e .er)on 7 o i) doin' t e act i) ) o7in' i) re).ect and )u0)er2ience to t e one 7 o)e feet e/) e i) touc in'. =o7e2er5 one i!.ortant a).ect re%ated to t i) 'e)ture i) t at t e .er)onF) 7 o)e feet i) 0ein' touc ed i) a%7a") )u.erior in a'e and .o)ition. Touc in' e%der)F feet i) t e fir)t %e))on in !anner) and eti8uette t at a%% Indian c i%dren are tau' t. So5 'enera%%"5 one i) )u..o)ed to touc t e feet of a .er)on if e/) e a..en) to 0e an
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e%der !e!0er of t e fa!i%" or a re).ected ).iritua% .er)on. Since Indian) nor!a%%" %i2e in Boint fa!i%ie)5 t i) 'e)ture i) .erfor!ed 0" t e )on) and dau' ter-in-%a7) for t eir .arent) and 'rand .arent). T ou' 2er" "oun' c i%dren are 'uided 0" t eir .arent) to %earn t i) 'e)ture5 t e co!.arati2e%" e%der one) are e6.ected to do it ).ontaneou)%". In Indian cu%ture5 t ere are ).ecific occa)ion) 7 en a .er)on i) e6.ected to touc i) / er

e%der)F feet. T e)e occa)ion) inc%ude 0efore one i) de.artin' for or arri2in' 0ac* fro! a Bourne"5 7eddin')5 re%i'iou) and fe)ti2e occa)ion)5 etc. In ear%ier ti!e)5 it 7a) a %i*e a cu)to! in India for "oun')ter) to touc t eir .arent)F feet fir)t t in' in t e !ornin' and 0efore 'oin' to 0ed. T ou' t ere are !an" 7 o )ti%% fo%%o7 t i) ru%e5 t e trut i) t at t e tradition i) no7 )%o7%" 7anin' a7a" 7it ti!e. & en an e%der .er)onF) feet are 0ein' touc ed5 e /) e5 in turn5 i) )u..o)ed to touc t e ead of t e .er)on doin' t e act and 0%e)) i! / er for %on' %ife5 fortune and .ro).erit". Intere)tin'%"5 t e act of touc in' feet 'et) )o!e7 at inten)ified durin' certain occa)ion). 1or in)tance5 !an" .eo.%e .refer .ro)tratin' 0efore t e deitie) in te!.%e) or 0efore .er)on) of i' ran* ).iritua%%" and e2en .o%itica%%". Touc in' t e feet i) an inte'ra% .art of t e Indian cu%ture and tradition and not ad erin' to it 0" nati2e) i) con)idered a) di)re).ectfu%.

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-ife)t"%e PunBa0i5 4arat i5 Bi ari5 Ben'a%i5 A))a!e)e5 Ne.a%i5 GuBrati5 :a) !iriS. T ou' India con)i)t) of di2er)e et nic race) and 'rou.) and eac of t e! )trict%" ad ere to t eir o7n )et of cu)to!) and tradition5 "et t ere i) a co!!on %ife)t"%e .attern fo%%o7ed 0" a%!o)t a%% t e Indian). T i)5 de).ite t e fact t at t ere i) )o !uc 2ariation in t eir %an'ua'e5 dre))in' )t"%e and cu)to!Q 3ead on to *no7 a0out t e %ife of .eo.%e in t e countr" and 7 at trait) .ut t e! to'et er under t e 0rand FIndiaFJ Ioint 1a!i%" S")te! A !aBorit" of t e .eo.%e in India .refer to %i2e in a Boint fa!i%"5 7 ic cou%d co!.ri)e an"7 ere 0et7een a 'rou. of t7o or !ore !e!0er) to e2en o2er 2+ !e!0er) )o!eti!e). A) .er t e Indian 7a" of %i2in'5 t e co!!andin' .o)ition in a fa!i%" i) e%d 0" t e e%de)t earnin' !a%e !e!0er. =e con)u%t) ot er adu%t !e!0er) on i!.ortant i))ue)5 0ut it i) i) deci)ion t at u%ti!ate%" .re2ai%).
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=o7e2er5 a %ot of i!.ortance i) a%)o 'i2en to t e ad2ice of t e e%de)t retired !e!0er) of t e fa!i%". &o!en a) =o!e!a*er A) .er t e %ife)t"%e of t e Indian .eo.%e5 it i) t e dut" of a 7o!an to ta*e care of er o!e. A) )uc 5 fro! er 2er" c i%d ood5 a 'ir% c i%d i) tau' t to ru)t%e u. !out -7aterin' di) e) 0" er !ot er and ot er %adie) in er fa!i%". S e i) a%)o tau' t to attend to 'ue)t) and )tran'er) .o%ite%" and e%e'ant%" 0ecau)e it i) t ou' t to 'reat%" ref%ect u.on er u.0rin'in'. =er) i) a 2467 Bo05 "et ) e !ana'e) to e6ecute it )!oot %" and i) re).ected for t i) 8ua%it". &or) i..in' &or) i..in' i) an i!.ortant .art of t e dai%" %ife of Indian .eo.%e. <ou 7i%% find t e o%" 0a)i% tu%)i .%anted in !a6i!u! ou)e)5 7 ic .eo.%e 7ater a) 7e%% a) 7or) i. e2er"da" re%i'iou)%". 4an" Indian) are a))ociated to 2ariou) re%i'iou) )ect) and attend 7ee*%" 'at erin') to %i)ten to t e )er!on). A.art fro! te!.%e)5 !o)8ue) and 'urd7ara)5 t ere 7i%% a%)o in2aria0%" 0e a .er)ona% .%ace for 7or) i.5 and .icture) of God) and Godde))e)5 in e2er" ou)e in India. 3e).ectin' E%der) One co!!on trait "ou 7i%% find a!on')t Indian) i) t at c i%dren ) o7 ut!o)t re).ect to t eir e%der). No7 t i) i) one a0it a%% Indian .arent) de%i0erate%" incu%cate in t eir c i%dren5 )ince 0e'innin'. It i) an
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un)aid ru%e in India t at a .er)on cannot an)7er 0ac* to e%der) and !ore )o5 7 en e/) e i) at fau%t. It i) dee!ed di)re).ectfu% in India to refer to an e%der 0" i) / er na!e. In)tead .eo.%e .refer ca%%in' t e! unc%e and aunt5 e).ecia%%" if t e .er)on i) 2er" e%der%". It i) a%)o cu)to!ar" in India for t e "oun')ter) to touc t e feet of t eir e%der) a) a 7a" of 'reetin' a) 7e%% a) on i!.ortant occa)ion). Eti8uette) India i) a 2i0rant a!a%'a!ation of 2aried et nic 'rou.)5 c%i!ate5 cu%ture)5 re'ion) and tradition). A) )uc 5 !an" .eo.%e 2i)itin' t e countr" for t e fir)t ti!e find it uni8ue%" different. On one and5 "ou 7i%% find !an" con)er2ati2e%" dre))ed Indian 7o!en f%oc*in' t e te!.%e entrance. On t e ot er5 t ere are ot er) 7 o a2e no 8ua%!) 7a%*in' t e fa) ion ra!. in t e )*i!.ie)t of c%ot e). & i%e t ere are !i%%ion) of i%%iterate) in t e Indian )u0continent5 t ere are a%)o t o)e 7 o are t e dri2in' force 0e ind t e 0oo!in' IT indu)tr" in India. In order to a2oid !a*in' an" unintentiona% fau6 .a)5 read t e 0e%o7 !entioned )ocia% and cu%tura% eti8uette) t at are in tune 7it t e 'enera% Indian !anner) and .rotoco%.

/re))in' Eti8uette 4aBorit" of t e Indian)5 e).ecia%%" in t e rura% area)5 )!a%% to7n) and citie)5 are a con)er2ati2e %ot. S ort5 re2ea%in' c%ot e)5 e).ecia%%" for 7o!en5 i) a )trict no-no. A) )uc 5 itF) e6.ected of "ou to dre)) u. accordin'%" 7 en "ou 'o out for )i' t-)eein'. <ou can 7ear *nee %en't Ber!uda)5 tee ) irt)5
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%on' or 8uarter %en't )*irt)5 ca.ri) and Bean). =o7e2er5 7 en in)ide "our ote% roo!) or at i' -end re)taurant)5 0ar) and di)co)5 "ou can dre)) in a !ore re%a6ed !anner5 7it out 7orr"in' !uc a0out t e dre))in' code).

S oe) Indian te!.%e eti8uette )ti.u%ate) t at "ou ta*e off "our ) oe) 0efore enterin' t e .re!i)e). T e )a!e a..%ie) to e2en certain c urc e) in India. ;)ua%%"5 t ere 7i%% 0e .eo.%e )tationed out)ide !o)t te!.%e) and 'urd7ara)5 7 o 7i%% *ee. "our ) oe) )afe%" for a no!ina% )u!. <ou 7i%% 0e e6.ected to fo%%o7 t e )a!e .rotoco% 7 en "ou 2i)it a) .er)onF) o!e in )o!e of t e citie) of India. It 7i%%5 t u)5 0e con2enient for "ou if "ou 7ear f%i.-f%o.) or f%oater) in)tead of ) oe).

Touc in' Indian cu%ture and tradition for0id) unnece))ar" touc in' or an" for! of . ")ica% contact5 e).ecia%%" 0et7een a !an and a 7o!an5 in .u0%ic. :i))in' in .u0%ic i) a not ad2i)a0%e ere. <ou can ) a*e and) 7it .eo.%e5 or 0etter )ti%% )tic*5 to t e traditiona% Na!a)te5 t e .o.u%ar Indian )t"%e 'reetin'. 1or t i)5 "ou need to .re)) "our and) to'et er 7it a%% fin'er) .ointin' to7ard) t e )*" in front of "our c e)t and .o%ite%" )a" Na!a)te5 7 i%e %oo*in' at t e .er)on "ou are )a"in' it to.

