INTRODUCTION
Mithila - the word - rightly brings to your mind the name of Janak putri (daughter) Sita. Ramayana one of the greatest Indian epics and a prime religious scripture relates the story of Ayodhya prince Ram and Mithila girl Sita. Janak's capital - Janakpur - is in the northern Nepali section of Mithila. The place lies in the region of North India lying between the lower ranges of the Himalayas and the Ganges River. The border of Nepal cuts across the top periphery of this region. Gandak and Kosi Rivers form the western and eastern boundaries of Mithila. Both the rivers are tributaries of the legendary Ganga.
Maithil Brahmins are the highest ranking caste and they exercise commendable political power. As the Maharaja of Darbhanga was a Maithil Brahmin, other Brahmins also began controlling the Maithil kingdom. They became the principal landowners in Mithila.Mithila region like the rest of the regions in Bihar celebrate the Chhath Puja in which they worship the Sun God. Also, they celebrate the key Indian festivals of Ramnavami, Dussehra, Diwali and Holi with great exuberance and profligacy. Their traditional bent of mind together with their penchant for festivities mark their marriage ceremonies also.
For a Maithil Brahmin, Kanyadan or the gift of a girl in marriage is likened to a gift to a god. "My daughter's husband is Vishnu to me," said one Srotriya. The daughter though very dear is not for keeping. It is in fact the best gift that a man could ever give. Howsoever he might love her, he would not be able to keep her.
MARRIAGE THROUGH THE AGES
Marriage is a traditional affair for the people of Maithil Brahmin caste. The whole process is initiated as soon as the daughter of a family becomes young. The girl's father starts searching for a husband for her. It is the girl's father responsibility take the initiative, whereas the grooms' families wait for the offers to arrive. The boy has to be a member of the same caste as the girl's family. But it is expected that he comes from slightly higher status than the girl's.
Matches are made very cautiously among the Maithil Brahmins. There are Panjikars (registrars) who would match the panjis of the two families. It is done to ensure that there takes place no blood match between the two families down five-six generations and no incest takes place thereof.
Panji Prabandha was started by Raja Harisingh Deva in 1310 A.D. Panji Prabandha means writing down of the genealogies for all the superior castes of the state. Genealogists began to record each family's ancestors for the last six generations. This was done for all the principal castes. The idea was to avoid incest. And also because the descendants of a common ancestor had to follow certain ritual restrictions like death taboos, etc. COSTUMES
Bridal Wear
The brides of Maithil Brahmin caste look resplendent and dignified in the traditional Indian saree. The color of the saree is mostly red but other flamboyant colors are also in vogue. The saree is either Benarasi or any other good quality.
Groom's Attire
The grooms come wearing ethnic dhoti kurta. They also put on the customary headwear known as the Pag. All the men in the barati also come wearing Pag. The groom wears red colored pag, whereas other yellow or white pag.
RITUALS
Rituals Before Marriage
The first ritual is the Siddhant. The panjikars see the panjis of both the families in this ceremony that precedes the marriage. In this the panjikar accepts the marriage between the boy and the girl, on the tar patra.
The marriage day is fixed only after consulting the Maithil panchang (lunar calendar).
On the day of the marriage, the women of the house wait at the compound for the arrival of the groom. There is this kalash (small pitcher) decorated with the Amra pallav (mango leaves) and sindoor (vermilion powder) etc and an ox yoke are placed in the middle of the compound.
Men and women await the arriving groom separately. Each has different ritual responsibilities at the wedding.
The groom is welcomed by the women of the household. The vidkari, the bride's assistant, welcomes the groom with sandal paste. Then, the groom has to take a bath and change his dhoti and the jenui (sacred thread).
The bride receives the blessing of the dhobi's (washerman's) wife. The dhobi's wife is said to remain suhagin (one whose husband is alive) ever. She always dies before her husband and never become widow. The ritual has bit of yoghurt to be touched to the hair of the dhobin and making the bride to eat the same.
Then both the groom and bride are led to the Kul Devi shrine. It is the only time the groom ever enters the shrine of the lineage goddess of his father-in-law.
There takes place "Gauri Puja". In this, the bride thanks the goddess Gauri for getting her a husband like Lord Shiva. The goddess is symbolized by a "betel nut" placed on the head of a clay elephant.
A very significant ritual is that of Otangar. In this, eight Brahmin men pound rice, which is an expression of the belief that a marriage is the mixing and combining of "seed" or bloodlines connecting patri-lineages in new ways. The groom joins in otangar, the mixing and processing of seed in the mortar/womb.
