Women find time to bond at haldi kumkum
Haldi kumkum can be called a function of women, by women and for women. Since it is a popular ceremony among married women, one finds them inviting their women friends and relatives to their houses. The women are then seen exchanging haldi (turmeric) and kumkum (vermillion) as a symbol of their marriage. Each woman also prays for the long life of her husband.
The haldi kumkum season starts after makar sankranti. During this function, women wear traditional clothes and mangalsutra. Borivali resident Megha Garad says, “I had hosted a haldi kumkum ceremony at my place last weekend. As it was a not a working day, my relatives who live far away were able to attend it. I gave my friends and relatives some gifts and made a tasty meal for everyone. Although most women prefer serving snacks, I decided to cook a meal since there several close relatives had come over.”
Whenever somebody hosts a haldi kumkum, she always makes it a point to distribute either til laddoos, gulachi poli or coconut. Each woman is also given a flower to take away as a gift. Most times, this return gift is some kind of an utensil. A local social worker had hosted a modest haldi kumkum ceremony for all married women of the village at a school compound. She had also called in a troupe to do a play on female infanticide.
“Even today, one cannot deny that female infanticide is rampantly practiced. My aim was to educate women on this issue and I was extremely happy with the positive response I received from the women. Besides, I gave everyone a plastic container as a return gift,” said the social worker, whose haldi kumkum ceremony was attended by approximately 2,000 women.
Virar resident Richa Sharma also put her best foot forward at her haldi kumkum ceremony. She believes that haldi kumkum is when women get a common platform to meet each other and enjoy themselves.
“Haldi kumkum ceremonies begin after makar sankranti and end on ratha saptami. Very rarely is there any programme that is held for the women folk especially. Whenever women are at a haldi kumkum ceremony they get a chance to open up and be them elves. This is because they are only surrounded with women and so there is a greater amount of comfort level,” Sharma said.
At her haldi kumkum, women sang songs and danced. She gifted the women a plate with tilgul, til laddoos and snacks.
Haldi kumkum can be called a function of women, by women and for women. Since it is a popular ceremony among married women, one finds them inviting their women friends and relatives to their houses. The women are then seen exchanging haldi (turmeric) and kumkum (vermillion) as a symbol of their marriage. Each woman also prays for the long life of her husband.
The haldi kumkum season starts after makar sankranti. During this function, women wear traditional clothes and mangalsutra. Borivali resident Megha Garad says, “I had hosted a haldi kumkum ceremony at my place last weekend. As it was a not a working day, my relatives who live far away were able to attend it. I gave my friends and relatives some gifts and made a tasty meal for everyone. Although most women prefer serving snacks, I decided to cook a meal since there several close relatives had come over.”
Whenever somebody hosts a haldi kumkum, she always makes it a point to distribute either til laddoos, gulachi poli or coconut. Each woman is also given a flower to take away as a gift. Most times, this return gift is some kind of an utensil. A local social worker had hosted a modest haldi kumkum ceremony for all married women of the village at a school compound. She had also called in a troupe to do a play on female infanticide.
“Even today, one cannot deny that female infanticide is rampantly practiced. My aim was to educate women on this issue and I was extremely happy with the positive response I received from the women. Besides, I gave everyone a plastic container as a return gift,” said the social worker, whose haldi kumkum ceremony was attended by approximately 2,000 women.
Virar resident Richa Sharma also put her best foot forward at her haldi kumkum ceremony. She believes that haldi kumkum is when women get a common platform to meet each other and enjoy themselves.
“Haldi kumkum ceremonies begin after makar sankranti and end on ratha saptami. Very rarely is there any programme that is held for the women folk especially. Whenever women are at a haldi kumkum ceremony they get a chance to open up and be them elves. This is because they are only surrounded with women and so there is a greater amount of comfort level,” Sharma said.
At her haldi kumkum, women sang songs and danced. She gifted the women a plate with tilgul, til laddoos and snacks.
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