A2oid Offence Indian !anner) and eti8uette ti.) a%)o co!.ri)e) not ).ea*in' i%% a0out or criticiCe t e countr" or it)
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.eo.%e o.en%". T e nati2e) are 0ound to ta*e 'reat offence to it. At t e )a!e ti!e5 ne2er addre)) t e e%der%" 0" t eir fir)t na!e5 un%e)) t e" a%%o7 "ou to. ItF) ad2i)a0%e "ou ca%% t e! )ir or !ada! in)tead. &it "oun')ter)5 "ou can c oo)e to 0e infor!a%. It i) a%)o con)idered di)re).ectfu% in India to u)e )tron' )7ear 7ord) .u0%ic%". Ianeu Cere!on" Ianeu i) a con)ecrated t read t at i) 7orn 0" eac and e2er" =indu Bra !in of India. T i) o%" t read of FIaneoF )u''e)t) t e de2e%o.!ent of a !a%e5 fro! a "oun' 0o" to a !an. It i) 0e%ie2ed t at a 0o" cannot 0e )ur!i)ed a) M/2iBaM >t7ice 0orn? unti% e 7ear) t e Baneu. Be)ide) t e Bra !in)5 Ianeo t read i) a%)o 7orn 0" t e :) atri"a) and Eai) "a). T e t".e of Ianeu i) different for different ca)te 'rou.) or )ect) of .eo.%e of t e Indian )u0continent. One i) Bra !'and Ianeu >7it 5 *not) or $ *not)?5 7 ic i) !eant for Bra !in) and t e ot er i) Ei) nu'and Ianeu >7it one *not?5 !eant for ot er c%a))e). In ca)e a Bra !in de)ire) to 0eco!e )c o%ar%" in t e Eeda)5 e !u)t 7ear Baneu at 5 "ear) of a'e. If a :) atri"a de)ire) to 'ain )tren't 5 e ) ou%d 7ear Baneo at , and if a Eai) "a de)ire) for )ucce))5 e !u)t 7ear t e Ianeu at # "ear) of a'e. Ianeu i) 'enera%%" !ade of cotton t readD o7e2er :) atri"a and Eai) "a 7ear t read) !ade out of e!.en and 7oo% re).ecti2e%". Ianeu >T read? Cere!on" Bra !in) ce%e0rate t e de2e%o.!ent of a 0o" t rou' M;.ana"ana! Sa!)*araM >)acred t read cere!on"?. T e cere!on" i) 'enera%%" o0)er2ed 0et7een t e a'e) of )e2en and fourteen. In
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ca)e t e cere!on" cou%d not ta*e .%ace due to an" rea)on a%% t rou' t i) a'e .eriod5 t en it i) re8uired to 0e done 0efore t e !arria'e. T e .ur.o)e of t read cere!on" i) to .re.are a "oun' !an to ) are t e re).on)i0i%itie) of e%der). T e t read i) 7orn 0" t e !an in t e co!.an" of a 'rou. c ant of FGa"atriF !antra. T e t read i) t7i)ted in u.7ard direction to !a*e certain t at FSatt7a'unaF >'ood 8ua%it" of trut ? .re2ai%). T e cere!on" a%)o )u''e)t) t at t e 7earer of FIaneuF can .artici.ate in t e fa!i%" ritua%)5 fro! no7 on7ard). Ianeu i) a con)ecrated t read t at i) 7orn 0" eac and e2er" =indu Bra !in of India. T i) o%" t read of FIaneoF )u''e)t) t e de2e%o.!ent of a !a%e5 fro! a "oun' 0o" to a !an. It i) 0e%ie2ed t at a 0o" cannot 0e )ur!i)ed a) M/2iBaM >t7ice 0orn? unti% e 7ear) t e Baneu. Be)ide) t e Bra !in)5 Ianeo t read i) a%)o 7orn 0" t e :) atri"a) and Eai) "a). T e t".e of Ianeu i) different for different ca)te 'rou.) or )ect) of .eo.%e of t e Indian )u0continent. One i) Bra !'and Ianeu >7it 5 *not) or $ *not)?5 7 ic i) !eant for Bra !in) and t e ot er i) Ei) nu'and Ianeu >7it one *not?5 !eant for ot er c%a))e). In ca)e a Bra !in de)ire) to 0eco!e )c o%ar%" in t e Eeda)5 e !u)t 7ear Baneu at 5 "ear) of a'e. If a :) atri"a de)ire) to 'ain )tren't 5 e ) ou%d 7ear Baneo at , and if a Eai) "a de)ire) for )ucce))5 e !u)t 7ear t e Ianeu at # "ear) of a'e. Ianeu i) 'enera%%" !ade of cotton t readD o7e2er :) atri"a and Eai) "a 7ear t read) !ade out of e!.en and 7oo% re).ecti2e%". Ianeu >T read? Cere!on" Bra !in) ce%e0rate t e de2e%o.!ent of a 0o" t rou' M;.ana"ana! Sa!)*araM >)acred t read cere!on"?. T e cere!on" i) 'enera%%" o0)er2ed 0et7een t e a'e) of )e2en and fourteen. In
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ca)e t e cere!on" cou%d not ta*e .%ace due to an" rea)on a%% t rou' t i) a'e .eriod5 t en it i) re8uired to 0e done 0efore t e !arria'e. T e .ur.o)e of t read cere!on" i) to .re.are a "oun' !an to ) are t e re).on)i0i%itie) of e%der). T e t read i) 7orn 0" t e !an in t e co!.an" of a 'rou. c ant of FGa"atriF !antra. T e t read i) t7i)ted in u.7ard direction to !a*e certain t at FSatt7a'unaF >'ood 8ua%it" of trut ? .re2ai%). T e cere!on" a%)o )u''e)t) t at t e 7earer of FIaneuF can .artici.ate in t e fa!i%" ritua%)5 fro! no7 on7ard). Si'nificance of t ree )trand) in Ianeu Bra !in) u)e FIaneuF t read 7it t ree )trand). T e)e t ree )trand) of FIaneoF a2e 0een )tudied !an" a ti!e) and different .er)ona%itie) 'a2e )e2era% o.inion) re'ardin' t i) tradition. To )o!e .eo.%e5 t e t ree )trand) )tand for t e =indu Trinit" of Bra !a5 Ei) nu and 4a e) . Ot er) inter.reted it a) )"!0o%ica% of 4a a)ara)2ati5 4a a%a*) !i and 4a a*a%i. 4an" .eo.%e 0e%ie2ed it to 0e re%ated 7it .a)t5 .re)ent and future. A nu!0er of .er)on) )tated it to 0e re.re)entati2e of t ree 8ua%itie) - )att2a5 raBa) and ta!a). A fe7 con)idered t e t ree )trand) a) )i'n of t ree )tate)-7a*efu%ne))5 drea! and dee. )%ee.. So!e of t e! !entioned it to )i'nif" t ree di!en)ion) of =ea2en >)7ar'a?5 Eart >!rit"u%o*a? and Net er 3e'ion) >.ata%o*a?. Out of a%% o.inion)5 t e !o)t %o'ica% i) BaneuF) account 7it Ida5 .in'a%a and )u)u!na nadi5 t rou' 7 ic t e F*unda%iniF > idden? ener'" re2ea%) in F.ranaF and rea%iCation. =o7 to 7ear Ianeu at different occa)ion) Ianeu i) a not an ordinar" t read5 it) )anctit" i) re'arded to 'et di)tur0ed if it i) not 7orn .ro.er%". =ere are 'i2en different !et od) to 7ear Ianeu at different occa)ion).
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To attend or .erfor! an" au).iciou) cere!on"5 one ) ou%d 7ear FBaneuF an'in' fro! t e %eft ) ou%der >;.a2iti?.

1or attendin' or .erfor!in' inau).iciou) e2ent5 one ) ou%d 7ear FBaneuF an'in' fro! t e ri' t ) ou%der >Prac na2iti?.

In ca)e t e .er)on 7ear) FBaneuF round t e nec* %i*e a 'ar%and5 t en5 e i) ca%%ed a) FNi2itiF. & i%e 'oin' for dai%" a0%ution) or doin' i!.ure ta)*)5 t e o%" t read !u)t 0e rai)ed and it) u..er .art ou' t to 0e .ut 0e ind ear.

4a%e) and fe!a%e) 0ot can 7ear FBaneuF5 "et fe!a%e) ) ou%d 7ear it around t e nec*. 1o%%o7in' a 0irt or deat in t e fa!i%"5 FBaneuF ) ou%d 0e re!o2ed and a'ain a ne7 t read ou' t to 0e 7orn after 15 da") of e2ent.

One !u)t re.%ace t e o%d or 0ro*en t read 7it a ne7 t read.

Si'nificance of t ree )trand) in Ianeu Bra !in) u)e FIaneuF t read 7it t ree )trand). T e)e t ree )trand) of FIaneoF a2e 0een )tudied !an" a ti!e) and different .er)ona%itie) 'a2e )e2era% o.inion) re'ardin' t i) tradition. To
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)o!e .eo.%e5 t e t ree )trand) )tand for t e =indu Trinit" of Bra !a5 Ei) nu and 4a e) . Ot er) inter.reted it a) )"!0o%ica% of 4a a)ara)2ati5 4a a%a*) !i and 4a a*a%i. 4an" .eo.%e 0e%ie2ed it to 0e re%ated 7it .a)t5 .re)ent and future. A nu!0er of .er)on) )tated it to 0e re.re)entati2e of t ree 8ua%itie) - )att2a5 raBa) and ta!a). A fe7 con)idered t e t ree )trand) a) )i'n of t ree )tate)-7a*efu%ne))5 drea! and dee. )%ee.. So!e of t e! !entioned it to )i'nif" t ree di!en)ion) of =ea2en >)7ar'a?5 Eart >!rit"u%o*a? and Net er 3e'ion) >.ata%o*a?. Out of a%% o.inion)5 t e !o)t %o'ica% i) BaneuF) account 7it Ida5 .in'a%a and )u)u!na nadi5 t rou' 7 ic t e F*unda%iniF > idden? ener'" re2ea%) in F.ranaF and rea%iCation. =o7 to 7ear Ianeu at different occa)ion) Ianeu i) a not an ordinar" t read5 it) )anctit" i) re'arded to 'et di)tur0ed if it i) not 7orn .ro.er%". =ere are 'i2en different !et od) to 7ear Ianeu at different occa)ion).

To attend or .erfor! an" au).iciou) cere!on"5 one ) ou%d 7ear FBaneuF an'in' fro! t e %eft ) ou%der >;.a2iti?.

1or attendin' or .erfor!in' inau).iciou) e2ent5 one ) ou%d 7ear FBaneuF an'in' fro! t e ri' t ) ou%der >Prac na2iti?.

In ca)e t e .er)on 7ear) FBaneuF round t e nec* %i*e a 'ar%and5 t en5 e i) ca%%ed a) FNi2itiF.

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& i%e 'oin' for dai%" a0%ution) or doin' i!.ure ta)*)5 t e o%" t read !u)t 0e rai)ed and it) u..er .art ou' t to 0e .ut 0e ind ear.

4a%e) and fe!a%e) 0ot can 7ear FBaneuF5 "et fe!a%e) ) ou%d 7ear it around t e nec*. 1o%%o7in' a 0irt or deat in t e fa!i%"5 FBaneuF ) ou%d 0e re!o2ed and a'ain a ne7 t read ou' t to 0e 7orn after 15 da") of e2ent.

One !u)t re.%ace t e o%d or 0ro*en t read 7it a ne7 t read.

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Beliefs and !uperstition s

T e Indian )ociet" i) fa)t .ro're))in'5 t ere are !an" .eo.%e 7 o are )ti%% )u.er)titiou) and a2e a )tron' fait in t e %oca% 0e%ief). & i%e )o!e of t e! are 8uite i%ariou)5 fe7 ot er) are rea%%" intere)tin'5 a) !an" a).ect) of %ife are %in*ed to t e!. 1e7 0e%ief) e2en find t eir 7a" into t e Indian re%i'iou) te6t) and )cri.ture). T e )tandard 2ie7.oint i) t at !o)t of t e Indian 0e%ief) and 2a%ue) a2e ).run' 7it an o0Becti2e to .rotect fro! e2i% ).irit)5 0ut )o!e 7ere 0a)ed on )cientific rea)onin'. &it t e .a))a'e of ti!e5 t e rea)onin' .art 0e ind t e ori'in of t e)e cu%tura% 0e%ief) and )u.er)tition) 'ot eroded. T at i) e6act%" 7 " !o)t of t e)e 0e%ief) a..ear un)u0)tantiated and fa%)e. =o7e2er5 in rea%it"5 t ere

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are !an" )uc 0e%ief) in t e Indian) cu%ture 7 ic are a0)o%ute%" a0)urd and a2e no %o'ic 0e ind t e!. Su.er)tition) are dee!ed a) .ertinent in India 0ecau)e t e)e5 'enera%%"5 int at future occurrence) and can 0e eit er 'ood or 0ad. T u)5 an"t in' fro! t e ca%% of a 0ird to t e fa%%in' of uten)i%) i) con)idered an o!en in India. 4an" of t e traditiona% )u.er)tition) in India are connected 7it ani!a%)5 0ird) and re.ti%e). 1or in)tance5 )eein' an e%e. ant 7 en one i) %ea2in' for a Bourne" i) con)idered %uc*". T i) i) 0ecau)e an e%e. ant re.re)ent) -ord Gane) a5 t e Indian God 7 o i) t e ar0in'er of 'ood %uc* and re!o2e) o0)tac%e). Si!i%ar%"5 ot er au).iciou) )i'n) cou%d 0e ca7in' of a 0%ac* cro7 in oneF) ou)e5 a) it foreca)t) t e arri2a% of 'ue)t). Seein' a .eacoc* on a Bourne" i) a%)o con)idered %uc*"5 0ut earin' it) ) ri%% )ound i) 0ad. Indian) fee% a.." if a ).arro7 0ui%d) a ne)t in a ne7 ou)e 0ecau)e it )i'na%) 'ood fortune. A 2er" o%d 0e%ief i) t at if "ou *i%% a cat5 "ou a2e to offer one in 'o%d to a .rie)t. T i) 0e%ief or )u.er)tition 7a) concocted 0" t e .rie)t) to .rotect t e cat)5 7 ic are u)efu% in *i%%in' t e rat) in .eo.%eF) ou)e). -ea2in' oneF) o!e after 7eddin' or for )o!e ot er i!.ortant ta)* i) a )i'nificant occa)ion. T u)5 Indian) often con)u%t a)tro%o'ica% c art) to fi6 an au).iciou) ti!e for t i). A'ain5 it i) con)idered %uc*" to )ee cerea%)5 .add"5 cotton5 a" or a ne7%" 7ed 0efore e!0ar*in' on a Bourne". In India5 "ou !a" a%)o co!e acro)) or ear a0out .eo.%e 7 o e%. in inter.retin' ot erF) drea!). E2en t e dai%" %ife of Indian) i) 'o2erned 0" 0e%ief) and )u.er)tition). 1or e6a!.%e5 4onda" i) not an au).iciou) da" for ) a2in' and T ur)da" i) a 0ad da" for 7a) in' oneF) air.
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Ne2er *ee. "our ead to7ard nort 7 i%e )%ee.in' *ee. to7ard) )out or ea)t on%" for .eacefu%/ re)tfu% )%ee. P ea%t " %ife. 1. /o not .roceed5 if a cat cut) acro)) "our 7a" 2. If t ere i) itic in' on t e ri' t .a%! >%eft for fe!a%e? "ou can 'et )o!e !one" or fa2our). $. ;nu)ua% 7in*in' of e"e) i) a )"!.to! of i%% %uc* or decea)e. 4. If a %iCard !a*e) a )ound 7 en "ou !a*e a )tate!ent5 it ) o7) t at 7 at "ou )aid i) true. 5. Tue)da") are inau).eciou) for an" 'ood t in' ,. T ere are t7o !ont ) in a "ear 7 ic are inau)c.eciou) 7. &atc in' !oon on Gane) C aturt i da" i) inau).eciou) #. Stitc in' c%ot after )un )et i) a 0ad .ractice (. Ne2er )%ee. 7it ead to t e nort

1+. S.e%% "our na!e accordin' to nu!ero%o'ica%%" au).eciou) 7a". e'. Ia"a%a%it a a) Ia"a%a%it aa. 11. Ne2er ca%% one 0ac* 7 en t e .er)on i) %ea2in' t e ou)e. 12. Ne2er 7a) t e front cour"ard i!!ediate%" after )o!eone %ea2e) t e ou)e. 1$. Not to cut nai%) at ni' t/e2enin' 14. If a cat cro))e) t e .at 5 7ait for a 7 i%e and t en !o2e a ead a) a cat cuttin' one) .at i) a 0ad o!en 15. & en a cro7 cro7) at )o!e one) 7indo75 it announce) t e arri2a% of 'ue)t) 1,. If a cat i) eard cr"in'5 it) a 0ad o!en 17. If !i%* ).i%%) 7 i%e 0oi%in' it) 0ad o!en
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1#. At ti!e)5 t ere i) f%utterin' of e"e). >it a..en) to a %ot of .eo.%e? e2en t at indicate) t e a..enin' of 'ood and 0ad in t eir %i2e) >'ood if ri' t e"e f%utter) and 0ad t e ot er 7a" or )o!et in' %i*e t at? 7 en "ou are 'oin' out -t e)e are con)idered 0ad--1.)o!e one a)*) "ou F7 ere are "ou 'oin'HF 2. )o!e 0od" )neeCe odd noD of ti!e) $. a 7ido75 a )in'%e Bra !an or a !an carr"in' oi% or !i%* or a cat cro))in' "our .at . 4. 'oin' 0e%o7 t e %adder. 5. ittin' "our ead or feet on t e t re) o%d.

