MARRIAGE CEREMONY IN THALASSERY
FATHIMATH SHAHANA P M
3RD SEMESTER B A ARABIC & ISLAMIC HISTORY
MARRIAGE
Marriage is one of the most
fundamental and ancient institution since the beginning of the society. The
institution of marriage has certain obligation and responsibility in regard to
sex and other matters related to it. The institution of marriage has change in
accordance with the changes in the society; it form, natural and process vary
society to society.
Marriage is defined by ‘WESTER MARK’
as a relation of one or more men to one or more women which is recognized by
custom or law and involves certain right and duties both in case of the parties
entering the union and in the case of children born of it. In order to give
marriage stability, certain laws about marriage were framed. It began binding
for men and women to fulfill certain obligation after marriage. Marriage is a
union between men and women born, such that children born by the women are
recognized as the legitimate offspring of both parties.
MUSLIM MARRIAGE
In the Muslim community marriage is
universal, for it discourages celibacy. muslim call their marriage ’NIKAH’.
According to S C Sarkar, marriage among the muslim is not sacrament, but purely
a civil contract.
‘Muslim marriage is a contract for
the purpose of legalizing sexual intercourse and the procreation of children’.
On basis of the above statement, it should not be concluded that the Muslim
marriage does not have any religious significance. marriagein the muslim
society has a religious duty also. It is devotion and an act ‘IBADAT’. The
important objectives of the Muslim marriage is that are; control over sex,
ordering of domestic life procreation of children and upbringing of children.
MARRIAGE CEREMONY IN THALASSERY
MALABAR MAPPILA WEDDING
A typical Malabar mappila wedding as
practiced in the costal belts of Thalassery. Kannur,area of Kerala have rich
with traditions unlike Muslim in other part of Kerala. An influence of north
Indian Muslim wedding and the Arabian can be seen in them. It is due to the
Persian and Arabian influence in the region during the medevial period of which
their descendants still during in their places.
ENGAGEMENT
A typical mappila engagement
ceremony is called ‘valayidal’ function which will be conducted, as the groom’s
family visit the girls house and present her with a bangle(or some other things
like necklace, ring, chocolates etc..)in the function. The marriage day will be
fixed on this day.
PRE WEDDING CEREMONIES
Muslim wedding are elaborate affairs
both in terms of fasting and ceremony. According to old Malabar tradition, the
celebration starts two days before the marriage.
DAY 1
ARIKUTHICHERAL
Close relatives of both families
gathered at their respective houses and arranged rice and other cereals for the
wedding day. As in earlier days they used to crush rice in ‘urals’ and pack
them to gather by singing songs. Now a days it is done only symbolically with
decorated ‘urals’, this will followed by an elaborate feast with special dishes
for the day. Today most of the peoples in Thalassery are celebrating this
function.
DAY 2
MYLANCHI
In this day the bride are dressed up
from his father’s house. They will give her ornaments like bangles, necklace
ear ring, etc…. The mehendhi designers design her hands and legs with mehendhi.
The family members and relatives sing mappila songs teasing her and praising
her beauty. A similar function takes place at brides and grooms house also;
instead of applying mehendhi on hands, it is put on the top of a leaf in his
palm. At last of this function the close relatives of groom will visit the
brides house for putting mehendhi on her hand. After that the brides family
will them a tea party, after that they will there.
The intention of this function is to
ensure every members from the other side bride and get a chance to have a chat
with her before the wedding.
NIKAH
The muslim wedding ritual called
‘Nikah’,is a contract between the groom and the bride’s father. This is usually
takes place at the bride’s house and the groom arrives accompanied by his
family (men) friends and musicians.
Bride’s father and groom exchange
vows infront of the moulavi, who then reads the verse of Quran. As the boys
side proposes, the girls side convey her consist which is given in front of
witnesses. Men and women are seated separately to watch the event. The groom
gives ‘MEHAR’ to the bride and the contract is registered by nikaannama (a
document). After this they will give sweets to all.
After this the groom and his
relatives will enter into the bride’s house for feast. The bride will be
revealed to the guest and the bride and groom will meet each other in this
time. This time the girls and women’s will sang song (mappilapattu) and dance in
possessions. After that the bride’s mother will arrive with a glass of milk,
the bride and groom will drink this (this indicates sharing). The guests convey
their wishes and blessings during this grand reception. After that the groom
and his relatives will return back. Then the grooms sisters, cousins, and
family members will approach the bride’s house for bringing the bride to the
groom’s house. They will bring dresses and ornaments with them. After that the
guests willconvey their wishes and blessings to them, and will return back with
the bride.
After leaving of the groom’s family,
the bride’s family members and relatives will visit the groom’s house. The
groom’s family warmly invites them to their house. They will give drinks and
other things to them. The groom’s mother invites the bride and the groom to the
house. After that they will return back.
Then after that the grooms father,
mother, sisters and cousins will present her gold ornaments. After some hours
bride’s father and uncle will come to groom’s house for bringing groom and
bride to bride’s house. At that time they will talk about reception and
function. On that occasion the groom’s family will sent a bag with her, that
had full of dresses for the bride and for her family( mother, father, sisters,
brothers, grant mother, grant father, uncle, aunty) and other things that she
wants.
RECEPTION
This function will be conducted in
the very next day of the marriage. It will be conducted on bride’s house at
night. Grooms family members welcome them with great pleasure. Childrens from
groom’s house will give lots of gifts to the bride. They all should be in great
pleasure. The bride’s family had arranged grand food items to these peoples.
Lots of new and delicious food items were there. After the dinner they will
return back.
FUNCTIONS
This should be conducted on the next
two days after the marriage. It had been conducted at noon or sometimes at
night. Bride’s father, mother, sisters and other relatives will go to grooms
house with bride. This function was conducting, because she wants to stay there
for one or two days. Bride’s family would enter there with great happiness, and
the grooms family will warmly welcomed them to their home. Grooms family will
treat them with delicious drinks and had already prepared lots of foods also like, fish biriyani, fried rice,
chilly chicken, battura ,nice pathal, beef curry, chicken curry, ice cream,
pudding etc………... After the lunch/dinner they will return to their home.
Likewise the groom’s family also
visits bride’s house to return bride to her house itself. The bride will be
dressed with new and beautiful cloth (sari, lehengha which will be decorated
with tread or shining stone). And they also will treat them with delicious
foods. After the lunch/dinner they will return back.
PALLIKEEYAL
After the marriage the coming Friday
or next Friday will be conducted has pallikeeyal. It means that; the groom
should go to the Friday oration at their nearby masjid of bride’s house. And
after that he should return to the bride’s house for lunch, it will be his
first lunch at his wives house. Her mother will make delicious food for him.
Some peoples will conducts this on 15th day after the marriage.
40thday
Most of the muslims are celebrating
this day. On this day the bride will be invited to her husband’s house for
lunch, and from there she will get new dress from his mother.
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