THE CEREMONIAL BATHS

They say marriage is the beginning of a new journey; it is the union of two souls into one, travelling together and merging in the process of dwelling in harmony and living a fulfilling experience. They embark on this journey with ceremonial baths.

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Marriage is a bond that strengthens only over time; it is a commitment that needs nurturing and a trust that chooses to be unwavering. But where is the beginning of this trust, and where does the journey commence? Perhaps, the germination begins with the initiation of the wedding rituals, which are so steeped in our culture and followed traditionally. Or, are the rituals observed for the blissful realisation of this union by the two souls bound for life? No matter the reasons, our customs and rituals insist upon purity first the purity of the body and the purity of the soul.

Hence, cleansing is an integral part of wedding rituals. Marriage is like preparing a clean tablet for new inscriptions, washing away any residue of the past.

Apart from being one essential element of nature, water is special in Hinduism because it is believed to have powers for cleansing the soul. For Hindus, all water is sacred, especially the water of the rivers which flow through this land of the Vedas and Puranas. The divine attribute of these rivers is a celebrated belief and needs no talking for establishing the faith. The fact that the bride and the groom in Indian weddings are given a ceremonial bath with holy water fetched from the rivers seals the truth about their cleansing, cooling, and purifying powers. A vital ritual, the ceremonial bath is an ancient practice where married women (in odd numbers) fetch pails of water from the river and bathe the one to be wedded. However, this is done only after smearing the bride and the groom with a concoction of turmeric, sandalwood powder and rose water. This ritual needs no introduction as it is an intrinsic part of every Hindu wedding and is conducted almost the same throughout cultures.