T e)e are 'ood-1. Eatin' curd) 7it Ba''er" 2. Si' tin' a !arried %ad" 7it f%o7er) on t e ead P *u!*u! on fore ead. $. Si' tin' an e%e. ant or 0ra"in' of a don*e".)ound !ade 0" %iCard) ot er)--not 'ood 4. 4i%* o2er-f%o7in' e6ce.t on )an*rant i da" 5. ).i%%in' of oi%5 tur!eric5 *u!*u! ,. air-cuttin' on tue)da") or in e2enin') 7. -iCard fa%%in' on ead #. :ee.in' !one" in)ide t e 0a' !eant for carr"in' "our .urc a)e.
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(. /oin' t in') durin' ra u-*a%a or tra2e%%in' durin' in au).iciou) ti!e 1+. Gettin' !arried on ne7 !oon da"5or durin' certain !ont ) 11.not %endin' or 0orro7in' after )un )et > %i' tin' t e %a!. in t e e2enin' ? 12.e6c an'in' t in') acro)) t e t e t re) o%d. 1$.'i2in' or ta*in' 7it t e %eft and. 14. Not cro))in' t e 0ro*en .u!.*in) or coconut) on t e road. 15. Crie) of do') P ootin' of o7%).

T e nu!0er of )u.er)tition) and 0%ind 0e%ief) in India i) 2er" %ar'e a) t e Indian )ociet" i) !ade of .eo.%e 0e%on'in' to 2ariou) re%i'iou)5 cu%tura%5 et nic5 %in'ui)tic and racia% 'rou.). T ere are
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!an" co!!on )u.er)tition) in t e .eo.%e 0e%on'in' to 2ariou) 'rou.). On t e ot er and eac 'rou. a) )o!e ).ecia% 0%ind 0e%ief) and )u.er)tition). T e ori'in of 0%ind 0e%ief) and )u.er)tition) in India i) in cu%tura% e6c an'e of different different 'rou.)5 0ot indi'enou) and forei'n. So!e 0%ind 0e%ief) and )u.er)tition) are actua%%" not 0%ind 0e%ief) and )u.er)tition)5 0ut )o!e 7i)do!5 and a%)o e6.erience) of .eo.%e for a %on' ti!e.

Su.er)tition) P B%ind Be%ief) 3e%ated to Nu!0er)

T Nu!0er 15 55 1+5 115 215 515 1+15 1+#5 5+15 1++15 1++# are con)idered a) au).iciou) nu!0er in !aBorit" of .eo.%e5 and t e)e nu!0er) a2e a ).ecia% i!.ortance in Iaini)! and =indui)!. T Nu!0er $ i) con)idered a) an inau).iciou) or e2i% nu!0er. ort odo6 .eo.%e a2oid t i) nu!0er. Tra2e%in' 0" t ree .er)on) to'et er i) a2oided. T Nu!0er 7#, i) con)idered a) an au).iciou) and %uc*" one nu!0er in 4u)%i! co!!unit". T 4an" .eo.%e 0e%ie2e in nu!ero%o'". T e" .refer t eir o7n %uc*" nu!0er) for t ere 2e ic%e) etc. and are read" to .a" 0i' fee for 'ettin' )uc nu!0er).

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Su.er)tition) P B%ind Be%ief) 3e%ated to /irection)

T In =indu and Iain )ociet"5 Ea)t and Nort direction) are con)idered a) au).iciou)5 Sout i) con)idered inau).iciou). &e)t i) a%)o con)idered a) inau).iciou)5 0ut not a) inau).iciou) a) Sout . T e" a2oid to 0ui%d a o!e5 ) o.5 or an" t".e of 0ui%din'5 of 7 ic t e fronta'e of t e 0ui%din' co!e) to Sout . Preferred direction i) Ea)t5 and t en Nort . T 3i' t )ide i) con)idered a) au).iciou)5 7 i%e %eft )ide i) con)idered a) inau).iciou). In an" re%i'iou) ritua%)5 .eo.%e u)e t eir ri' t and. In ritua%) 7ife a%7a") )it on %eft )ide of er u)0and a) ) e i) con)idered a) a )econdar" Ft in'F. E2en at t e ti!e of t e !arria'e5 t e .%ace of t e 0ride i) at t e %eft of t e 'roo!. T .eo.%e 'i2e or ta*e !one"5 orna!ent)5 'ift) or e2en a f%o7er 0" ri' t and on%". T S%ee.in' ead facin' Nort or &e)t i) a2oided.

Su.er)tition) P B%ind Be%ief) 3e%ated to /a")

T 4o)t .eo.%e a2oid cuttin' t eir nai%) on Saturda". T e" a%)o a2oid to ) a2e of cut air) on t i) da". T Bu"in' certain t in') on Saturda" i) a2oided. Suc t in') inc%ude edi0%e oi%. T 4an" .eo.%e a2oid to !a*e .a"!ent) on Saturda".

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T Bu"in' of an" ne7 t in') inc%udin' -and5 =ou)e5 2e ic%e)5 TE5 1rid'e5 Orna!ent)5 Co!.uter) i) .referred on au).iciou) da")5 e).ecia%%" on t e da") of fe)ti2a%). T No !oon da" i) con)idered a) an inau).iciou) da". 4an" .eo.%e t in* t at at t e ni' t of No !oon da"5 G o)t) co!e out and 7ander ere and t ere. T Ec%i.)e of Sun or 4oon i) con)idered a) a 0ad a)tro%o'ica% )i'n. !an" .eo.%e a2oid 0u"in'5 tra2e%in'5 )tartin' ne7 0u)ine)) on )uc occa)ion). T Ne7 ) o.) are )tarted on%" on au).iciou) da")5 e).ecia%%" on fe)ti2a%). T Inau).iciou) da") are a2oided for ) iftin' o!e. So!e .eo.%e do not tra2e% on inau).iciou) da"). T e ori'in of )u.er)tition) a0out Saturda" i) in cu%tura% and 0u)ine)) contact) 7it Ie7i) .eo.%e5 7 o 7ere )ett%ed in &e)t coa)t of India. T e )u.er)tition a0out Saturda" a) 'i2en 0irt to a )a"in' in 4arat i %an'ua'eJ Naa*art"aac a Eaar

S ani7ar5 !ean) Saturda" i) t e da" of o.e%e)) .eo.%e.

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Su.er)tition) P B%ind Be%ief) 3e%ated to Ani!a%)

A) I a2e 7ritten a0o2e5 co7 i) con)idered a) an au).iciou) ani!a% in =indu). ;rine of a co7 i) a )acred t in' for !an" =indu). T e tai% of co7 i) con)idered a) t e !o)t )acred .art of t i) ani!a%. 1or =indu)5 co7 i) !ot er. Be)ide) co75 e%e. ant and )na*e are au).iciou) ani!a%) for =indu). Cro7 i) an i!.ortant 0ird in India in t e )en)e of 0%ind 0e%ief). If a cro7 cro7) in front of a o!e5 it i) con)idered a) an inti!ation of co!in' of re%ati2e) or 'ue)t). O7% i) con)idered a) an inau).iciou) 0ird. If a %iCard fa%%) on oneF) ead or 0od"5 e i) 'oin' to die )oon. >But in actua%5 e %i2e) in fear of deat for !an" da")5 and t en for'et) it?. If a 0ird dro.) on "our ead or 0od"5 it i) a 'ood %uc*.

4ore Su.er)tition) and B%ind Be%eif)

T Peo.%e do not )7ee. t eir ou)e at ni' t5 ot er7i)e5 -a*) !i5 t e Godde)) of .ro).erit" 7i%% %ea2e t e o!e5 t e" t in*. Actua%%"5 t i) 7a) to a2oid !i))in' of )!a%% 2a%ua0%e t in') 7 i%e )7ee.in' 7 en t ere 7a) no e%ectricit" in o%der da"). But t e tradition i) continue. T 4o)t .eo.%e t in* t at !atc in' of oro)co.e i) a !u)t t in' in c oo)in' a 0ride or 'roo!5 for t eir a.." %ife.
83 | P a g e

T Student eat curd 7it )u'ar or Ba''er" 0efore 'oin' to e6a!). T e" 0e%ie2e t at it 7i%% 0rin' 'ood !ar*). T Brea*in' of !irror i) a 0ad )i'n. T S o7in' a !irror to *id) i) a2oided. T Iu)t 0efore fe7 decade)5 ta*in' . oto'ra. ) of *id) 7a) a2oided. T Puttin' a )!a%% ).ot of %a!.0%ac* on a c ee* of *id) )a2e t e! fro! a%% e2i%). T &earin' a 0%ac* t read around "our 7ai)t 7i%% )a2e "ou fro! a%% e2i%). T & en %ea2in' o!e if one )ee) a 7ido75 t at i) not a 'ood )i'n for i!. T If )o!eone i) 'oin' out5 one ) ou%d not a)* i! M& ere are "ou 'oin'HM. If )o!eone a)*) )uc 8ue)tion 7 i%e "ou are 'oin' out5 it i) not a 'ood )i'n. T One ) ou%d not 'i2e )a%t in ot erF) and. If "ou 'i2e it and t ere 7i%% 0e a 8uarre% 0et7een t e! in near future. T If t e coin) in "our and accidenta%%" fa%% do7n5 "ou are 'oin' to 'et !one". >So true5 a) "ou .ic* u. t e coin) and t u) 'et !one"?. T If "our ) oe) are )to%en 0" )o!eone5 "ou are a %uc*" !an. A%% t e e2i% t in') 7it "ou are 'one no7. >R <ou 'et ne7 ) oe)...?

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=ere are )o!e e2er'reen Indian )u.er)tition)Q

/o not e2er %ea2e o!e 7it out con)u%tin' an a)tro%o'er. 3a u and :etu5 t7o o!inou) .%anet)5 are 7aitin' to ruin t in') for "ou. &ait for t e ) u0 !a urat5 0a)ed on t e =indu ca%endar. T i) a%)o o%d) true for 7eddin')5 na!in' cere!onie)5 ou)e7ar!in' rite) and e2er"t in' in %ifeQ

Con)u%t a oro)co.e 0efore 'ettin' "our c i%dren !arried. Go a ead on%" if t e 2irtue) and 'una) !atc .erfect%".

Seein' an e%e. ant durin' a Bourne" i) au).iciou) a) Gane) a5 t e God 7 o re!o2e) o0)tac%e) 7i%% en)ure )ucce)).

A do' o7%in' at ni' t c i%%) t e 0%ood a .ortent of a..roac in' deat .

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& en %ea2in' o!e5 it i) au).iciou) to )ee a 0ride5 a Bra !in or an re%i'iou) ido%. =o7e2er5 )i' tin' a 7ido7 or a 0arren 7o!an i) not %uc*"Q

A ne7 0ride i) Bud'ed 0" t e fortune) or !i)fortune) t at occur in er ne7 fa!i%" for a "ear after !arria'e. S e enter) er ne7 o!e .uttin' er ri' t foot fir)t.

4en)turatin' 7o!en are re'arded unc%ean and are i)o%ated. T e" cannot enter t e *itc en ti%% t e" are @c%eanA a'ain.

Pre'nant 7o!en are not a%%o7ed to tra2e% a%one at ni' t or enter an unin a0ited o!e 0ecau)e ' o)t) !i' t .o))e)) t e!. T e" ) ou%d read re%i'iou) 0oo*) and 7atc in).irin' !o2ie) )o t at t e c i%d 'ro7) u. to 0e a 'ood .er)on.

=iccu.) indicate )o!eone i) t in*in' of "ou. But an itc " e"e refer) to )o!eone !a%i'nin' "ou5 or "our en2" of )o!eone.

