MeraPahad Community Of Uttarakhand Lovers

         Economical Conflicts and Tension in  Garhwali Wedding Song For Vedi Worshiping
                                   वेदी पूजन लोक गीत  में आर्थिक विषमता से उपजा तनाव  का उल्लेख     
                         (Garhwali Wedding Folk Songs, Himalayan Wedding Folk Songs, Indian Wedding Folk Songs)
                                                            Bhishma Kukreti
                          The marriage ceremony of Hindus take place at 'Vedi' .''Vedi' is prepared at bride's country yard or now, at wedding place.Vedi' is squarish prepared by mud and stones. Around 'Vedi' there are pillars of pine branch and banana plants. One banana plant has to be with fruits.
 When 'Vedi' is ready, Pundit jee does ritual performance for worshiping 'Vedi' through bride's house . Pundit Jee speaks chants in Sanskrit . at another side the women sing a folk song of Vedi' Poojan or Vedi worshiping .
             
                 The difference between rich and poor is universal truth. Folk songs are mirror of society’s thinking too . There are many examples when the folk songs display the differences between rich and poor. In book-‘The Alabama folk Lyric: a Study in origins and media of dissemination’, Ray Broadus Browne details about the economic class differences and tension in the folk songs of Alabama. Nickajack who collected various folk songs from the area states that the folk songs express resentment against the “rich man’s war and poor man’s fight”
 In this Garhwali Folk song of Bedi Poojan  there is conflict about the showmanship in wedding by rich families  and the solution for filing the gap between riches and poor in wedding ceremony . The song also indicates  the tension because of showmanship by rich people in wedding ceremony and thus creating problem for poor
     
      वेदी पूजन लोक गीत
 ऐ जावा पिताजी ऐ जावा पिताजी बेदी जगसीला
ऐ जावा पिताजी बेदी जगसीला ए

 के केकी पिताजी के केकी पिताजी  बेदी बणि च
के केकी पिताजी  बेदी बणि च  ए

के केका पिताजी के केका पिताजी खम्भ घट्याँन 
 के केका पिताजी खम्भ घट्याँन  ए

के केको पिताजी के केको पिताजी चंदोया ओड़यूँ  च
 के केको पिताजी चंदोया ओड़यूँ  च ए

के केन पिताजी के केन पितजी  बेदी भरीं  च
के केन पितजी  बेदी भरीं  च ए

के केको पिताजी के केको पिताजी दान करीला
के केको पिताजी दान करीला ए

सोना चांदी की सोना चांदी की बेदी बणी च
सोना चांदी की बेदी बणी च ए

हीरा मोत्युनं हीरा मोत्युनं बेदी भरीं च
हीरा मोत्युनं बेदी भरीं च  ए

सोना चांदी का सोना चाँदी का खंभ घट्यान 
सोना चाँदी का खंभ घट्यान  ए

सोना चांदी का सोना चांदी का चंदोया ओड्यू  च
सोना चांदी का चंदोया ओड्यू  च  ए

तुम छावां पिताजी  तुम छांवां पिताजी अमीर लोक
तुम छांवां पिताजी अमीर लोक  ए

गरीब लोक गरीब लोक क्या क्या दान द्याला
गरीब लोक क्या क्या दान द्याला  ए

बताऊ मेरी कनियाँ बताऊ मेरी कनियाँ बेदी की बिधि
बताऊ मेरी कनियाँ बेदी की बिधि  ए

मित मेरी कनियाँ मित मेरी कनियाँ जणदू नि छंवूं
मित मेरी कनियाँ जणदू नि छंवूं ए

जणदो नि छंवुं जणदो नि छ्वुं सुणदो छंवुं
जणदो नि छ्वुं सुणदो छंवुं  ए

तू छे मेरी कनियाँ तू छे मेरी कनियाँ अकल की दाता
तू छे मेरी कनियाँ अकल की दाता  ए

गारा माटी की गारा माटी की बेदी बणऐल़ा
गारा माटी की बेदी बणऐल़ा  ए

आटा पीठान आटा पीठान  बेदी भरीं च
आटा पीठान  बेदी भरीं च  ए

क्याल़ा कूंलेँ की  क्याल़ा कूंलेँ की   बेदी बणऐल़ा
क्याल़ा कूंलेँ की   बेदी बणऐल़ा  ए

सूता धागुन सूता धागुन कुलैं बंधिला 
 सूता धागुन कुलैं बंधिला  ए

क्वारो कपड़ोंन क्वारो कपड़ोंन चंदोया बणऐल़ा
क्वारो कपड़ोंन चंदोया बणऐल़ा  ए

सूता धागुन सूता धागुन चंदोया उठैला
सूता धागुन चंदोया उठैला
 Curtsy for Folk Song: Totaram Dhoundiyal, Shrimati Shailjaa Thapliyal , Mangal, Dhad Prakashan
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti bckukreti@gmail.com








 















 

