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The Bangle Wearing ceremony
The bangle wearing ceremony that is held once in her life time for the
bride to be is called the Chuddo. The bangles symbolise married life for
the bride, as they are broken only on her dead husband's coffin.
The Chuddo among the upper castes, consists of a set
of seven glass bangles of a green colour on each wrist. Among the lower
castes, the bangles are of the seven colours of rainbow. This ceremony
is performed on the eve of marriage or a day or two days before. It is
done at the house of the maternal uncle of the bride. In the normal case,
these bangles are put on her, by the bangle seller. Other relatives and
those present at the ceremony are also given by him a pair or more of
their choice free of cost. There are songs sung during this time which
are typical and appropriate to the occasion. Offerings of money
in token of blessing are put in a tray placed before the bangle
seller. The money collected thus is taken by him over and above the payment
that he gets for the work done.
There are women who are experts in singing in parables
and pointed metaphor in the form of Zotis as well as throwing aside all
taunts to them and other home people, i.e. relatives and would be relatives.
After this ceremony at the maternal uncles house, the
said uncle sends his niece home with a vojem (a parcel of sweet-meats
in a big special type of bamboo woven basket) containing sweet meats,
bananas, bread- twelve each in number. This system is known as Perkund.
Similar Perkund calls without the festive bangle are made, when other
relatives invite her at their place for lunch or dinner of farewell. She
receives a special bunch of flowers from her uncle and others on
this occasion. Even if the parents of the bride, do not happen to be on
speaking terms with the said uncle or relatives, she has to go and
get at least water from their well.
If they have no well or it is not
possible to get water from there, then some water has to be taken from
their house by the bride. Relatives visit the two houses of the bride
and of the groom, with flowers etc. Special 'fole' cakes made of rice-flour
stuffed with shredded coconut mixed with jaggery, cupped into a
wrapping of jack-fruit tree leaves and pinned by a thin stick-pin
are served at the maternal uncle's house. Or it may be 'mankeo' some thing
like dosas stuffed with coconut-shredding and jaggery. The Chuddo ceremony
is same for both Hindus and Muslims.
The 'Saddo' a variant of the saree is a special
dress, usually flowery or plain red or pink, worn by the bride in the
house, at the day of the wedding after the official function is over.
It is given by the maternal uncle to the bride among Hindus and Christians.
Among Muslims no such practice is noticed.
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