Nana yogin or Grandmother yogi is a very common ritual performed by the women. In this, some ethnic objects like flower, betel leaves etc are placed on a tray and this is then used to take Aarti (waving it around) of the groom. The women also chant these words, "Take your yoga and give us wealth." One can also find images of nana yogin in all four corners of the room. Each image is shown with a fan and a tray on the head of the woman. Photographs are taken of the bride and groom during this rite.
Marriage Rituals
In the actual marriage proceeding, the bride and groom sit together in front of the sacred flame. The girl's father gives away his daughter with the accompaniment of vedic chants. A Brahmin priest performs the wedding rites. Lord Agni is invoked to witness the marriage by lighting the sacred flame made of sandalwood and ghee.
In the Kanyadaan rite, the girl's father takes the groom's hand and gives his daughter's hand in them. After this follows the Saptapadi rite wherein the couple take the seven rounds around the sacred fire. These seven steps signify the first seven steps of their married life.
After Marriage Rituals
Sindurdan takes place after the saat pheras are over. Sindur is of course the first gift that a husband gives to his wife. This Sindur would remain their in the hair parting of the married woman and project her auspicious wifehood as long as the husband lives.
Durbakschat is a ceremony that takes place the same day or the next day. In this Brahmin men toss husked rice at the bride and groom. It implies wishing for fertility and prosperity for the new couple. Chumaon has the women folk waving a tray of ethnic objects over the bride and groom. The variegated marriage rituals take place for four days at the bride's house. At the end of these, the bride and groom leave for the husband's place.
CELEBRATIONS
Vidyapati Songs
A compulsory feature of the marriages in the Maithil Brahmin caste are the Vidyapati songs sung by the ladies of the family and neighborhood. These songs tell you about the marriage events of Ram and Sita and Shiva and Parvati. These songs are sung before the advent of the groom at the site of the marriage. And they are heard throughout the marriage ceremony and in fact continue for a whole year in the house of the marriage.
CUISINE
Lavish feast is a part of the weddings in the Maithil Brahmin caste people. Food is a critical factor and plays a decisive role in bringing close the two families. There is a set of dishes which are prepared especially for the barati. This fare (Bhoj) generally includes dishes like Dahi-Chura, 4-5 types of pickles,6-7 types of vegetables, fish, Charuri, Adauri, sweets and mangoes in summer season. The feast for the general guests include the usual Vegetarian and Non-vegetarian dishes of Bihar.
SOME STRANGE CUSTOMS
An interesting ritual is the 'Ghungat' which has the husband veiling his bride's head for the first time. The veiling is followed by her brother's unveiling her. This depict the dual lives of a woman. On one hand, there is the carefree unveiled daughter of her maiden village and on the other hand, there is the figurative veiled image of the bride in her husband's village. The ritual takes place either on the same night when the wedding takes place or the following day.
Mithila - the word - rightly brings to your mind the name of Janak putri (daughter) Sita. Ramayana one of the greatest Indian epics and a prime religious scripture relates the story of Ayodhya prince Ram and Mithila girl Sita. Janak's capital - Janakpur - is in the northern Nepali section of Mithila. The place lies in the region of North India lying between the lower ranges of the Himalayas and the Ganges River. The border of Nepal cuts across the top periphery of this region. Gandak and Kosi Rivers form the western and eastern boundaries of Mithila. Both the rivers are tributaries of the legendary Ganga.
For a Maithil Brahmin, Kanyadan or the gift of a girl in marriage is likened to a gift to a god. "My daughter's husband is Vishnu to me," said one Srotriya. The daughter though very dear is not for keeping. It is in fact the best gift that a man could ever give. Howsoever he might love her, he would not be able to keep her.
MARRIAGE THROUGH THE AGES
Marriage is a traditional affair for the people of Maithil Brahmin caste. The whole process is initiated as soon as the daughter of a family becomes young. The girl's father starts searching for a husband for her. It is the girl's father responsibility take the initiative, whereas the grooms' families wait for the offers to arrive. The boy has to be a member of the same caste as the girl's family. But it is expected that he comes from slightly higher status than the girl's.
Matches are made very cautiously among the Maithil Brahmins. There are Panjikars (registrars) who would match the panjis of the two families. It is done to ensure that there takes place no blood match between the two families down five-six generations and no incest takes place thereof.
Panji Prabandha was started by Raja Harisingh Deva in 1310 A.D. Panji Prabandha means writing down of the genealogies for all the superior castes of the state. Genealogists began to record each family's ancestors for the last six generations. This was done for all the principal castes. The idea was to avoid incest. And also because the descendants of a common ancestor had to follow certain ritual restrictions like death taboos, etc. COSTUMES
Bridal Wear
The brides of Maithil Brahmin caste look resplendent and dignified in the traditional Indian saree. The color of the saree is mostly red but other flamboyant colors are also in vogue. The saree is either Benarasi or any other good quality.