Symbolism in Garhwali Dhuliarg Wedding Songs, Symbolism in Worldwide Wedding Folk Songs  and Symbolism in Various Wedding Customs
                                               Bhishma Kukreti
(Abstract: There are four parts in this article. First part defines symbolism in poetry, the second part details about symbols in wedding of various societies all over world , third part opens the studies of symbols in wedding folk songs of various areas and fourth part discusses the symbols used in Garhwali Dhuliarg Wedding folk Song)
                       Michael Meyer  in his scholarly research “ The Online glossary”, ,  defines symbol in  a poetry or song   “ A person, object, image, word, or event that evokes a range of additional meaning beyond and usually more abstract than its literal significance. Symbols are educational devices for evoking complex ideas without having to resort to painstaking explanations that would make a story more like an essay than an experience. Conventional symbols have meanings that are widely recognized by a society or culture”
              Michael further elaborates the definition of symbols in literature A literary or contextual symbol can be a setting, character, action, object, name, or anything else in a work that maintains its literal significance while suggesting other meanings. Such symbols go beyond conventional symbols; they gain their symbolic meaning within the context of a specific story”.
                          Wedding in any society of any era is very important aspect for the family and for the society too. Wedding means the preparation for the future journey for the gain of new generation. Therefore, in all the marriage customs, there are symbols in various stages of marriage.
                        Symbolism in Traditional Chinese Wedding
 The traditional dowry includes scissors shaped two butterflies  symbolizing joy, warmth and inseparable, vase in dowry is symbolic to peace and , rulers symbolizing large farming fields In dowry, there is a chamber pot filled with fruits (symbol of fertility) and coins ( symbols for prosperity and wealth).
 The bridal bed is prepared by a person who has “good luck” or having many children. The fruits on bridal bed as dates on the bridal bed means   “soon”,  chestnut is symbols of established sons, pomegranates (fertility), lotus seeds (continuous birth),bran (rich son),
 The phoenix and dragon styled hair style of bride means the union of a man and woman. The cypress leaves on groom’s cap means for many children and wealth.
 Traditional gifts of shoes and bronze mirror are symbolic to togetherness with harmony. Vowing by bride and groom by taking  wines and honey is symbolic to “gold of marriage”.
 Stepping over a saddle by bride at groom’s house means the sign of peace.
                                               Japanese Engagement Wedding Characters
  There are many symbolic items in Japanese engagement as abalone stands for longevity, cuttlefish  represents pregnancy, kelp resemblances “child bearing woman” and longevity of union. Japanese exchange m any  items engagement ceremony  and each item represents some meaning as decorated items by crane (mates for life), tortoise (lays many eggs –capacity for many children), pine (stands for evergreen –prosperity) , bamboo represents integrity and cherry plant is the sign of lifelong happiness
 The Japanese engagement outfit also represents new beginning , leaving father being the wife of husband.
    In Japanese wedding, the couple hold a rosary (Juju) contain 21 beads. These beads are symbolic to 18 beads for couple, two beads for two families and one bead represents for Buddha. The decoration of food also represents many meanings in Japanese customs.
                                                Symbols in Cambodian Marriage
 The items used in Cambodian marriage are deeply rooted in Hindu culture and Buddhist culture. Though Buddhist priest performs the marriage rituals but many items are related to Hindu symbols as soaking of cotton beads tied on couple’s hands by holy water (Ganges of Hindu), The gotrachar in Hindu sytem is same as in Cambodian system . Gotrachar means to digging information about bride and groom by opposite party.
                                                   Symbolic Items in Thai Wedding
     The family or friends put sesame seeds, rice and coins in between blanket and sheets for bridal bed. These items are symbols of fertility, children, and happy life.
                                Pine Trees in Norwegian Marriage
              In Norwegian marriage, the couple is gifted two pine trees. These trees are grwon on the each door side of couple hose. The pine tree is sign of evergreen and thus sign of fertility .
 Same way, in Garhwali tradition pine tree branches are put at four corners of Vedi  the marriage place and  symbolizing the fertility factor in Garhwali wedding.
                             Garhwali ‘Sapata’  and Malaysian Meminang
                   In Malaysia ,   after the agreement about engagement of bride and groom,  a couple of people from groom side visit the bride house , discuss and agree upon the following aspects of engagement
1-The date and time of Meminang ceremony
2- Money to be paid by groom side for arrangement
3-Details of gift items from both sides
4-Exavt date and timing of wedding
5- List of guests (numbers) from groom side.
6-Other important aspects of exchanges of gifts and responsibilities
 In old time Garhwali wedding, before a week or two three days before the wedding a wise or experienced person and pundit jee from groom side visit the bride side and this visit is called Sapata. There is one page paper written by pundit jee about wedding ceremonial timing (Nakshtra) which is handed over to pundit jee of bride side. The wise man or experienced person discuss the following aspects of marriage
1-Exact date and timing of wedding as per Nakshtra.
2- Numbers of guests from groom side and arrangement proposals
3- Gifts proposals from both side usually jewelries is discussed
                                                   Symbolism in Philippines Marriage
         The wedding ceremony in Philippine has  social bondage. There are many symbols in Filipino wedding as
1- Principal and secondary sponsors represent the importance of people in the life of bride and groom
2-The participation of aunts, and other old people as principal sponsors represent witnessing , wisdom and support.
2-Wedding coins are symbols of prosperity
3-white Veils by groom and bride: The veil is symbol of purity or presence of God (cloud)
4-Cording ceremony is the symbol of bondage
5-Candle: The candle symbolize the Light of Christ
                     Symbols in Christian Engagement and Marriage
1- Circle of Ring is the sign of perfection, infinity in love
2-White colour of bride is the the sign or purity
3-throwing rice is symbolic to fertility but this custom came from Indian culture