A 0ar0er ) o. re!ain) c%o)ed on Tue)da" a) air i) not cut on t at da". Nai%) ) ou%d not 0e cut at ni' t for fear of e2i% ).irit). T7itc in' of t e e"e i) i' %" inau).iciou). An ec%i.)e occur) 7 en 3a u and :etu )7a%%o7 t e )un5 and .eo.%e a2oid eatin' an"t in'5 and 'o and ta*e a di. in ri2er) after it i) o2er.

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& en t ere i) a 0irt or deat in t e fa!i%"5 t e !e!0er) are unc%ean5 and do not 'o to t e te!.%e ti%% t e )ti.u%ated .eriod i) o2er.

T e)e co%orfu% cu)to!)5 no !atter o7 a0)urd5 *ee. t e re%i'iou) fo%* 0u)" and t e irre2erent one) in !irt .

Indian "uneral Tradition!

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#Death Ceremony

1or t e Indian) 5 t e" 0e%ie2e in t e conce.t of re0irt 5 t at deat i) %i*e )%ee. and t e" 7i%% 7a*e u.. Indian )c o%ar a%)o )aid deat i) t e )e.aration of ).irit and 0od" 5 7 ere t e 0od" 7i%% 0e de)tro"ed5 0ut returned to t e under7or%d. In Indian )ociet" 5 t e 0od" 7i%% 0e cre!ated or 0uried . To .erfor! t i) ritua% 5 2ariou) ).ecific cu)to!) 7i%% 0e done

/urin' /eat If a .er)on a) died5 t e 0od" 7i%% 0e .%aced in t e %i2in' roo! . =ead re!ain) e6.o)ed to t e )out and an oi% %a!. or !ounted 2i%a**u a!!an *aa!aatci %it . T en a coconut and 0ete% nut
88 | P a g e

).%it t7o .%aced near t e decea)ed. Incen)e and ca!. or )!o*ed a) a )"!0o% of .eace of !ind of t e decea)ed. Tiruniiru )acred .o7der or ru00ed on t e fore ead of t e decea)ed 0efore di)e!0a "an' . O2er t e cor.)e 7a) in t e ou)e 5 t e decea)ed ) ou%d 0e treated accordin'%". /ead %i!0) ) ou%d 0e )trai' tened 5 t u!0) and feet tied 7it a 7 ite c%ot and .%aced into t e c e)t . /ead e"e) and !out ) ou%d a%)o 0e c%o)ed. On%" t en 7ere t e decea)ed 7ra..ed in c%ot . tur!eric a..%ied on t e e"e) to *i%% 'er!) and ne6t coin i) .%aced on t e fore ead . Bete% nut cru) ed and in)erted into t e !out and no)tri%) are )tuffed 7it cotton . S.rin*%ed 7it ro)e 7ater and cor.)e) 7ere )!o*ed 7it incen)e t at 0urned )o no )!e%% . To ) o7 )adne)) 5 . oto'ra. ) an'in' u.)ide do7n and t e orna!ent) are ta*en out of t e %i2in' roo!. Sacred )on') %i*e tee2aara! 5 and )i!i%ar tiru2aa)a*a! )un' and u. to t e ce!eter" . T e intent i) for t e )ou% of t e decea)ed 0e a%7a") ca%! and .eacefu% . T e 0od" 7i%% 0e 0at ed in ad2ance and %aid on t e 0ed in t e %i2in' roo! or t e o!e .a'e . 4en 7 o a2e a fa!i%" re%ation) i. 7it t e decea)ed can 0rin' 7ater in an odd nu!0er . T e 7ater i) o0tained fro! ri2er) 5 7e%%) or 7ater )ource) 5 e6ce.t 7ater. Iar fi%%ed 7it 7ater 7i%% 0e co2ered 7it d oti c%ot to .re2ent du)t enterin' t e 7ater . T e 7o!en 7i%% ce%e0rate t e 7ater u)ed to 0at e t e cor.)e . Before 0at ed5 oi% and arai..u u)ed to 0e a..%ied to t e ead a) a fina% 0at . T i) oi% ).read) 0" fa!i%" !e!0er) and fo%%o7ed 0" i!!ediate re%ati2e) . T e rear .a%! oi% i) u)ed to )7ee. t i) in)tead of u)in' t e .a%! of t e and a) often . 4ore 0odie) 7a) ed 0" .eo.%e 7 o are

89 | P a g e

o%der. After 7a) ed 5 t e decea)ed 7i%% 0e dre))ed in a ne7 )ari for 7o!en and d oti 0odie) of dead !en. T at 7a) a%read" c%eared 7i%% 0e .%aced in t e %i2in' roo! a) a !ea)ure of o).ita%it".

3e!o2in' cere!on" T aa%i T aa%i 2aan'uta% t e ti!e of t e cere!on" t aa%i off a deat in t e fa!i%". T aa%i t e )acred c ain of !arria'e can on%" 0e re!o2ed 0" a 7ife after er u)0and died. /urin' t e cere!on"5 t e 7ife ) ou%d 0e )ittin' ne6t to t e decea)ed and diBiru) 7it a container of 7ater durin' 0at ed er 0od" . T en t e f%o7er) 7i%% 0e 7orn around t e nec* of t e 7ido7 and t en f%o7er) 7orn around t e decea)ed. Ne6t an o%d 7o!an 7it a fa!i%" re%ation) i. 7i%% o%d t e and of t e decea)ed 7 i%e .uttin' on i) or er nec* 'ar%and) to t e 7ido7 and t e .roce)) i) done t ree ti!e). &ido7 i) re8uired to .%ace a 7reat of f%o7er) into t e oi% -fi%%ed tra"5 f%o7er) and !i%* 0rou' t 0" anot er
90 | P a g e

fe!a%e. T i) i) done to indicate t e u)0and too* a7a" t e t aa%i fro! nec* t e 7ido7 . T en t e T aa%i 7i%% 0e .ut into tra") and *e.t in t e ou)e. Eaai**ari)i cere!on" After 0at in' and 0eautifu%%" decorated 5 t e 0odie) 7i%% 0e .%aced in t e coffin . Ca!. or .ut to'et er t at t e 0od" doe) not )!e%% . T en into t e !out of t e dead 7ou%d .ut )o!e food in a )i'n of t e %a)t and t i) 'rant na!ed 2aai**ari)i . T e food 7i%% 0e inc%uded in t e ora% for! of rice 0odie) are .%aced in a tra" and .%aced near t e ead of t e cor.)e. Before 0ein' .ut into t e !out of cor.)e .araded rice fro! %eft to ri' t . T e coin) are .%aced in t e )a!e tra" 7ra..ed in 7 ite c%ot . T i) i) done 0" 7o!en on%". Eaai**ari)i cere!on" 7i%% 0e .erfor!ed 0" !en in t e ce!eter" are t erefore )tron'%" .ro i0ited 7o!en .artici.atin' to t e ce!eter" . If t e decea)ed a) 'randc i%dren or 'reat-'randc i%dren 5 t e" are re8uired to o%d nei..anta! . Nei. !ean) ' ee and .anta! i) torc . So!e )!a%% )tic*) 7i%% 0e 7ra..ed at t e end 7it a c%ot ru00ed 7it ' ee and %it . Grandc i%dren or 'reat-'randc i%dren 7i%% 0e re8uired around t e 0od" 0" a) !uc a) t ree ti!e) counterc%oc*7i)e . At t e )a!e ti!e )acred )on') .%a"ed. T e c%o)e)t re%ati2e) 7i%% 'i2e t e )ari or d oti of t e decea)ed a) a fina% 'ift . &i%% 0e c%o)ed and %ifted t e coffin to 0e carried to t e ce!eter" 5 at t e )a!e ti!e adudai"a ) inanee .ottri tenna ).eec ca%%ed )e2era% ti!e) to !ar* t e occa)ion 7a) 0%e))ed 0" t e 'od) . 1a!i%" !e!0er) 7i%% circ%e t e 0od" accordin' counterc%oc*7i)e t ree ti!e) a) a )i'n of re).ect.
91 | P a g e

Catti :o%%ic :o%%ic catti !ean) c%a" .ot containin' t e fire . Pot i) %ifted 0" u)in' a ).%it .a%! frond) at t e end of t ree and tied t e .ot. Catti :o%%ic 0rou' t 0" fa!i%" !e!0er) of t e decea)ed eit er c i%dren or .arent) . T e e%de)t )on do for a decea)ed fat er and "oun'e)t )on to !ot er . So!eone 7 o 0rin') *o%%ic catti e)cort t e 0od" . Prior to t e de)ired carrier catti *o%%ic ) a2ed. T i) i!.%ie) t at t e" 7i%% %i2e a..i%" %i*e a ne7 air 'ro7) . So!e e2en ) a2ed i) 0eard or !u)tac e air in .%ace . At t e )a!e ti!e a n"iru fi%%ed 7it in'redient) )uc a) fried rice 5 !u)tard and )e)a!e . A%on' t e 7a" 5 t e !ateria%) are )cattered and e2er" %a)t !ateria% a) it) o7n )"!0o%i)! .

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Buria% T e 0od" of an Indian 7i%% 0e acco!.anied to t e ce!eter" 0" u)in' a )tretc er . ;.on arri2a% at t e ce!eter" 5 t e .o%e) a2e to .a" !one" to t e or'aniCer a) a re7ard to di' t e 'ra2e. T e coffin 7i%% 0e !o2ed )e2era% ti!e) 0efore a..roac in' t e 'ra2e. 4o2e!ent initiated 0" t e c an'e to t e 'ra2e co2er) t e .ortion %e') and t en t e ead. T i) i) %i*e t e !o2e!ent of t e 0a0" in t e 7o!0 . B" t e decea)ed are 0e%ie2ed to 0e in t e 0e%%" of t e Eart Godde)) . T en t e coffin i) .%aced ne6t to t e 'ra2e) of t eir dead 0uried or .%aced on un"u* 0urned fire7ood . T e coin) inc%uded in d oti and .%aced 0et7een t e %e') dead 5 t en ta*en 0" t e !ana'er of t e 'ra2e a) a )i'n of con)ent re!ain) 0uried . Once t e .ra"er i) done 0" a%% 7 o 7ere t ere . Catti :o%%ic carrier or .itc er i) re8uired around t e 0od" t ree ti!e) c%oc*7i)e. T en fo%%o7ed 0" t e underta*er 7i%% .ierce *o%%ic catti 0" )a"in' F )or*a! SEE3 5 SEE3 *aiu%aa)a! Mre.eated%" . in t e t ird round 5 carrier catti *o%%ic in front of t e 0od" and *nee%in' 0efore 0ut do not o2er%oo* t e 0od" . T en t ree .iece) of 7ood and )tac*ed %i' t) 0urned to t e 'round one 0" one. T i) ritua% i) done to reduce t e 'rief of t e decea)ed fa!i%" . After t e 0od" 7a) 0uried5 a u!an for! 7i%% 0e .ainted on t e 'ra2e . A o%e i) !ade in t e ead and t e !i%* 7i%% 0e .oured in t e o%e . So!e e2en incor.orate 'rain) into t e o%e). 1ini) ed t e cere!on"5 a%% attendee) need to t e ou)e of t e decea)ed for 0uria% cu)to! co!.%etion cere!on" 0efore eadin' 0ac* to t e ou)e. After /eat
93 | P a g e

After co!.%etion of t e funera%5 t e fo%%o7in' are )o!e cu)to! !ade. C%eanin' t e =ou)e =ou)e ) ou%d 0e c%eaned a) )oon a) 0rou' t dead to t e 'ra2e . di0e*a) %it oi% %a!.) and .%ace couc dead after fa!i%" !e!0er) ) ou%d ta*e a 0at to 7a) off after a funera% conducted. /iet con)i)tin' of 2e'eta0%e) or ani!a%) do not 0%eed 7i%% 0e )er2ed to fa!i%" !e!0er) of t e decea)ed. Pai% of 7ater 7i%% 0e .%aced in front of t e ou)e and *ee.) t e oi% %a!. %it . 0e)ide) t e .ure du)t and )a%t inc%uded. T en t e fa!i%" !e!0er) are re8uired to touc t e )a%t and a..%" on t e fore ead 0efore enterin' t e ou)e . &ater in)ide t e 0uc*et u)ed to 7a) t e feet and t en ended t e cere!on" 7a) .en'*e0u!i . 1or t o)e 7 o 0rin' *o%%ic catti 7i%% return o!e to do catti *o%%ic cere!on" . Catti *o%%ic carrier !u)t 0at e in t e ri2er or .ond and t en 'o into t e ou)e. T i) i) t e ce))ation of catti *o%%ic cere!on" . Co%%ect Bod" A) e) 1or cre!ated 5 a) e) 7i%% 0e co%%ected t e ne6t da". 1ir)t !i%* 7atered t e a) e) to coo% t e fire. T en a) e) ead .ut in a .ot 5 7 i%e ot er) .ut t e a) e) in a )e.arate .ot . A) t at 7a) .ut in t e .ot to 0e .ra"ed for 0" fa!i%" !e!0er). T ere are t7o 7a") in t e !ana'e!ent of a) e) a!on' t e Indian) 5 t e a) e) eit er 0uried or .ut in a "e%%o7 c%ot and re%ea)ed into t e )ea . 4ourn
94 | P a g e