Groom's Attire
The grooms come wearing ethnic dhoti kurta. They also put on the customary headwear known as the Pag. All the men in the barati also come wearing Pag. The groom wears red colored pag, whereas other yellow or white pag.
RITUALS
Rituals Before Marriage
The first ritual is the Siddhant. The panjikars see the panjis of both the families in this ceremony that precedes the marriage. In this the panjikar accepts the marriage between the boy and the girl, on the tar patra.
The marriage day is fixed only after consulting the Maithil panchang (lunar calendar).
On the day of the marriage, the women of the house wait at the compound for the arrival of the groom. There is this kalash (small pitcher) decorated with the Amra pallav (mango leaves) and sindoor (vermilion powder) etc and an ox yoke are placed in the middle of the compound.
Men and women await the arriving groom separately. Each has different ritual responsibilities at the wedding.
The groom is welcomed by the women of the household. The vidkari, the bride's assistant, welcomes the groom with sandal paste. Then, the groom has to take a bath and change his dhoti and the jenui (sacred thread).
The bride receives the blessing of the dhobi's (washerman's) wife. The dhobi's wife is said to remain suhagin (one whose husband is alive) ever. She always dies before her husband and never become widow. The ritual has bit of yoghurt to be touched to the hair of the dhobin and making the bride to eat the same.
Then both the groom and bride are led to the Kul Devi shrine. It is the only time the groom ever enters the shrine of the lineage goddess of his father-in-law.
There takes place "Gauri Puja". In this, the bride thanks the goddess Gauri for getting her a husband like Lord Shiva. The goddess is symbolized by a "betel nut" placed on the head of a clay elephant.
A very significant ritual is that of Otangar. In this, eight Brahmin men pound rice, which is an expression of the belief that a marriage is the mixing and combining of "seed" or bloodlines connecting patri-lineages in new ways. The groom joins in otangar, the mixing and processing of seed in the mortar/womb.
Nana yogin or Grandmother yogi is a very common ritual performed by the women. In this, some ethnic objects like flower, betel leaves etc are placed on a tray and this is then used to take Aarti (waving it around) of the groom. The women also chant these words, "Take your yoga and give us wealth." One can also find images of nana yogin in all four corners of the room. Each image is shown with a fan and a tray on the head of the woman. Photographs are taken of the bride and groom during this rite.
Marriage Rituals
In the actual marriage proceeding, the bride and groom sit together in front of the sacred flame. The girl's father gives away his daughter with the accompaniment of vedic chants. A Brahmin priest performs the wedding rites. Lord Agni is invoked to witness the marriage by lighting the sacred flame made of sandalwood and ghee.
In the Kanyadaan rite, the girl's father takes the groom's hand and gives his daughter's hand in them. After this follows the Saptapadi rite wherein the couple take the seven rounds around the sacred fire. These seven steps signify the first seven steps of their married life.
After Marriage Rituals
Sindurdan takes place after the saat pheras are over. Sindur is of course the first gift that a husband gives to his wife. This Sindur would remain their in the hair parting of the married woman and project her auspicious wifehood as long as the husband lives.
Durbakschat is a ceremony that takes place the same day or the next day. In this Brahmin men toss husked rice at the bride and groom. It implies wishing for fertility and prosperity for the new couple. Chumaon has the women folk waving a tray of ethnic objects over the bride and groom. The variegated marriage rituals take place for four days at the bride's house. At the end of these, the bride and groom leave for the husband's place.
CELEBRATIONS
Vidyapati Songs
A compulsory feature of the marriages in the Maithil Brahmin caste are the Vidyapati songs sung by the ladies of the family and neighborhood. These songs tell you about the marriage events of Ram and Sita and Shiva and Parvati. These songs are sung before the advent of the groom at the site of the marriage. And they are heard throughout the marriage ceremony and in fact continue for a whole year in the house of the marriage.
CUISINE
Lavish feast is a part of the weddings in the Maithil Brahmin caste people. Food is a critical factor and plays a decisive role in bringing close the two families. There is a set of dishes which are prepared especially for the barati. This fare (Bhoj) generally includes dishes like Dahi-Chura, 4-5 types of pickles,6-7 types of vegetables, fish, Charuri, Adauri, sweets and mangoes in summer season. The feast for the general guests include the usual Vegetarian and Non-vegetarian dishes of Bihar.
SOME STRANGE CUSTOMS
An interesting ritual is the 'Ghungat' which has the husband veiling his bride's head for the first time. The veiling is followed by her brother's unveiling her. This depict the dual lives of a woman. On one hand, there is the carefree unveiled daughter of her maiden village and on the other hand, there is the figurative veiled image of the bride in her husband's village. The ritual takes place either on the same night when the wedding takes place or the following day.
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