Day 1 of my coverage of a Hindu wedding I was honored to be chosen. For me, it’s just like impossible to get a bad photograph at a Hindu wedding with so much going on and amazing attire and colors. Although today was more subdued but when Joanna & Mike hired me for their wedding. I asked them when we had our wedding consultation if they are dressing up in traditional attire etc. They said yes. Deep down inside I was jumping for joy. Although during the course of the year when Joanna would reach out to me she would know how excited I was to be a part of this.
Today’s session is called The Matikor/Maticoor. The ceremony begins with a ritual which involves the elder married women and the youngest girl of the household. The bedi/baghie, an altar where the puja will be performed is located inside the house and next to it is placed the ceremonial tray of hardie, sindur, deeya, lota and traditional sweets. The tray is then lifted by five elder, married women and placed upon the head of a young unmarried girl. The girl is then responsible for carrying the tray to the site outdoors where the actual Maticoor ceremony will be performed. A young girl is chosen because of her youth, innocence and purity.
The young girl leads the procession to the designated area, followed closely by the married women, one of whom carries a hoe to dig the earth and another one carries the flambeau/candle. Traditionally, lively Tassa drumming leads the procession. Despite the fact that on this night males were allowed to be present, they were far fewer than the females. Traditionally only women, family and friends of the Dulahin, were allowed to attend this ceremony. They finished this off with a dye rub. Which is like a paste like made of tumeric and other ingredients they add. This ritual is the preparation and welcoming into adult married life. Extremely good for the skin as her skin looked flawless the next day.
Here is a few from their day. Day 2 & 3 will be posted in the coming days….