Indian )ociet" a) 7e%% a) ot er co!!unit" !ournin' after t e occurrence of a deat . 4ournin' .eriod 0e'innin' eit er ei' t or )i6teen da") after deat . if t e" 7ere ei' t da") of !ournin' after t e deat 5 re%ati2e) and friend) 7i%% 'at er at t e o!e of t e decea)ed to 0rin' 2ariou) t".e) of traditiona% di) e) inc%udin' 2e'eta0%e) and fruit). A%% t i) 0rou' t to 0e .re)ented to t e decea)ed. P oto'ra. or .ortrait of t e decea)ed i) .%aced on to. of t e dre))er or 7a%% and t en 7orn around t e attracti2e f%o7er) . At t e )i' t of t e)e .icture) are %it oi% %a!.) and f%o7er) .%anted . T en t e cere!on" )tarted 7it a .ra"er a)*in' God to .rotect t e decea)ed. at t e )a!e ti!e )in'in' )acred )on') .%a"ed. after t e food i) )er2ed to t e 'ue)t) . On t e )i6teent da" of !ournin' 7a) ca%%ed a) *aru!aati t e da" .ra"in'. A tent )et u. 7it a c air . Portrait of t e decea)ed 7ere 0eautifu%%" decorated and a .edanda in2ited to a .ra"er !eetin' . A 0ric* tied 7it t read and 7ra..ed 7it red c%ot and .ut in a .ot. T en t e )tone i) !oi)tened 7it 7ater 5 !i%* 5 coconut 7ater and ro)e7ater . Bric* co%%o8uia% cere!on" 7a) na!ed a) ca% niruttuta% or erect )tone cere!on" . At t e )a!e ti!e )acred )on') .%a"ed. Pra"er done t ree ti!e). E2er" .ra"er 5 !ea%) are )er2ed to t e 'ue)t) . T e fir)t .ra"er .erfor!ed at e%e2en oFc%oc* at ni' t . T e )econd .ra"er i) done at t7e%2e oFc%oc* at ni' t and ear%" !ornin' of t e t ird . T e ne6t da" t e 'ra)) and !a*e .edanda ta*e ) a.e a) a coffin. Gra)) 7i%% 0e 0urned and t e !antra) and .ra"er) read5 !eant t at t e ).irit) of t e decea)ed are a%7a") in a )tate of ca%! and .eace . 1ini) ed .ra"in' cere!on" 5 .edanda 7i%% 0e .aid 7it !one" in t e for! of 7a'e) 5 2e'eta0%e) and fruit) . &it t i) 5 ended t e cere!on" *aru!aati .
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=indu deat ritua%) in a%% tradition) fo%%o7 a fair%" unifor! .attern dra7n fro! t e Eeda)5 7it 2ariation) accordin' to )ect5 re'ion5 ca)te and fa!i%" tradition. 4o)t rite) are fu%fi%%ed 0" t e fa!i%"5 a%% of 7 o! .artici.ate5 inc%udin' t e c i%dren5 7 o need not 0e ) ie%ded fro! t e deat . Certain rite) are traditiona%%" .erfor!ed 0" a .rie)t 0ut !a" a%)o 0e .erfor!ed 0" t e fa!i%" if no .rie)t i) a2ai%a0%e. =ere i) a )i!.%e out%ine of rite) t at can 0e .erfor!ed 0" =indu) in an" %oca%it". Eariation) are noted and )u''e)tion) !ade for =indu) in &e)tern countrie). A) /eat A..roac e) Traditiona%%"5 a =indu die) at o!e. No7ada") t e d"in' are increa)in'%" *e.t in o).ita%)5 e2en 7 en reco2er" i) c%ear%" not .o))i0%e. :no7in' t e !erit) of d"in' at o!e a!on' %o2ed one)5 =indu) 0rin' t e i%% o!e. & en deat i) i!!inent5 *indred are notified. T e .er)on i) .%aced in i) roo! or in t e entr"7a" of t e ou)e5 7it t e ead facin' ea)t. A %a!. i) %it near i) ead5 and e i) ur'ed to concentrate on i) !antra. :indred *ee. 2i'i% unti% t e 'reat de.arture5 )in'in' "!n)5 .ra"in' and readin' )cri.ture. If e cannot co!e o!e5 t i) a..en) at t e o).ita%5 re'ard%e)) of in)titutiona% o0Bection).

T e 4o!ent of /eat If t e d"in' .er)on i) uncon)ciou) at de.arture5 a fa!i%" !e!0er c ant) t e !antra )oft%" in t e ri' t ear. If none i) *no7n5 MAu! Na!o Nara"anaM or MAu! Na!a Si2a"aM i) intoned. >T i) i) a%)o
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done for )udden-deat 2icti!)5 )uc a) on a 0att%efie%d or in a car accident.? =o%" a) or )anda% .a)te i) a..%ied to t e fore ead5 Eedic 2er)e) are c anted5 and a fe7 dro.) of !i%*5 Gan'a or ot er o%" 7ater are tric*%ed into t e !out . After deat 5 t e 0od" i) %aid in t e o!eF) entr"7a"5 7it t e ead facin' )out 5 on a cot or t e 'round--ref%ectin' a return to t e %a. of 4ot er Eart . T e %a!. i) *e.t %it near t e ead and incen)e 0urned. A c%ot i) tied under t e c in and o2er t e to. of t e ead. T e t u!0) are tied to'et er5 a) are t e 0i' toe). In a o).ita%5 t e fa!i%" a) t e deat certificate )i'ned i!!ediate%" and tran).ort) t e 0od" o!e. ;nder no circu!)tance) ) ou%d t e 0od" 0e e!0a%!ed or or'an) re!o2ed for u)e 0" ot er). 3e%i'iou) .icture) are turned to t e 7a%%5 and in )o!e tradition) !irror) are co2ered. 3e%ati2e) are 0ec*oned to 0id fare7e%% and )in' )acred )on') at t e )ide of t e 0od". T e =o!a 1ire 3itua%

If a2ai%a0%e5 a ).ecia% funera% .rie)t i) ca%%ed. In a ) e%ter 0ui%t 0" t e fa!i%"5 a fire ritua% > o!a? i) .erfor!ed to 0%e)) nine 0ra)) *u!0 a) >7ater .ot)? and one c%a" .ot. -ac*in' t e ) e%ter5 an a..ro.riate fire i) !ade in t e o!e. T e Mc ief !ournerM %ead) t e rite). =e i) t e e%de)t )on in t e ca)e of t e fat erF) deat 5 and t e "oun'e)t )on in t e ca)e of t e !ot erF). In )o!e tradition)5 t e e%de)t )on )er2e) for 0ot 5 or t e 7ife5 )on-in-%a7 or neare)t !a%e re%ati2e. Pre.arin' t e Bod"

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T e c ief !ourner no7 .erfor!) arati5 .a))in' an oi% %a!. o2er t e re!ain)5 t en offerin' f%o7er). T e !a%e >or fe!a%e5 de.endin' on t e 'ender of t e decea)ed? re%ati2e) carr" t e 0od" to t e 0ac* .orc 5 re!o2e t e c%ot e) and dra.e it 7it a 7 ite c%ot . >If t ere i) no .orc 5 t e 0od" can 0e ).on'e 0at ed and .re.ared 7 ere it i).? Eac a..%ie) )e)a!e oi% to t e ead5 and t e 0od" i) 0at ed 7it 7ater fro! t e nine *u!0 a)5 dre))ed5 .%aced in a coffin >or on a .a%an8uin? and carried to t e o!a ) e%ter. T e "oun' c i%dren5 o%din' )!a%% %i' ted )tic*)5 encirc%e t e 0od"5 )in'in' "!n). T e 7o!en t en 7a%* around t e 0od" and offer .uffed rice into t e !out to nouri) t e decea)ed for t e Bourne" a ead. A 7ido7 7i%% .%ace er ta%i >7eddin' .endant? around er u)0andF) nec*5 )i'nif"in' er endurin' tie to i!. T e coffin i) t en c%o)ed. If una0%e to 0rin' t e 0od" o!e5 t e fa!i%" arran'e) to c%ean and dre)) it at t e !ortuar" rat er t an %ea2e t e)e dutie) to )tran'er). T e ritua% o!a fire can 0e !ade at o!e or *ind%ed at t e cre!atoriu!. Cre!ation On%" !en 'o to t e cre!ation )ite5 %ed 0" t e c ief !ourner. T7o .ot) are carriedJ t e c%a" *u!0 a and anot er containin' 0urnin' e!0er) fro! t e o!a. T e 0od" i) carried t ree ti!e) counterc%oc*7i)e around t e ."re5 t en .%aced u.on it. A%% circu!a!0u%atin'5 and )o!e arati5 in t e rite) i) counterc%oc*7i)e. If a coffin i) u)ed5 t e co2er i) no7 re!o2ed. T e !en offer .uffed rice a) t e 7o!en did ear%ier5 co2er t e 0od" 7it 7ood and offer incen)e and ' ee. &it t e c%a" .ot on i) %eft ) ou%der5 t e c ief !ourner circ%e) t e ."re 7 i%e o%din' a fire 0rand 0e ind i) 0ac*. At eac turn around t e ."re5 a re%ati2e *noc*) a o%e in t e .ot 7it a *nife5 %ettin' 7ater out5 )i'nif"in' %ifeF)
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%ea2in' it) 2e))e%. At t e end of t ree turn)5 t e c ief !ourner dro.) t e .ot. T en5 7it out turnin' to face t e 0od"5 e %i' t) t e ."re and %ea2e) t e cre!ation 'round). T e ot er) fo%%o7. At a 'a)fue%ed cre!atoriu!5 )acred 7ood and ' ee are .%aced in)ide t e coffin 7it t e 0od". & ere .er!itted5 t e 0od" i) carried around t e c a!0er5 and a )!a%% fire i) %it in t e coffin 0efore it i) con)i'ned to t e f%a!e). T e cre!ation )7itc t en i) en'a'ed 0" t e c ief !ourner. 3eturn =o!eD 3itua% I!.urit" 3eturnin' o!e5 a%% 0at e and ) are in c%eanin' t e ou)e. A %a!. and 7ater .ot are )et 7 ere t e 0od" %a" in )tate. T e 7ater i) c an'ed dai%"5 and .icture) re!ain turned to t e 7a%%. T e ) rine roo! i) c%o)ed5 7it 7 ite c%ot dra.in' a%% icon). /urin' t e)e da") of ritua% i!.urit"5 fa!i%" and c%o)e re%ati2e) do not 2i)it ot er)F o!e)5 t ou' nei' 0or) and re%ati2e) 0rin' dai%" !ea%) to re%ie2e t e 0urden) durin' !ournin'. Neit er do t e" attend fe)ti2a%) and te!.%e)5 2i)it )7a!i)5 nor ta*e .art in !arria'e arran'e!ent). So!e o0)er2e t i) .eriod u. to one "ear. 1or t e deat of friend)5 teac er) or )tudent)5 o0)er2ance) are o.tiona%. & i%e !ournin' i) ne2er )u..re))ed or denied5 )cri.ture) ad!oni) a'ain)t e6ce))i2e %a!entation and encoura'e Bo"ou) re%ea)e. T e de.arted )ou% i) acute%" con)ciou) of e!otiona% force) directed at i!. Pro%on'ed 'rie2in' can o%d i! in eart %" con)ciou)ne))5 in i0itin' fu%% tran)ition to t e ea2en 7or%d). In =indu Ba%i5 it i) ) a!efu% to cr" for t e dead. Bone-Gat erin' Cere!on"
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A0out 12 our) after cre!ation5 fa!i%" !en return to co%%ect t e re!ain). &ater i) ).rin*%ed on t e a) D t e re!ain) are co%%ected on a %ar'e tra". At cre!atoriu!) t e fa!i%" can arran'e to .er)ona%%" 'at er t e re!ain)J a) e) and )!a%% .iece) of 7 ite 0one ca%%ed Mf%o7er).M In cre!atoriu!) t e)e are 'round to du)t5 and arran'e!ent) !u)t 0e !ade to .re)er2e t e!. A) e) are carried or )ent to India for de.o)ition in t e Gan'e) or .%aced in an au).iciou) ri2er or t e ocean5 a%on' 7it 'ar%and) and f%o7er). 1ir)t 4e!oria% On t e $rd5 5t 5 7t or (t da"5 re%ati2e) 'at er for a !ea% of t e decea)edF) fa2orite food). A .ortion i) offered 0efore i) . oto and %ater cere!onia%%" %eft at an a0andoned .%ace5 a%on' 7it )o!e %it ca!. or. Cu)to!) for t i) .eriod are 2aried. So!e offer .inda >rice 0a%%)? dai%" for nine da"). Ot er) co!0ine a%% t e)e offerin') 7it t e fo%%o7in' )a.indi*arana ritua%) for a fe7 da") or one da" of cere!onie). $1)t-/a" 4e!oria% On t e $1)t da"5 a !e!oria% )er2ice i) e%d. In )o!e tradition) it i) a re.etition of t e funera% rite). At o!e5 a%% t orou' %" c%ean t e ou)e. A .rie)t .urifie) t e o!e and .erfor!) t e )a.indi*arana5 !a*in' one %ar'e .inda >re.re)entin' t e decea)ed? and t ree )!a%%5 re.re)entin' t e fat er5 'randfat er and 'reat-'randfat er. T e %ar'e 0a%% i) cut in t ree .iece) and Boined 7it t e )!a%% .inda) to ritua%%" unite t e )ou% 7it t e ance)tor) in t e ne6t 7or%d. T e .inda) are fed to t e cro7)5
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to a co7 or t ro7n in a ri2er for t e fi) . So!e .erfor! t i) rite on t e 11t da" after cre!ation. Ot er) .erfor! it t7iceJ on t e $1)t da" or >11t 5 15t 5 etc.? and after one "ear. Once t e fir)t )a.indi*arana i) co!.%eted5 t e ritua% i!.urit" end). 4ont %" re.etition i) a%)o co!!on for one "ear. One-<ear 4e!oria% At t e "ear%" anni2er)ar" of t e deat >accordin' to t e !oon ca%endar?5 a .rie)t conduct) t e ) radd a rite) in t e o!e5 offerin' .inda to t e ance)tor). T i) cere!on" i) done "ear%" a) %on' a) t e )on) of t e decea)ed are a%i2e >or for a ).ecified .eriod?. It i) no7 co!!on in India to o0)er2e ) radd a for ance)tor) Bu)t .rior to t e "ear%" Na2aratri fe)ti2a%. T i) ti!e i) a%)o a..ro.riate for ca)e) 7 ere t e da" of deat i) un*no7n. =indu funera% rite) can 0e )i!.%e or e6ceedin'%" co!.%e6. T e)e ten )te.)5 de2oted%" co!.%eted accordin' to t e cu)to!)5 !ean)5 and a0i%it" of t e fa!i%"5 7i%% .ro.er%" conc%ude one eart %" )oBourn of an" =indu )ou%. After a .er)on .a))e) a7a"5 t e cre!ation i) done accordin' to certain ritua%). T e ritua%) continue a fe7 da") after t e deat . T e ti!e after t e deat or .a))in' a7a" of a .er)on in India i) 'i2en a %ot of i!.ortance. A) .er t e =indu =o%" Scri.ture %i*e t e B a'7at Gita5 it i) 0e%ie2ed t at t e )ou% of t e .er)on 7 o a) Bu)t .a))ed a7a" i) on it) 7a" to t e ne6t %e2e% of e6i)tence at )uc a ti!e. A) )uc 5