                            Irish wedding Symbols
 There are Christian wedding custom and regional customs in Irish wedding
1- Hand fasting has some debate as it is symbol of public announcement of betrothal or ‘trial marriage   ?
2-The Claddagh ring is symbol of everlasting love and marriage
3-Horseshoe is to stop bad luck
4-Jumping the broom is the symbol of health and home
5-Mead offer is the historical incidents took place for honeymooning in Ireland
           A couple of exclusive wedding customs of Italy
 1- Cutting the log by double handed saw by bride and groom is the symbol of their partnership in love and marriage
2-Breaking glass and counting the broken pieces by groom and bride represents the years of couple being together after marriage
                                      French Wedding Symbols
 There are many symbols in wedding ceremony in urban and rural France
1- Wedding Armoire is known as ‘Hope Chest’
2- Groom’s marriage procession” In villages of France, the groom takes the marriage procession to the bride’s house and take bride towards wedding chapel. In the mean time, the village children block the path of bride –groom by white ribbon and bride has to cut the ribbon. In path, the beggars plaited the hedge grow brier and the bride-groom have to bribe to remove the hurdle. These customs are to teach newlyweds for overcoming hurdle together.
                    Symbols in Spanish Marriage customs
 Though, there are many customs in Spanish marriage and groom presenting 13 coins to bride is  important as symbol of unity in earlier age. Today coin offering  is the sign of wealth and prosperity
                         Symbols of Greek Traditional Wedding
          In the marriage ceremony the best friend puts on a golden crown or wreaths of orange blossoms on the head of groom and bride. Rest of the day, groom is supposed to be king and bride as queen.
          At the reception, dishes are smashed as ‘good Luck” and money is thrown on the musicians .
                          Traditional Jewish wedding
 There are stages, steps and rituals in Jewish wedding and each step has symbolic meaning and those meanings are still relevant in many ways.
                             Symbols in African Wedding
     There are many items required in African ethnic wedding and each item has an importance as far as symbolism in wedding is concerned
1-Broom: The broom is the sign of  ‘Cleanliness of Health , Long married life,
2- Bitter Herbs : The painful life may be ahead
3-Four Cowry shells: The symbol of Truthfulness, Prophecy, Life time devotion, Fertility
4-Iron Pot and Spoon: healthy food for building strong married life and family
5-Cinnamon and Honey : Sweet Lovely life and blessing from the Goddess Oshum
6-Pepper: In heated time, family  may experience and avert
7- Queens shield and crown: represents honor and pride of family
8- Rain water : represents purification, cool roads, dissolution of problems
9- Sea Salt: Quick healing and preservation of marriage
10-Warrior machete : for protection of sanctity and communities
11- Wheat for fertility, giving life and land
12- Wine is the symbol of mixing of blood of two families.
                        Symbols in Persian wedding
              The custom Sofreh-ye-Aghad is  important ceremony takes place at bride’s house or place. The following items and rites represent various aspects of life
1-Mirror – represents fate
2-Candlebars symbolizes brightening the future of bride-grom
3- a Tray of seven multicolored spices and herbs –Poppy Seeds ( for breaking spells and witchcraft), Wild rice (fertility and prosperity, Angelika (purity), Salt (blinding  evil’s eyes ),Nigella seeds, Black tea, Frankincense (to burn the evil spirits).
4-Baked and decorated flatbread for prosperity and happiness
5-A basket of eggs, basket of almonds and other fruits in baskets for fertility
6-Basket of pomegranates and appeals for joyful life
7- Rose water for purifying the air and pure life in future
8-Crustalized sugar for sweet life
9-Burning coal sprinkled with wild rue for keeping away the evil’s eye and bringing health
10- cup of gold coins for prosperity
11-A needle and seven strand of seven coloured thread  for sewing up mother in law’s lips for bad and unpleasant words.
                    Symbolism in a Garhwali Wedding
 Garhwalis are Hindu , therefore all symbols of Hindu  way of wedding  exist in Traditional Garhwali  wedding . There are a few additions of items and rites or activities in Garhwali wedding  as per regional needs .
                       Symbolism in Wedding Folk Poetry
  There have been very less research on comparative study on folk songs specially wedding folk poetry because there is less translation of the folk poetry. However, Louise O Vasvari initiated to compare the wedding folk songs of Garman, Hungary and Spain in her brilliant article,” A Comparative Approach  to European folk Poetry and the erotic Wedding Motif”. She states that at one hand the songs are appropriate for the festivities and other hand the folk songs offer warning to young women the *ual and consequently , social dangers always present in their interaction with men.  Louise proved that symbolic folk poetry(here erotic wedding  songs) does  fulfill various  motives as  creating musical atmosphere in wedding , amusing the people and lastly the wedding song s provide preaching to younger ones.  Louise provided tens of words and phrases which are simple words on surface but they represent different meanings . Examples are – dark coloured girl, going to wood, not pulling out snake by mother and brother,
          J C B Petropoulus provides tens of examples of symbolism in Greece wedding folk songs or poetry in his book , “Erotism in Ancient and Medieval Greek Poetry” for example, in a folk song, the bride is compared to  dove and tortoise dove .
               Radost Ivanova briefs the symbolism in  Bulgarian wedding and Bulgarian wedding songs his article , “Wedding as a System of Symbols”
                    Jam Adamowsky , in his brilliant article , “ Semantic and Organization of the Wedding Ritual Space “ provides us various symbols in Polish wedding and symbols in folk poetry or rituals.
 Tatyana Zayokowsky briefs the differences and similarities among Ukrainian wedding symbols, Slav wedding customs and Greek wedding customs in his article, “THE BRIDE AS A BIRD, 1. FLIGHT OVER OTHER WORLD”. In this article, he provides various example from folk poetry,
               Albert Bayburin, Deyan Aidachich, Aleksandar Loma, Zoya Karanovich, Biljana Sikimich, Ljubinko Radenkovich, Danica Djokich, Irina A. Sedakova, Rachko Popov, Elena S. Uzeneva, Tatyana A. Agapkina, Vitaliy Zaykovskiy  provide the detailed knowledge of symbols in Slav wedding and Slav wedding folk songs and other folk songs  in a book “Codes of Slav Cultures”. The book is very crucial to study the comparative studies of symbols uses in wedding folk songs in various culture thought the world

