The auspicious activity to start the ceremony and invitation

We have a special ritual named as Jai Ragada, which is performed first, in functions like Marriage or Thread ceremony, to start the preparation for invitation and set the mood. During my nephew's thread ceremony (which happened some times back), we had the opportunity to do this at our native home, and I thought, I would share this nice culture with all of you.

Along with all the items for this occasion, seven women (that too married and un-widowed) are needed to join together to perform this ritual. And then the family barber and his wife have to be present, to do the customary work.

First the stage is set, by putting the red color marking the area, that is to be used for the ritual.

Then each of them put the Alta ( Red dye), and this is done by the barber's wife, as she is considered to be auspicious to perform all this.

White dye is applied on the red dye, and all the items, are brought and kept on this stage. Don't forget to notice the invitation cards (yellow colored) kept there.

You can see the Chaki (ଚକି) and Silla (ସିଳ) that are part of every house, that follows our tradition. Four or Five decades back, these were the means by which people were grinding or crushing everything at house, when there was no grinder. And I have seen this being used in my childhood, Mom would make the spices ready first in the morning, the food made with the spices made in these mortar and pestle is amazingly tasty. And these utilities are older than me , so you can imagine, how long they are with us.

The pulses are ground in the mortar and pestle and kept to be put in the food that is cooked in the reception. The turmeric is crushed, and used to mark the invitation card as a symbol of auspiciousness. Part of it is also kept to be used in cooking later in the reception. And do you know, who is first honored with the invitation ? The first invitation card is sent to Lord Jagannath - to seek his blessings and allow us to perform everything blissfully.

You can see, all the customs are made by women, considered to be the embodiment's of Goddess Lakshmi in our culture.

They are informed well in advance, to make sure, they can attend this, because without the minimum number of seven, this ritual cannot be done.

Do you notice my wife ?

The family barber having a very important role, was also told to make sure to record the date and time.

A mini replica of the stage, to worship everyday, till the actual event.

This needs some special skills to make these chullahs.

And they are worshiped, which as per belief, get life and set everything right.

A visual journey involving some short clips.

This post is a memory recorded on the chain, slowly these traditions and rituals are lost over modernity and time, but believe me, miracles do happen because of these beliefs. A week back, there was a wedding ceremony at my native place, and heavy rain was coming and then they offered a coconut to Maa Tarini Temple to stop the rain till their function is over. And the rain was stopped till 12 pm in the night. Amazing, isn't it ?

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