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it i) 7it an intention to e%. t e de.arted )ou% in a .eacefu% cro))o2er to t at ne6t %e2e% of i) / er e6i)tence5 t at Indian) o0)er2e )o !an" deat rite) and ritua%). One )uc =indu deat cere!on" i) t e Tera2i . It i) a .eriod of !ournin' o0)er2ed 0" Indian .eo.%e5 )tartin' fro! t e da" of t e deat of a .articu%ar .er)on5 7 et er !a%e5 fe!a%e or c i%dren5 to t e 1$t da" after i) / er funera%. /urin' tera2i deat ritua%5 t ere are !an" ru%e) t at t e fa!i%" !e!0er) of t e decea)ed a2e to o0)er2e. 1or in)tance5 t e" are not )u..o)ed to attend re%i'iou) function)5 eat certain food) %i*e )7eet)5 7ear ne7 c%ot e) or .artici.ate in an" cu%tura% acti2it" or fe)ti2it". T e 0a)ic idea 0e ind t e Indian)F fo%%o7in' a%% t e)e funera% tradition) i) to ) o7 re2erence to t e decea)ed .er)on. Nor!a%%" durin' t i) ti!e5 a%% t e fa!i%" !e!0er) ) are eac ot er) )orro7) and .ra"5 )o t at t e )ou% of t e decea)ed .er)on re)t) .eacefu%%". T ou' itF) 0a)ica%%" durin' tera2i t at t e deat rite) are )trict%" o0)er2ed5 0ut traditiona%%"5 t e deat rite) in =indu re%i'ion e6tend u. to a "ear. At t e end of one "ear5 a%% e%der%" !e!0er) of t e decea)ed .er)on 'at er once a'ain for t e S raad cere!on". T e $rd5 5t 5 7t or (t da" after t e deat of t e .er)on are a%)o i!.ortant5 a) a%% re%ati2e) 'at er to a2e a !ea% of t e decea)edF) fa2orite food). A )!a%% a!ount of t e food i) offered 0efore i) / er . oto and %ater5 it i) cere!onia%%" %eft at an a0andoned .%ace5 a%on' 7it a %it di"a. =o7e2er5 t ere !a" 0e )%i' t 2ariation) in t e 7a" .eo.%e of different re%i'iou) )ect o0)er2e t i) deat rite.
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T e ti!e after t e deat or .a))in' a7a" of a .er)on in India i) 'i2en a %ot of i!.ortance. A) .er t e =indu =o%" Scri.ture %i*e t e B a'7at Gita5 it i) 0e%ie2ed t at t e )ou% of t e .er)on 7 o a) Bu)t .a))ed a7a" i) on it) 7a" to t e ne6t %e2e% of e6i)tence at )uc a ti!e. A) )uc 5 it i) 7it an intention to e%. t e de.arted )ou% in a .eacefu% cro))o2er to t at ne6t %e2e% of i) / er e6i)tence5 t at Indian) o0)er2e )o !an" deat rite) and ritua%). One )uc =indu deat cere!on" i) t e Tera2i . It i) a .eriod of !ournin' o0)er2ed 0" Indian .eo.%e5 )tartin' fro! t e da" of t e deat of a .articu%ar .er)on5 7 et er !a%e5 fe!a%e or c i%dren5 to t e 1$t da" after i) / er funera%. /urin' tera2i deat ritua%5 t ere are !an" ru%e) t at t e fa!i%" !e!0er) of t e decea)ed a2e to o0)er2e. 1or in)tance5 t e" are not )u..o)ed to attend re%i'iou) function)5 eat certain food) %i*e )7eet)5 7ear ne7 c%ot e) or .artici.ate in an" cu%tura% acti2it" or fe)ti2it". T e 0a)ic idea 0e ind t e Indian)F fo%%o7in' a%% t e)e funera% tradition) i) to ) o7 re2erence to t e decea)ed .er)on. Nor!a%%" durin' t i) ti!e5 a%% t e fa!i%" !e!0er) ) are eac ot er) )orro7) and .ra"5 )o t at t e )ou% of t e decea)ed .er)on re)t) .eacefu%%". T ou' itF) 0a)ica%%" durin' tera2i t at t e deat rite) are )trict%" o0)er2ed5 0ut traditiona%%"5 t e deat rite) in =indu re%i'ion e6tend u. to a "ear. At t e end of one "ear5 a%% e%der%" !e!0er) of t e decea)ed .er)on 'at er once a'ain for t e S raad cere!on". T e $rd5 5t 5 7t or (t da" after t e deat of t e .er)on are a%)o i!.ortant5 a) a%% re%ati2e) 'at er to a2e a !ea% of t e decea)edF) fa2orite food). A )!a%% a!ount of t e food
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i) offered 0efore i) / er . oto and %ater5 it i) cere!onia%%" %eft at an a0andoned .%ace5 a%on' 7it a %it di"a. =o7e2er5 t ere !a" 0e )%i' t 2ariation) in t e 7a" .eo.%e of different re%i'iou) )ect o0)er2e t i) deat rite. After t e deat of a fa!i%" !e!0er5 t e re%ati2e) 0eco!e in2o%2ed in cere!onie) for .re.aration of t e 0od" and a .roce))ion to t e 0urnin' or 0uria% 'round. 1or !o)t =indu)5 cre!ation i) t e idea% !et od for dea%in' 7it t e dead5 a%t ou' !an" 'rou.) .ractice 0uria% in)teadD infant) are 0uried rat er t an cre!ated. At t e funera% )ite5 in t e .re)ence of t e !a%e !ourner)5 t e c%o)e)t re%ati2e of t e decea)ed >u)ua%%" t e e%de)t )on? ta*e) c ar'e of t e fina% rite and5 if it i) cre!ation5 %i' t) t e funera% ."re. After a cre!ation5 a) e) and fra'!ent) of 0one are co%%ected and e2entua%%" i!!er)ed in a o%" ri2er. After a funera%5 e2er"one under'oe) a .urif"in' 0at . T e i!!ediate fa!i%" re!ain) in a )tate of inten)e .o%%ution for a )et nu!0er of da") >)o!eti!e) ten5 e%e2en5 or t irteen?. At t e end of t at .eriod5 c%o)e fa!i%" !e!0er) !eet for a cere!onia% !ea% and often 'i2e 'ift) to t e .oor or to c aritie). A .articu%ar feature of t e =indu ritua% i) t e .re.aration of rice 0a%%) >.inda? offered to t e ).irit of t e dead .er)on durin' !e!oria% )er2ice). In .art t e)e cere!onie) are )een a) contri0utin' to t e !erit of t e decea)ed5 0ut t e" a%)o .acif" t e )ou% )o t at it 7i%% not %in'er in t i) 7or%d a) a ' o)t 0ut 7i%% .a)) t rou' t e rea%! of <a!a5 t e 'od of deat .

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Indians festi$als
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Indian 1a!i%" Ea%ue S")te! Ea%ue) can 0e defined a) certain attitude) and 0e%ief) t at a .er)on fo%%o7) in i) conduct. T o)e )tandard) a) .er 7 ic an indi2idua% Bud'e) i) o7n action)5 7 et er e i) ri' t or 7ron' can 0e ca%%ed a) 2a%ue). Ea%ue )")te! co!.ri)e) of a%% t o)e 0e%ief) and 2ie7.oint) t at t e .arent) .a)) on t eir ne6t 'eneration5 t e" furt er .a)) it on to t eir off).rin' and )o5 t e %e'ac" 'oe) on and on. No7 %et u) co!e to t e FIndian 1a!i%" Ea%ue S")te!F - 7 at i) it and o7 doe) it inf%uence indi2idua%). In t e Indian cu%ture5 t ere are certain ru%e) and re'u%ation) t at eac and e2er" c i%d i) tau' t ri' t fro! i) c i%d ood. E6a!.%e) of Indian fa!i%" 2a%ue) are - a "oun' .er)on ) ou%d a%7a") touc t e feet of i) e%der)D e ) ou%d ne2er ).ea* in a i' or rude tone to t o)e 7 o are o%der to i!D e ) ou%d a%7a") 'i2e re).ect to e%der) and refer to t e! a) Faa.FD e ) ou%d not con)u!e a%co o% and to0acco or )!o*e ci'arette)D e ) ou%d re).ect 7o!enD e ) ou%d a%7a") ).ea* trut and tr" to

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en'a'e in non-2io%ent 0e a2iorD and )o on. 4o)t of t e 2a%ue) t at t e .arent) i!.art to t eir c i%dren in India5 a) a .art of t e fa!i%" 2a%ue )")te!5 are )i!i%ar in nature. =o7e2er5 t ere !a" 0e )o!e 2ariation) too5 de.endin' u.on different fa!i%ie). 1or in)tance5 in )o!e ou)e)5 'ir%) are not a%%o7ed to. 7ear )*irt) after t e" reac certain a'e5 7 i%e in ot er)5 t e" can 7ear an"t in'5 a) %on' a) it i) decent and not 0od"-re2ea%in'. E2en t e)e 2ariation) are 8uite tri2ia%5 a) t e 0a)ic e))ence 0e ind t e! re!ain)5 !ore or %e)5 t e )a!e. 4o)t of t e 2a%ue) t at t e Indian .arent) 0e%ie2e in i!.artin' to t eir c i%dren do not a..ea% to t e out)ide 7or%d. But t en5 it i) t e)e 0e%ief) t at !a*e India t e 7onderfu% countr" t at it i) toda".

So!e ot er 2a%ue) t at are .art of IndiaF) cu%tura% erita'e areJ

-i2in' .eacefu%%" and re).ectin' eac ot erF) ri' t). Ne2er e2er co!.ro!i)in' on inte'rit" for t e .ur.o)e of .ro).erit". 4aintain )tron' 0ond) 7it t e fa!i%" !e!0er) a) 7e%% a) re%ati2e). Bein' o).ita0%e to e2er"one 7 o co!e) to "our o!e5 irre).ecti2e of i) ca)te5 creed5 financia% .o)ition or )tatu).

Treatin' 'ue)t a) God i.e. FAtit i /e2o B a2aF. 3e!e!0erin' and 0o7in' to God fir)t t in' in t e !ornin'. Indu%'in' in "o'a and !editation.
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A%7a") ta*in' t e ad2ice of e%der) in ca)e of an" i!.ortant deci)ion.