           V.V Freiberga detailed symbols in folk songs of Lativa in Journal of Baltik Sudies, 1975.

               Nikifor Robovsky provide various examples of symbols in folk poems of  Macedonian area in his article,” Macedonian Folkloristic Theme “.

                   Brone Stundzhiene provide analytical study of symbols in Lithuanian folk songs in his brilliant article, “ The Depiction of Trees in Lithuanian folk Songs”

 Batya Fonda provides readers about various symbols used in Jewish folk songs in an Internet site . “http://www.jewishfolksongs.com/en/kings-and-queens”

                         Symbolism   in  Garhwali Wedding Folk songs of Dhuliarg 
     Dhulyarg  is ritual performed by Pundit jee and the parents of bride also perform as per advice of Pundit jee. The women sing the specific folk song for Dhuliarg time as :                           
                 धूळयर्ग  के समय का गढ़वाली लोक गीत
 ऐ गई पितैजी ऐ गई पितैजी दिया का कन्या
 ऐ गई पितैजी  दिया का कन्या

खड़ा रैन्गीं पितैजी खडा रैन्गीं पितैजी दिया का कन्या 
खडा रैन्गीं पितैजी दिया का कन्या  ए

दे द्यावा पितैजी दे द्यावा पितैजी धूळीअर्ग 
दे द्यावा पितैजी धूळइयर्ग  ए

धूळीअर्ग धूळीअर्ग  पुनिया समान
धूळीअर्ग  पुनिया समान  ए

को ह्वालो कनियाँ को ह्वालो दिया का कन्या
को ह्वालो दिया का कन्या  ए

कें देलू बेटी कें देलू बेटी धूळीअर्ग
कें देलू बेटी धूळीअर्ग ए

को ह्वालो बेटी को ह्वालो बेटी श्री रामचंदर
को ह्वालो बेटी श्री रामचंदर ए

जोंकी होली पितैजी जोंकी होली पितैजी बैजंती माला
जोंकी होली पितैजी बैजंती माला  ए

वूं दीण पितैजी वूं दीण पितैजी धूळीअर्ग
वूं दीण पितैजी धूळीअर्ग  ए

दे द्यावा पितैजी दे द्यावा पितैजी शंख की पूजा
 दे द्यावा पितैजी शंख की पूजा  ए

कें देलू बेटी कें देलू बेटी शंख की पूजा
कें देलू बेटी शंख की पूजा ए

जोंकी होली पितैजी जौंकी होली पितैजी राजूं पैर्वाग
जौंकी होली पितैजी राजूं पैर्वाग  ए

राजूं पैर्वाग राजूं पैर्वाग पीताम्बर धोती
राजूं पैर्वाग पीताम्बर धोती  ए

दे द्यावा पितैजी दे द्यावा पितैजी नर्युळ जनेऊ
दे द्यावा पितैजी नर्युळ जनेऊ ए

जोंकी होली पितैजी जोंकी होली पितैजी  पायूँ मा पदम
जोंकी होली पितैजी  पायूँ मा पदम ए

वूं दीण पितैजी धूळीअर्ग  वूं दीण पितैजी धूळीअर्ग
वूं दीण पितैजी धूळीअर्ग  ए

राम जी आई गेन राम जी आई गेन जनकपुरी मा
राम जी आई गेन जनकपुरी मा  ए

अयोध्या का लोक अयोध्या का लोक जनकपुरी मा
अयोध्या का लोक जनकपुरी मा  ए

जनकपुरी मा जनकपुरी मा धूम मचीन चा
जनकपुरी मा धूम मचीन चा  ए

राजा जनक की राजा जनक की कनियाँ कुँवारी
राजा जनक की कनियाँ कुँवारी  ए

जनकपुरी मा जनकपुरी मा सीता स्वयम्बर
जनकपुरी मा सीता स्वयम्बर

The girls request the bride's father that marriage party has arrived. The girls ask him to stand at the site of Vedi. Then the girls request the bride's father to pay Dhuliarg (it is again symbolic that to take the soil of foot of groom on the head by bride's father and that means to pay high respect to groom)
the innocent bride's father asks that he does not know to recognize Shri Ramchandra (the groom is symbolic to lord Ram Chandra)
the girls say that the person putting on Baijayanti garland (lord Vishnu or Ramchandra  puts on Baijaynti garland) is the groom
Again the girls ask to worship Shankh (the symbol of lord Vishnu) . The bride's father ask the method of recognizing groom. The girls suggest that who is in King's dress he is groom (Here groom is symbol of the king)
 Then in symbolic language , motifs the girls tell that the people of Ayodhya (Groom's marriage party) have  arrived in Janakpuri (the village of bride) and there is festivity in Janakpuri (in bride's village).
The whole song is in symbolic wordings and depiction
         Conclusion is that the items and song of wedding ceremony are full of symbols in all societies of the world.
Ref: for Garhwali Folk songs -- Totaram Dhoundiyal, Shailja Thapliyal, Mangal, Dhad Prakasahn Dehradun
Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti bckukreti@gmail.com .

































