By Firoze Hirjikaka
The main theme and the true raison d’etre for a Zoroastrian wedding is food. Zoroastrian wedding banquets are definitely for the weight watchers. Demurring protestations to the contrary, food is the reason most invited guests show up at these events. But I am getting ahead of myself.
Owing to some archaic promise my ancestors made to an ancient Hindu king, who gave them refuge after they had to flee their native Iran – where they were being persecuted by the conquering army of a newly born Islam – all Zoroastrian weddings in India take place after sunset. Generally, the wedding is followed immediately by the reception and both take place at the same venue.
The venue is usually a spacious, walled in compound, with a small building housing changing rooms and toilets. Some of the larger ones – like the one I went to - also contain a Zoroastrian temple on the premises.
Like I said, the actual ceremony normally starts around 6:30 in the evening, but the two families land up at least an hour beforehand. The family car is decked out with fresh flowers which, if nothing else, ensure permission to park inside the compound. The bride, having spent the morning at a beauty power, is dressed in an elaborately embroidered sari; white if it’s her first time; colored if it is not. The groom is always dressed in pristine white, even if it’s his third time (don’t shoot the messenger – I don’t make the rules). The traditional costume is white trousers and a white shirt, over which is worn a white muslin tunic held in place with a string of bows.
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Posted by: arzan sam wadia in Customs
Parsi Lagan or Wedding is marked by vibrant and joyful customs that spread over a couple of days. Unique and interesting rituals begin from the time of engagement and culminate with a lavish post wedding reception where one gets to enjoy the rich Parsi culture in the form of good music, wine and dining.
Pre-Wedding Rituals:
A number of colorful and fun-filled customs are observed as a part of pre-wedding rituals in a Parsi Wedding.
* Rupia Peravanu: Rupia Peravanu marks the unofficial engagement when both the families acknowledge the acceptance of the marriage alliance. On this day, ladies from the groom’s family pay a visit to the bride’s house. The bride is presented with a gift of silver coins with the usual shagun. Refreshments are served and the grooms family return home. The bride’s family now adds more silver coins to those presented and go to the groom’s home, where this ceremony is repeated.
* Madhosaro: Madhavsaro ceremony is observed four days before the wedding. The families of the bride and the groom each plant a young tree in a pot, amidst recitation of prayers by the family priest and place this at the entrance of their homes. This is generally a mango plant and is treated as a symbol of fertility. The soil in which the tree is planted is mixed with chips of three types of metals (usually gold, silver etc), paan (betel leaf), supari (betel nut), haldi (turmeric) and dry dates. The plant is watered every morning till the eighth day after the wedding and then transplanted elsewhere.
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