1a)tin' in India :ee.in' a fa)t i) an inte'ra% .art of t e Indian cu%ture and tradition. It 0a)ica%%" connote) 7i%%in'%" a0)tainin' one)e%f fro! eatin' certain or an" *ind of food5 drin* or 0ot . It i) *no7n a) Erat in Indian ou)e o%d). T e .eriod of fa)tin' a%)o 2arie) i.e. it cou%d 0e .artia% or .ro%on' for 24 our). So!e .eo.%e of certain Indian re%i'iou) )ect) %i*e t e Iain) are *no7n to *ee. a fa)t for 7ee*) at a )tretc 5 t ou' t i) t".e of re%i'iou) fa)tin' a) no7 0een 0anned in India. T ou' .eo.%e in India !a" *ee. a fa)t for 2aried rea)on)5 t e !o)t i!.ortant one) .ertain to re%i'ion and ).iritua% a).ect). T ere are !ention) a0out fa)tin' in !an" Indian re%i'iou) )cri.ture). A) .er !o)t =indu )acred 0oo*) %i*e t e B a'7ad Gita and ot er)5 fa)tin' e%.) create an attune!ent 7it t e a0)o%ute 0" e)ta0%i) in' a ar!oniou) re%ation) i. 0et7een t e 0od" and t e )ou%. One i) e6.ected to %i2e .iou)%"5 'i2e c arit" and refrain fro! eatin' non-2e'etarian food 7 ene2er o0)er2in' fa)t for a ).iritua% or re%i'iou) .ur.o)e in India. Our re%i'iou) )cri.ture) )tate fa)tin' i) not on%" a .art of 7or) i.5 0ut a 'reat in)tru!ent for incu%catin' )e%f-di)ci.%ine too. A.art fro! certain =indu fe)ti2a%) %i*e S i2ratri5 :ar2a C aut and )o on5 t ere are ).ecific da") on 7 ic Indian) *ee. fa)t fro! 2aried rea)on). 1or in)tance5 .eo.%e fa)t on Tue)da") for -ord =anu!an5 t e Indian !on*e" God. On 1rida")5 t e de2otee) of t e Godde)) Santo) i 4ata a0)tain fro! ta*in' an"t in' citric. T ere i) a%)o anot er t".e of fa)tin' 7 en .eo.%e fore'o ta*in' a%%
108 | P a g e

cerea%) and eat on%" fruit). Suc fa)tin' i) ca%%ed P a%a ar. =o7e2er5 t ere are !an" ot er) 7 o *ee. a fa)t )o%e%" for !aintainin' 'ood ea%t . Peo.%e a%)o fa)t t e)e da") for ea%t rea)on) 0ecau)e fa)tin' e%.) in t e deto6ification of t e 0od". E2er"one 7ant) to %oo* 'ood and fit t e)e da"). A) )uc 5 "ou 7i%% find !an" "oun')ter) in India fa)tin'. In !edica% conte6t5 fa)tin' refer) to t e )tate ac ie2ed after di'e)tion of a !ea%. A nu!0er of !eta0o%ic adBu)t!ent) occur durin' fa)tin' and !an" !edica% dia'no)tic te)t) are )tandardiCed to fa)tin' condition). T u) fa)tin' a) 0ot re%i'iou) and !edica% )i'nificance in India.

One of t e 0i''e)t Indian fe)ti2a%) in 4a%a")ia i) T ai.u)a!. T ai.u)a! i) a re%i'iou) fe)ti2a% dedicated to t e Ta!i% deit" 4uru'an 7 ic occur) on t e da" in t e Indian

!ont of Pau) a >Ianuar"1e0ruar"? 7 en t e a)teri)! Poo)a! i) on t e a)cendant. It i) ce%e0rated in 'rand )t"%e in t e te!.%e) ofSin'a.ore5 Penan'5 and :ua%a -u!.ur for t ree da"). In :ua%a -u!.ur5 T ai.u)a! a) 0eco!e an a%!o)t nationa% )eat for Poo)a! ce%e0ration). T e 2enue of t e :ua%a -u!.ur ce%e0ration) i) a .icture)8ue ) rine ri' t in)ide a ca2e t at %ie) !an" feet a0o2e t e 'round5 and can on%" 0e a..roac ed 0" a )tee. c%i!0. T i) .%ace5 *no7n a) Batu
109 | P a g e

Ca2e)5 i) a0out ei' t !i%e) fro! t e cit"5 and a c ariot .roce))ion carr"in' t e i!a'e of t e deit" to and fro! t e .%ace add) to t e co%or and 'aiet" of t e fe)ti2a%. Cro7d) fro! a%% o2er t e countr" t ron' to t e ca2e5 inc%udin' .eo.%e of a%% c%a))e) and 'rou.). It i) a0o2e a%% a da" of .enance5 on 7 ic a%% *ind) of 2o7) are fu%fi%%ed. A 42.7! i' )tatue of -ord 4uru'an 7a) 0ui%t at Batu Ca2e) and 7a) un2ei%ed in Ianuar" 2++,5 a2in' ta*en $ "ear) to con)truct. One of t e !o)t )i'nificant rite) .erfor!ed i) t e carr"in' of t e *a2adi5 a %ar'e 7ooden decorated arc 5 a) an act of .enance. & en deitie) 7ere ta*en on .roce))ion fro! one ) rine to anot er5 t e" 7ou%d 0e fo%%o7ed 0" a nu!0er of t e)e 2o%untar" *a2adi-0earer). In ot er to7n) and e)tate)5 *a2adi) 7ou%d 0e ta*en for ot er fe)ti2a%) %i*e C ittirai Paru2a!. A) 0ac* in t e Indian countr"5 )o!e of t e !ore ri'id .ractitioner) 7ou%d 0ear ).i*e)5 ).ear)5 and oo*) .ierced into t eir 0odie). T e C ittirai Paru2a! fe)ti2a% and fe)ti2a%) to t e Ta!i% deit" 4aria!!an are u)ua%%" acco!.anied 0" a fire-7a%*in' cere!on".K1$L /ee.a2a%i or /i7a%i i) anot er .o.u%ar =indu fe)ti2a% 7 ic i) t e F1e)ti2a% of -i' t)F and ce%e0rated 0" a%% =indu co!!unit". 4a*ar San*ranti i) a fe)ti2a% of t e Indian) occurrin' on t e fir)t or )econd 7ee* of t e !ont of Pau) a. In India it i) ce%e0rated a) a ar2e)t fe)ti2a% 7 en t e fir)t 'rain) are 'at ered and 0rou' t in for t e cere!on".K1$L T e 4a%a"a%ee) ce%e0rate Ei) u5 4a%a"a%a! ne7 "ear 7 ic u)ua%%" fa%%) on t e !ont of A.ri% or 4a%a"a%a! !ont of 4eda!. Ona! i) t e !o)t .o.u%ar fe)ti2a% 7 ic 0a)ed on t e 4a%a"a%a! ca%endar and u)ua%%" o0)er2ed on t e !ont of Au'u)t or Se.te!0er. Poora! i) a%)o a !aBor fe)ti2a% ce%e0rated 0" t e 4a%a"a%i co!!unit" in
110 | P a g e

4a%a")ia. T e Te%u'u) ce%e0rate ;'adi5 Te%u'u ne7 "ear 0a)ed on t e %unar ca%endar a) co!.ared to )o%ar ca%endar 7 ic i) ce%e0rated 0" Ta!i%) and Si* ). San*rant i i) anot er !aBor fe)ti2a% for Te%u'u) 7 ic i) a%)o ce%e0rated a) .on'a% 0" Ta!i%). T e 1e)ti2a%) of t e C ri)tian fait .racticed 0" t e 4a%a")ian Indian co!!unitie) are Ea)ter5 A%% Sou%)F /a"5 and C ri)t!a). In t e I)%a!ic fait 5 3a!adan5 =ari 3a"a Aidi%fitri and =ari 3a"a Aidi%ad a i) o0)er2ed and ce%e0rated 0" Indian 4u)%i!).

111 | P a g e

T ai.u)a! Ce%e0ration T ai.u)a! )i'nifie) t e da" t e =indu Godde)) Par2ati 0e)to7ed u.on er )on5 -ord Su0ra!ania! >a%)o *no7n a) -ord 4uru'a?5 t e N2e%O or %ance to de)tro" t e e2i% de!on5
112 | P a g e

Soora.ada!. T e %ance denote) ).iritua% in)i' t5 t e a0i%it" to differentiate ri' t fro! 7ron'5 ri' teou)ne)) and )tead fa)tne)). =indu) of 4a%a")ia ce%e0rate T ai.u)a! annua%%" on t e tent !ont of t e =indu Ca%endar5 t e !ont of T ai. It coincide) 7it t e fu%% !oon at t e end of Ianuar" and 0e'innin' of 1e0ruar". T ai.u)a! i) !ade u. of t7o 7ord)5 FT aiF i) t e na!e of t e =indu !ont 7 ic fa%%) 0et7een Ianuar" 15 to 1e0ruar" 15 and FPu)a!F refer) to t e na!e of t e )tar t at i) t e 0ri' te)t durin' t e .eriod of t i) fe)ti2a%. T e 0e)t 7a" to e6.erience t e fe)ti2a% i) to 'o out to Batu Ca2e) on t e 11t of 1e0ruar" 2++,. Before t e e2ent5 =indu) .re.are t e!)e%2e) 0" fa)tin'5 .ra"in' and o0)er2in' au)teritie) and in :-5 it cu%!inate) in a t ree-da" fe)ti2a%. On t e e2e of T ai.u)a!5 a 5-tonne )i%2er c ariot 0earin' -ord Su0ra!ania!A) i!a'e %ea2e) t e Sri 4a a!aria!an Te!.%e at Ia%an Tun =.S. -ee in C inato7n on it) 7a" to Batu Ca2e). Touri)t) fro! a%% o2er t e 7or%d fore'o t eir )%ee. to 7itne)) t i) .roce))ion. One of T ai.u)a!A) !ain feature) i) t e carr"in' of *a2adi)5 t e *a2adi i) a )i!.%e fra!e of 2ar"in' )iCe) decorated 7it co%oured .a.er)5 tin)e%)5 .eacoc* .%u!e)5 !i%* or one" .ot)5 fre) f%o7er) or fruit). T e carr"in' of a *a2adi fu%fi%%) a 2o7 !ade 0" t e de2otee to t e A%!i' t". T e *a2adi 0earer) 7i%% c%i!0 t e 272 )te.) t at %ead to t e entrance of t e 'reat Batu Ca2e and t eir fina% de)tination5 to t e deit" i!)e%f5 -ord Su0ra!ania!. T ree da") 0efore t e fe)ti2a%5 t e 'round) of Batu Ca2e) are tran)for!ed into a co%ourfu% %and 7it ) o.) )e%%in' .ra"er ite!)5 c%ot e)5 )i%2er7are5 de%iciou) )nac*)5 t e %ate)t Bo%%"7ood !u)ic and !o2ie C/)5 Indian acce))orie) and
113 | P a g e

2ariou)

ot er

*nic*

*nac*).

On t e 'rand da"5 a!id)t t e fun fair5 "ou can 7itne)) t e de2otee) and .enitent) carr"in' t eir *a2adi) or !i%* .ot) 7 i%)t )o!e en'a'e in !ore )e2ere .enance 0" .iercin' t eir c ee*)5 ton'ue) or 0ac* 7it )*e7er) or !ini ).ear). T e)e de2otee) are u)ua%%" in a )tate T e da" 7i%% 0e fi%%ed 7it ).ectacu%ar *a2adi) 0earin' t e i!a'e) of 2ariou) deitie) acco!.anied 0" infectiou) dru!0eat) and o%" c ant) of t e -ordA) na!e. T ai.u)a! i) a da" of atone!ent and an a)toni) in' di).%a" of fait .

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/ee.a2a%i

1e)ti2a% /ate - 1$ Octo0erD /ee.a2a%i i) a%)o *no7n a) /i7a%i5 or t e 1e)ti2a% of -i' t). -i' t i) )i'nificant in =indui)! 0ecau)e it )i'nifie) 'oodne)). So5 durin' t e 1e)ti2a% of -i' t)5 Fdee.)F5 or oi% %a!.)5 are 0urned t rou' out t e da" and into t e ni' t to 7ard off dar*ne)) and e2i%.

/i7a%i i) ce%e0rated on t e %a)t da" of t e %a)t !ont

of %unar ca%endar.

T ere are 2ariou) a%%e'ed ori'in) attri0uted to t i) fe)ti2a%. So!e o%d t at t e" ce%e0rate t e !arria'e of -a*) !i 7it -ord Ei) nu. In Ben'a%5 t e fe)ti2a% i) dedicated to t e 7or) i. of :a%i. It a%)o co!!e!orate) t at 0%e))ed da" on 7 ic t e triu!. ant -ord 3a!a returned to A"od "a after defeatin' 3a2ana. On t i) da" a%)o Sri :ri) na *i%%ed t e de!on Nara*a)ura. In 4a%a")ia5 it i) ce%e0rated a) t e da" t e e2i% Nara*a)ura 7a) )%ain 0" -ord :ri) na. T e triu!. of %i' t o2er dar*ne)) and 'ood o2er e2i%. T e !ood )tart) a !ont 0efore and 7it t e .re.aration of t e 2ariou) arra" of Indian coo*ie) )uc

a) !uru**u5 o!!a.adi5c i..i5 at ara)u!5 nei orundei and t e 7a%% 0rea*er *a%%u orundei. Of cour)e5 t ere i) t e ine2ita0%e ) o..in' and 7or* to 0e done t at re8uire) e2er"t in' to 0e ne7 and c%ean5 fro! curtain) to c%ot e) for fa!i%" !e!0er). Nor!a%%" on /ee.a2a%i e2e5 Pada"ai or
115 | P a g e

offerin') and .ra"er) are !ade to ance)tor) and decea)ed fa!i%" !e!0er). After t i) cere!on"5 t e 7o!en are 0u)" in t e *itc en 7 i%e t e re)t of t e fa!i%" do t e ou)e 0" an'in' ne7 curtain)5 .%acin' ne7 )ettee co2er) and t e %i*e to 7e%co!e -a6!i5 t e 'odde)) of .ro).erit".