 

  Gotrachar Mangal : A Garhwali Wedding Folk Song to Enquiring  about Groom and Bride
                                 (Garhwali folk Songs, Himalayan Folk Songs, Indian Folk Songs)
                                                        Bhishma Kukreti
 Gotrachar is one of the important stage of  Hindu wedding . When the marriage procession of groom reaches to the wedding place (bride’s village in old days, now, wedding places in cities) , the  var narayan Pooja (respect of groom) Dhuliarg etc are performed by Pundits of both sides.Now comes the Gotrachar ritual. In fact in very old time, the match makers used to make wedding matches and at this stage the bride’s family and groom family members used to know detailing about each other. Pundit jee from one side asks the questions in Sanskrit Kim gotr…(what is your gotra, what is the name of father, grand father, great grand father, the first person of the jat/caste ) . Apart from it there is question for both sides about which river is nearby. Asking river was very important aspect in India. As river denoted the fertility of the land and by knowing the river,  the mannerism of a person/family/society  was also detected. In other words, river was the symbol of civilization and richness of families living neaerby that river
Now the gotrachar is formal chanting .
 At gotrachar stage of wedding ceremony, Pundit jee from both the sides are busy in chanting Gotrachar mantra and the professional Mangal singer and female village singers sing the Gotrachar mangal . The important aspect of Gotrachar Mangal is that the Mangler (singers ) indicate that the bride family belongs to relative of Lord Shiva in symbolic fashion as
 

गोत्राचार के वक्त का मांगळ

क्या छांवां क्या छांवां  पितैजी निंद सुनिंद
क्या छांवां  पितैजी निंद सुनिंद ए

ऐ जावा पितैजी ऐ जावा पितैजी वेदी जगसाला
ऐ जावा पितैजी वेदी जगसाला  ए

ऐ ग्याई पितैजी ऐ ग्याई पितैजी गोतर लगन
ऐ ग्याई पितैजी गोतर लगन ए

बेटी बेटी बेटी बेटी चन्दन लेटी
बेटी बेटी चन्दन लेटी  ए

गोतर क्या गौंलू गोतर क्या गौंलू ममा जी मादेव
गोतर क्या गौंलू ममा जी मादेव ए

ममाजी मादेव ममाजी मादेव मै पारबती
ममाजी मादेव मै पारबती  ए

इ होलू बरमा जी इ  होलू बरमाजी गोतर हमारो
इ  होलू बरमाजी गोतर हमारो  ए

बेटा बेटा बेटा बेटा गोबर लेटा
गौ बेटा गोतर अपणु ए
 Wedding songs from Mangal by Totaram Dhoundiyal and Shailaja Thapliyal

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, bckukreti@gmail.com

 
                Fire Worshiping Garhwali Wedding Folk Song (Mangal)
                               अग्नि पूजा क मांगळ                   
 
(Garhwali Wedding Folk Songs (Mangal), Himalayan Wedding Traditional Songs, Indian Folk Song)
                                    Bhishma Kukreti
                                            Fire and Human Civilization
       Fire, Agni, Igni has been worshipped in all civilization at all eras.               
                It is not known that when human being learnt about fire and its uses for human benefits. But it is sure that Paleolithic men were using fire for cooking hunted animals, food preservation, smoke for various uses, warming the body  at winter season. It is also known to us that before 7,90,000 years back , the human being started to control fire. In Stone Age and before that age the human being learnt to make tools with the help of fire. The metal age came only because of uses of fire for making metallic appliances and weapons. The history of agriculture specially using cereals as food is the history of uses of fire by man.  It is said that the history of uses of fire is the history of development of human civilization. Even in this current era those use the latest technology for heating called modern man.
         The history is witness that in old age , the tribes fought for fire . This author is witness that people of Garhwal used to keep fire live by covering live coal and when the flame fire was needed the coal were made live.
                                      Fire Worshipping 
        The water and fire have been or will be life lines of the human beings. Therefore, there are instances that there was custom of fire worshiping in each old religion.
                                Fire Worshipping in Fedorovo Culture
         The archeologists found the earliest fire worship by Indo-Iranian culture Fedorovo culture around 1500 B C . there is evidence that  Fedorovo people used to cremate the dead bodies.
                 Fire as divinity   Zoroastrian Religion
     In Zoroastrian religion fire means purity. Their temple s are called fire Temple. In Great Iran era, people used to celebrate two festivals –Sadeh and Chaharshanbe Suri related to fire.
                           Fire worship in Ancient Iraq
           Apart from Zoroastrians, Azerbaijanis  worshipped fire in the area till islam religion took over.   
 
