Saturday, February 19, 2011

Haldi Haath- Feb. 17

The beginning of the marriage ceremonies started with something called Haldi Haath (Haldi means turmeric and Haath means hand). Both Abhinav and I separately did the same thing. In Haldi Haath there are four different bowls, one filled with turmeric, one filled with henna, one filled with oil and the last one filled with curd. Abhinav and I, at separate times, sit down while different women (family members and friends) touch us with the contents of the four bowls. They take some pieces of grass that are tied together and dip them in the four bowls and then touch our feet, knees, shoulders and head (in that order). For Abhinav each woman did this seven times and for me each woman did this five times. After that different women covered our skin with turmeric (face, arms and feet), and after that we were able to take a shower.We performed this in the morning and then in the afternoon did it again, but this time the women would start at the head and move down to the feet; head, shoulders, knees, feet.

Abhinav and his mom.


Abhinav and his Aunt.


Abhinav's mom rubbing turmeric on him.


Me and Abhinav's Grandma.


Me and Abhinav's sister.


Me with turmeric on my face.

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