Gettin' u. ear%" 0efore )unri)e5 oi% i) a..%ied on ead) and a 0at i) ta*en. T i) ritua% oi% 0at i) *no7n a) M'an'a-)nana!M and i) done to c%ean)e one of t e i!.uritie) of t e .a)t "ear. Pra"er) are e%d at t e fa!i%" a%tar5 after 7 ic t e fa!i%" 'at er) 0efore t e e%der) to recei2e t eir 0%e))in'). T en t e 'ue)t) co!e 0" and food coo*ed i) .re.ared M a%a%M or *o) er )o a) to 0e )er2ed to 4a%a" 4u)%i!). =ere a'ain5 t e conce.t of o.en ou)e i) )een and an inter!in'%in' of friend) of different race) co!e 0" to 'reet a =a.." /ee.a2a%i. It a%)o i) a 'reat o..ortunit" to di' in on )o!e de%iciou) Indian curr" and coo*ie). 4o)t 4a%a")ian Indian) are Sout Indian =indu) in ori'in. =ere5 e2en t ou' /ee.a2a%i i) *no7n a) t e fe)ti2a% of %i' t)5 t ere are no oi% %a!.) 0ein' %it. 3at er it i) u)ua%%" done on anot er re%i'iou) fe)ti2a% ca%%ed :art i*a

Ei%%a*u
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7 ic co!e) a0out a !ont %ater. T e !o)t a..ie)t ce%e0rant) are5 of cour)e5 t e c i%dren 7 o co%%ect '%eefu%%" t e "e%%o7 .ac*et) 7it !one" in t e! - an ada.tation of t e C ine)e red an'

.o7 .ac*et). ce%e0rant) tr" to )8ueeCe t e t e !ont -%on' fe)ti2itie) into one da" of .u0%ic o%ida"
and four to fi2e da") of %ea2e fro! 7or*.

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INDI%N! C&I!IN !

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It 7a) in t e 1(t centur" t at Indian %a0ourer) !i'rated to 4a%a")ia to 7or* in ru00er e)tate) and on rai%7a")5 0rin'in' 7it t e! coo*) fro! t e %and of o2er7 e%!in' currie) and ric onion). =ere in 4a%a")ia5 0ot Nort ern and Sout ern Indian cui)ine a2e 0een ada.ted to .roduce )en)ationa% currie)5 de%iciou) 0read and creati2e de))ert). Coriander5 tur!eric5 cu!in and curr" feature ea2i%" in Indian di) e) a%on' 7it ric in'redient) )uc a) ' ee5 "o' urt and c i%%i. T e 0e)t 7a" to de)cri0e Indian food i) e%a0orate5 fra'rant and ot. Indian food t".ica%%" uti%i)e) t ree !ain e%e!ent)5 @4a)a%aA or fra'rant ).ice)5 N/ a%A5 %enti% )ou. in a .a)t" te6ture and c utne". Bread i) o2en-0a*ed into circu%ar5 f%at ) a.e) 7 i%e !eat) are u)ua%%" coo*ed in currie) or fried in 0ri' t 0atter. Toda"5 Indian food i) co!!on%" enBo"ed 0" a%% 4a%a")ian) in re)taurant) and !ore .o.u%ar%"5 @4a!a*A )ta%%)5 7 ic are 0are-0ac* a% fre)co re)taurant) on )ide7a%*) and )treet corner).

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Indian)5 %i*e 4a%a")5 u)ua%%" eat 7it t eir and) 0ut for*) and ).oon) are 0eco!in' co!!on.%ace. =indu) >t e !ain re%i'ion of Indian)? do not eat 0eef. 4utton :ur!a or !utton curr" i) a de%i' tfu% di) of %a!0 or !utton coo*ed in a !ed%e" of ).ice) coriander5 ani)eed5 .e..ercorn)5 tur!eric5 c%o2e)5 )tar ani)e5 cinna!on )tic*)5 nut!e') and carda!o!). Cu!in i) it) !ain in'redient5 'i2in' t e curr" a ric "e%%o7 co!.%e6ion. T e ta)te i) )i!.%" a de%i' tfu% 0%end of ).icine)) t atA) not too o2er.o7erin' 7it an e6.%o)i2e Cin' in t e !idd%e.

3oti Canai

120 | P a g e

A fa2ourite for 0rea*fa)t5 3oti Canai i) t e u%ti!ate in )i!.%icit" and ta)te. It i) 0a)ica%%" a *ind of .anca*e !ade 0" co!0inin' 7 eat f%our5 oi%5 ' ee5 or 0utter5 ro%%ed u. into a 0a%% and t en )7un' into t e air unti% it ta*e) a f%at5 o2a% ) a.e. It i) t en fried on a ot iron .%ate and )er2ed 7it d a%5 c ic*en or fi) curr". T ere are !an" 2ariation) on t e )a!e t e!e t at inc%ude .uttin' in e'') to !a*e it @3oti Te%urA5 )ardine) to !a*e it @3oti SardinA5 0anana) to !a*e it @3oti Pi)an'A and )o on.

Tandoori C ic*en

& o%e ).rin' c ic*en) or c ic*en 8uarter) are !arinated in a dee. red 0atter 7it "o' urt and ).ice) and t en )*e7ered on a !eta% )tic*. T e" .o%e) of c ic*en are 'in'er%" .%aced in a )tea!in' ot circu%ar o2en fro! t e to.. Co2ered for a ti!e and t en %ifted out5 t e re)u%t i) a de%iciou) red c ic*en t at i) 7onderfu% to t e ton'ue. Tandoori c ic*en 'oe) 7e%% 7it a ).ic" !int )auce and .%ain or un%ea2ened Naan 0read
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INDI%N! CL'T(IN)
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Traditiona% Indian Co)tu!e) 4an" .eo.%e often 'et confu)ed 7it t e na!e) of different Indian co)tu!e). =ere are )o!e of t e !o)t co!!on%" u)ed traditiona% Indian 'ar!ent) >for 'ir%)/7o!en? in 4a%a")ia.

Pa2adai - u)ua%%" 7orn 0" .re.u0erta% "oun' 'ir%) >a%t ou' teena'e 'ir%) !a" a%)o 7ear t e!?.

123 | P a g e

Pa2adai da2ani - )e%do! 7orn in 4a%a")ia. It con)i)t of a %on' )*irt5 a ) ort 0%ou)e and a .iece of c%ot 7 ic 'oe) around >t e 0od"? on%" once. ;)ua%%" 7orn 0" teena'e 'ir%).

124 | P a g e

-en' a - it i) 0a)ica%%" a )*irt and 0%ou)e5 !uc %i*e t e .a2adai5 0ut t en it i) u)ua%%" !ore 0eautifu% and e%e'ant. ;)ua%%" 7orn 0" teena'er) or t o)e in t eir 2+). So!eti!e)5 %en' a) are a%)o 7orn 0" a 0ride durin' er 7eddin'.

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126 | P a g e

a 0rida% %en' a

PunBa0i )uit/Sa%7ar *a!eeC - it con)i)t of a %on' >)o!eti!e) ) ort? 0%ou)e5 a .ant) >can 0e 0a''" or ti' t? and a ) a7%. T e)e can 0e 7orn a) ca)ua% 7ear >for 7or*5 2i)itin' )o!eone? or e2en for function).

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:urta/*urti - i) a !odern attire. It i) 0a)ica%%" a to./0%ou)e and i) u)ua%%" 7orn 7it )%ac*) or Bean).

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Saree/)ari - It i) a .iece of c%ot ran'in' fro! 4-( !etre) in %en't . T ere are !an" 7a") one can tie t e )areeD different .art) of India and different ent ic) tie t e )aree different%". In 4a%a")ia5 it i) u)ua%%" 7orn for function) and .artie)5 a%t ou' )o!e o%der .eo.%e 7ear it on a dai%" 0a)i). In India5 !an" of t e %adie) 7ear )aree) t e 7 o%e da" %on'5 no !atter 7 at t e" are doin' - 0e it ridin' a !otorc"c%e5 c%eanin' u. t e ou)e5 e2en 7 i%e doin' %a0our Bo0).

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4a%a"a%ee )t"%e

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GuBerati )t"%e

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I"er )t"%e

:urta

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4a%a")ia i) a %and of di2er)e et nicit" and cu%ture. A) )uc 5 t ere are !an" traditiona% 7ear) t at are donned 0" 4a%a")ian). A 4a%a")ian Traditiona% co)tu!e i) t e *urta - an Indian co)tu!e. T e *urta 'enera%%" !ean) @a co%%ar%e)) ) irtA in Per)ia. :urta i) a traditiona% c%ot in' 7orn !o)t%" in t e Indian continent and a%% around t e 7or%d 0" Indian). It i) a 0a''" ) irt fa%%in' Bu)t a0o2e or 0eneat t e *nee) of t e .er)on 7 o 7ear) t e *urta and can 0e 7orn 0" 0ot !en and 7o!an. T e *urta 7a) traditiona%%" 7orn 7it %oo)e-fittin' PaiBa!a5 %oo)e-fittin' Sa%7ar) or 7ra..ed around d oti).=o7e2er5 "out ) no7 a%)o %i*e to 7ear it 7it Bean) 7 ic !a*e) t e *urta a ca)ua% e2er"da" 7ear a) 7e%% a) a for!a% dre)). T e )i!.%e)t traditiona% *urta) are !ade fro! cotton for dai%" u)e. Of cour)e5 no7 t ere are !ore e%a0orate%" e!0roided )i%* *urta) for ).ecia% occa)ion) )uc a) 7eddin'). But for a ot 7eat er countr" %i*e 4a%a")ia5 t e cotton *urta) are t e fa2ourite 0ecau)e t e" are %i' t and air". T e !ain rea)on 7 " I %i*e to 7ear *urta) i) 0ecau)e of t e 2ariou) )t"%e) a2ai%a0%e in t e ) o.. I a! a%7a") ).oi%t for c oice a) t ere i) an arra" of )e%ection) a2ai%a0%e ran'in' fro! cotton to )i%* one). Co%ourfu% *urta) a) 7e%% a) t e traditiona% 7 ite or crea! co%our) attract) "out ) %i*e !e %i*e 0ee) to f%o7er). 1urt er!ore5 *urta) are a%)o ea)" to !ana'e. It i) ea)" to 7a) and iron a) t e c%ot i) !ade for ea)" care .

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*eferences + *esources

3eference)J /re))in' u. 4a%a")ian) - Centra% - Ne7 Strait) Ti!e) tt.J//777.n)t.co!.!"/)treet)/centra%/dre))in'-u.-!a%a")ian)-1.,$(4#Vi6CC2d*7;5G9" tt.J//!a%a")iana..n!.!"/+1/+1+$+2+1indW!eri)i*. t!

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tt.J//.!r..eneran'an.'o2.!"/i!a'e)/)torie)/in'inWta u/0uda"a/t a%i2.B.' 1o%io =i)tor" 1or! $ e6t0oo*) Ci2ic) P CitiCen) i. 1or! 5 3e)ource)J MCarin' for <our O7n /ead5M -i)a Car%)on5 ;..er Acce)) Pu0%i) er)5 PO Bo6 4575 =ine)0ur'5 Eer!ont +54,1. M/ia%o'ue 7it /eat 5M E*nat Ea)7aran5 Ni%'iri Pre))5 Bo6 4775 Peta%u!a5 Ca%ifornia (4(5$. M1unera% and Ot er Sacra!ent) After /eat 5M Inana Pra0od ini5 51+ Sada) i2 Pet a5 Pune 411 +$+5 India. MGri "a Sutra)5M Sacred Boo*) of t e Ea)t Serie)5 4oti%a% Banar)ida))5 Bun'a%o7 3oad5 Ia7a arna'ar5 Ne7 /e% i 75 India. M=indu Sa!)*ara)5M /r. 3aB Ba%i Pand"5 4oti%a% Banar)ida)). @-ife After -ife5M 3a"!ond A. 4ood"5 Banta! Boo*)5 154+ Broad7a"5 Ne7 <or*5 Ne7 <or* 1++$,. M4editation and t e Art of /"in'5M Pandit ;) ar0ud Penn)"%2ania 1#4$1. MT e Tran)ition Ca%%ed /eat 5M C ar%e) =a!.ton5 T eo)o. ica% Pu0%i) in' =ou)e5 $+, &e)t Gene2a 3d5 & eaton5 I%%inoi) ,+1#7. M/i%e!!a) of -ife and /eat 5M S. Cro!7e%% Cro7%e"5 S;N< Pre))5 A%0an"5 Ne7 <or* 1224,. Ar"a5 =i!a%a"an In)titute5 =one)da%e5

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