                       Fire Worshiping in Vedic  Literature
 Agni or fire is one of the major deity among all deities described in Vedas. Agni or Fire has second importance after Indra deity  in Vedas , In Hindu religion , Hindus worship Agni (fire)  all ceremonial occasions.
                          Fire Worship in Graeco Roman Culture
The Graeco Roman had two gods for fire worship –Fire of Forge and Fire of Hearth
               Fire Worshiping  in old Greek Culture
 Greeks had fire goddess – Hestian and gods-Hephaestus and roman equivalent  Vulcan.
                 Fire Worshiping in  Norse Mythology
 Surtr is the fire god in Norse Mythology
                     Fire God in  Ceiltic folklore
   Belenus is fire god in Ceiltic mythological stories.
                    Fire god  Slavic legendary stories
     Svarog is fire god or spirit of fire  in Slavik mythology .
                   Fire worshiping in  Bible
There are many instances in Bible where fire is worshipped or respected as deities.
               Worshiping Fire means Worshiping Sun
      In many culture, the meaning of worshiping fire is equivalent to worshiping the sun
                  Fire Worship by Pactiyans , Pakhtiwals or Khost (Afghanistan)
 Before Islamic era, Pactyan’s main worship was worshiping fire.
                       Fire Worshipping in China)
    Axi (Mile county, Yunnan province of China) people celebrate fire festival to worship fire god- Medang on 3rd day of 2nd month of Chinese Lunar calendar.
The lantern festival of China is one of the oldest festival of China (end of Chinese new year).
  Zhu Rong is Chinese Fire God who punishes the those who break the laws of heaven.
 The  Mongolian ethnic groups worship fire in  China.
                   God of fire in Japan
The following gods are gods of fire in Japan
1- Ho-Masubi
2-Kangu-Zuchi
                    Fire worship by Jews
It is believed that Abraham taught Fire Worshiping to Jews
                           Fire God of Ancient Egypt
  Ami , Aseb were  gods of fire who rules over fire in ancient Egypt
                     Fire worship in Armenian Mythology
 Maarten  Elout provides the readers atranslation of Fire song from Armenian mythology which states that Vahgan is the god of fire . The song is as
The Heavens and the Earth travailed,
“There travailed also the purple sea,
‘The travail held’
‘The red reed stalk in the sea.’
‘Through the hollow of the reed stalk a smoke rose,’
‘Through the hollow of the reed stalk a flame rose’
‘And out of the flame ran forth a youth.’
‘He had hair of fire,’
‘He had a beard of flame,’
And his eyes were suns.”
‘( Maarten Elout ,2006,  History of Fire in Rituals in Asia in Titled “Teaching of Master,  )
                  Fire Worship in Ancient Ireland
     Fire worship was common religious practice in Ireland before Christianity took over the the region. There are records in Dublin that even in the time of Chritianity, the people used to worship fire .
The following song of the time of Henry VIII is the wirness to speak that Irish used to worship fire
 The bright lamp that shone in Kildare's holy fane,
And burned through long ages of darkness and stain."
                Fire worship in Maya Civilization
 Mayan people used to worship fire. They used to perceive that fire is itself god.
                The above examples are enough that the earlier civilizations used to worship fire .
 
                                          Fire Worship in Garhwali Wedding
                    The reverence for fire in Garhwal (India) is as there is respect for fire among all Hindus . In Garhwali culture, spitting, urinating, jumping, keeping feet wearing shoes on the fire is sin.
 The following Garhwali wedding folk song indicates the sin about spitting over fire.
  In the song, it is indicated that first the fire is invited to grace the occasion and bless the marriage ceremony . The fire says that since, people spit one fire she is not coming to the earth from another Lok . (another galaxy). The singer request repeatedly to fire god to grace the occasion and singers of the folk song explain to Fire god how they will perform the fire worship – inviting fire, worshiping fire, burning sandal wood, offering sacrifice (Ahuti) by caw Ghee etc :
  अग्नि पूजा क मांगळ
ऐ जा अग्नि ऐ जा अग्नि बरम लोक मा
ऐ जा अग्नि बरम लोक मा  ए

नि आंदो बरमा जी नि आंदो बरमा जी मै मथि  लोक
 नि आंदो बरमा जी मै मथि  लोक ए

तेरा माथु लोक तेरा माथु लोक आग मा थुक्दीन
तेरा माथु लोक आग मा थुक्दीन ए

ऐ जा अग्नि ऐ जा अग्नि मै मातु लोक
ऐ जा अग्नि मै मातु लोक  ए

त्वे बगैर अग्नि त्वे बगैर अग्नि  बरमा जी भूखो रैंद
त्वे बगैर अग्नि  बरमा जी भूखो रैंद ए

त्वै मेरी अग्नि त्वै मेरी अग्नि न्यूतो भेजलू
त्वै मेरी अग्नि न्यूतो भेजलू ए

न्युतिक बुलौलू न्युतिक बुलौलू  पूजा पठौलु
न्युतिक बुलौलू  पूजा पठौलु  ए

गाई घियान गाई घियान आहुति द्युंला
गाई घियान आहुति द्युंला  ए

चन्दन अ लकडिन चन्दन अ लकडिन पूजा करला
चन्दन अ लकडिन पूजा करला ए
Reference : Totaram Dhoundiyal, Shailja Thapliyal, Mangal, Dhad Prakashan , Dehradun
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, bckukreti@gmail.com

 
  Garhwali Wedding Folk Songs for Wedding Vows (Sat Fera ka Mangal)
                        सप्तपदी  को मांगळ 
                (Garhwali Wedding Folk songs, Himalayan Wedding Songs, Indian Wedding Songs)
                                                            Bhishma Kukreti
(Abstract:Wedding is  an important aspect of human beings. Each society and religion carry out wedding ceremony according to laws, social aspect and religious aspect.  Wedding vows by groom and bride are essential part of marriage of all religious sects.In this write up, the author tries to provide wedding vows of different religions and countries. There is also explanation of Garhwali  wedding folk song sung at the time of Saptpadi wherein groom and bride take vows or wish for blessing.)
   Wedding vow by groom and bride is common in all societies and religions. There may be different types of wedding vows according to place, class and time as:
1- Religious wedding vow
2-Non religious Wedding vows or Legal vows
2-Traditional Wedding vows
 The vows of each religion are different than others as the custom of each religion are different.
                  Christian Wedding Vow Customs
  There are following types of wedding vows in Christian communities
1- roman catholic type of wedding vows
2- Baptist type of wedding vows
3-Episcolpal Wedding vows
 In Christian custom the priest asks question to bride and groom as
Priest to groom  “ Do you (name of groom ) take (name of bride) as wife?”
Groom to priest , “ yes I do”
Priest to bride, “Do you (name of bride ) take (name of groom ) as husband ?”
Bride to pries Yes I do”
 In some tradition, bride and groom read the following lines
“I, (name of bride/groom) take you, (name of groom/bride), to be my (wife/husband), to have and to hold , from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”
                        Jewish Ways of Wedding Vows
 There are three ways of wedding ceremony in jewish communities- Orthodox, Conservative and reform ways of wedding ceremony.
In many Jewsih wedding the vows are recited when the groom places the ring into hand or bride In all mcustoms the groom asks the bride (through priest) whether she wants to become better heart? And same way bride may asks to groom before placing ring to his finger. The vows are in the name of laws of Moses or Israel
 
 
                                      Islamic way of Wedding  Vows
                Nikah or marriage is sacred ceremony . There are following three main aspects  of Islamic way of wedding including wedding vows by bride and groom
1- Contract or agreement by both parties to go for marriage contract (Nikah)
2-Mahr : Maher  is divine gifts by groom to bride. Mahr  is symbol of taking responsibilities by the groom
3-Assembly and Kaboolnama : Marriage take splace before assembly of people and two witnesses are must. The priest reads the contract and ask the agreement to groom and bride . The bride and groom answers “Kabool or Yes I agree”.
 The marriage takes place in Masjid and the contract record (adk Nikah) is kept there
                 Difference in Turkey way of Wedding
 In turkey, the civil authorize the wedding ceremony than Imam .
                    Zoroastrian way of Wedding Vows
There are following main stages in Zoroastrian wedding ceremony
1-Assembly of people and Marriage Couple: The marriage ceremony is called Shahjan in Parisian language.  The assembly should witness the marriage ceremony
2-Priests : two priests perform the rituals and conduct the religious parts
3- Bride takes first seat and groom takes opposite seat in wedding place. There are many ritual items in the wedding place as per religious codes.
4- Curtain of separation and its removal : This ceremony is also found in Garhwali wedding, wherein there is put a curtain between bride and groom that they don’t see each other’s face before a particular ritual. The curtain is removed after finishing the specific ritual
5-Fastening the hands of bride and groom: The senior priest takes right hand of one each and tied their right hands together as per ‘Ahunvar formula’
6- Encircling the twist: When the hands are fastened, the raw twist is taken seven times around the pair and priests recite several auspicious rituals as per religious codes.
7-Throwing sacred rice
8-Pazad reciting: The senior priest stands before groom and junior priests stands before bride and senior priest recites  in Panzand
9- Questions and answers to witnesses: the priest asks question to each witness from the side of bride and groom for agreement of marriage as per religious formula. The witness answers  “yes”
  Then the priest asks the question to groom and bride, "Have you preferred to enter into this contract of marriage up to the end of your life with righteous mind?".Both reply: "I have preferred."
 The above statement is wedding vow in Zoroastrian custom of wedding
10- There is joint addresses by priests and they offer blessing (Ashirvad) to couple.
                           Chinese way of Wedding Vows

                 The Chinese wedding vows are very formal. The minister or priest asks the question to bride and groom for agreement
Minister to groom ;You are willing to marry (bride’s name) as your wife in sacred marriage together for life? Whether she is in good health or sickness, wealth or poverty, beauty or is plain, in good times or bad, you are willing to love her, comfort her, to respect her, and protect her and willing to be loyal to her forever ?”
The groom accepts ,”yes”
Same way the minister asks questions to bride “You are willing to marry (groom’s name) as your husband in sacred marriage together for life? Whether he is in good health or sickness, wealth or poverty, beauty or is plain, in good times or bad, you are willing to love him, comfort him, to respect him, and protect him and willing to be loyal to him forever?”
Bride says, yes”
                         The Pumi Way of Wedding Vows         
 Pumi is an ethnic group of China. Their marriage style is slightly different than nationalize system.
   Pumi arranges marriage day on 2nd, 10th or 12th day of slack winter.
When the  groom marriage party reaches to bride’s house, the must sing the song’ Renqin”. The groom can enter only when the bride is satisfied
The bride has to show reluctance for leaving her mother’s house
When the bride leaves her house she sings a leaving song
When the bride reaches at groom house, she has to sing a song Kaimendiao (Tue of opening the gate)

                    Wedding vow in traditional Japanese custom

 The minister says the vow and groom and bride should repeat the same respectively
Vows for groom by minister, “The woman I marry, no matter the health situation is I will love this person. Respect this person, Console this person. Help this person. Until death. Protecting fidelity . I swear.”
For bride the minister says and bride repeats “ you this man marry and becomes his partner. Will you in peaceful times during sickness, this person love, this person respect, this person comfort, this person help, until death. Dou you promise “. The bride says “yes I promise”

             Rites of seven Steps or   Wedding Vows in Native American way of Marriage

 The wedding ceremony among native Americans is quite diverse and they take seven  steps rites for taking wedding vows in the name of almighty . Both bride and groom take seven step sun wise or clockwise around sacred fire. There are seven vows in native American marriage- one vow for each step:
1- We wish blessing from god of heaven to protect all
2-We honor all you (god) created
3-We honor mother Earth
4-We honor fire
5-We honor wind
6-We honor water
7-We honor the whole universe you created
These steps are vows as well the  blessing from God.
 
 
      Saptpadi or Sat fere or Seven Steps  in Garhwali (Hindu) style
 The Saptpadi in Garhwali way of wedding is same as an average Hindu wedding ceremony. The bride and groom take seven feras (walking round the Vedi for seven times). The Agnikund is kept on Vedi as the fire is real witness   of Hindu  marriage.
  In first four round of seven round of walking around Agnikund (sacred Fire ) , the bride is always behind the groom and in last three round of walk around Agnikund, the bride walks before groom . In each Phera , the bride and groom take vow. These vows are the extract of Karma (action of duties and happy life) :
1- Wedding Vow of First step or First fera : They 9the couple ) would provide prosperous life for house or the family that they would look after
2-Wedding Vow of second step: For healthy life, they would develop their physical, mental and spiritual powers.
3-Wedding Vow of third round or step: the bride and groom promis that they will earn righteously to increase the wealth for mutual benefits of family and society
4- Wedding Vow of fourth step or Fera: The couple pledges that they will accomplish knowledge, happiness and harmony by mutual love, respect, understanding and faithfulness for each other.
5-Wedding Vow of fifth step or Fera: they pray/promise to have children and take responsibilities for nurturing children. Both pray to be blessed for healthy , honest and mentally fit children.
6- Wedding Vow of sixth step or Fera: the couple pray to be blessed for self control of the body, five senses, mind, intellect, ego , soul and longevity of their martial relationship.
7-Wedding Vow of seventh step: They promise that they would be true,  faithful , loyal to each other and would be companion, best friend  for life time
 The Pundit jee speaks in Sanskrit and makes the couple understand in local language that the couple take oath according to custom

                         Garhwali Wedding Folk Songs for Saptpadi
 While Pundit jee and couple are busy in taking seven step around Agnikund and taking oaths for future married life , the women singers of village and professional Das singer (Mangler) sing the song about seven step and not the vows. The singers  describe who is helping in taking the each step. According to Garhwali custom, the earth helps in taking first step; bride’s mother helps in taking second step,; younger brother of bride completes a ritual before  third step; bride’s father helps in completing  third  , elder brother helps fifth step of Saptpadi or Sat fera; sister in law of bride helps a ritual; the uncle (younger brother of bride’s father0 helps the bride in taking fifth step and aunt helps in doing so ; elder sister and brother in law of bride help the bride in taking sixth step. The seventh step is without help as the couple becomes married couple and society, fire and pundit jee confirm that bride and groom are now married. The last stanza of folk song is about blessing bride that her husband is alive till her death.
This stanza speaks indirectly that males used live shorter than females in old time                     
सप्तपदी  को मांगळ

पैलू को फेरो पैलू को फेरो धरती बिलाली
पैलू को फेरो धरती बिलाली  ए

दुसरो फेरो दूसरो फेरो मा की लाडली
दूसरो फेरो मा की लाडली  ए

तिसरो फेरो  तिसरो फेरो पिताजी की लाडली
  तिसरो फेरो पिताजी की लाडली ए

चौथो  फेरो चौथो फेरो भै की लाडली
चौथो फेरो भै की लाडली  ए

भै की लाडली भै की लाडली बौ की लाडली
भै की लाडली बौ की लाडली  ए

पाँचों फेरो पाँचों फेरो चचा की लाडली
पाँचों फेरो चचा की लाडली  ए

चचा की लाडली चचा की लाडली चची की लाडली
चचा की लाडली चची की लाडली  ए

छ्यों फेरो छ्यों फेरो दीदी की लाडली
छ्यों फेरो दीदी की लाडली ए

 दीदी की लाडली  दीदी की लाडली जीजा की लाडली
 दीदी की लाडली जीजा की लाडली  ए

सातों फेरो सातों फेरो ह्वेगे पराई
सातों फेरो ह्वेगे पराई  ए

ह्वेगे पराई ह्वेगे पराई स्वगीण रैई
 ह्वेगे पराई स्वगीण रैई  ए


By analyzing all the above  wedding vows of various religions and ethnic groups , there is conclusion that vowing by bride and groom is not only limited to two individuals but the whole society and environment also taken care in wedding vows as society and environment make the life of would be couple more comfortable and purposeful. Most of the religious  rituals are read by priests in old languages and priests explain those sayings into languages of the bride and groom.

Reference for Garhwali wedding folk songs : Totaram Dhoundiya, Mrs Shailja Thapliyal,  Garhwali Mangal, Dhad Prakashan , Dehradun
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, bckukreti@gmail.com