Talented Women and Mangla Gauri

 Talented Women and Mangla Gauri

It is a blessing when one gets to learn about the culture of the state and the rich tradition day after days .

We are very fortunate to have the capacity to keep learning and the opportunity to keep experiencing each day so many festivities which is a part of our rich tradition.

Tuesday 29th August was one such day where I was present for the mangla Gauri Puja of my daughter in law. Her parents and immediate family had been preparing to make this day successful as this Puja is about praying for the togetherness, happiness, health wealth and prosperity of the newly wed couple.

We were so looking forward to this day and I had also once again got the traditional attire of navvari stitched. Had got mehendi application done which I so love and bought fragrant flowers for the hair. Along with me my clinical psychology intern from Germany was also excited and took to the maharashtrian Traditional attire like a fish to water.

Finally the day arrived and we reached Goregaon just as the puja preparations were going on.

The family Guruji began with the mantras and my daughter in law looked radiant and most beautiful in her red saree with all the traditional jewelry.

She had to perform most of the puja and also read the katha (story) highlighting the benefits of the puja.

The puja was followed by ganpati (Favorite God for all the blessings)aarti and few more prayers.

The house was filled with friends, neighbours and relatives who were all present to bless her and pray for her and it was a joyful festive energy.

We all had delicious lunch and then started preparing for the evening festivities.

I was attending this function for the first time in my life.

My daughter in law's mother has been a part of a very talented troupe of mangla Gauri performers for many years. They are all more than friends. They all are like a one big happy family.

The performance is very special and it depicts how in olden times, women who were mostly restricted to kitchen and household chores found their own joy and happiness by inventing and playing with kitchen tools and how they dealt with their issues and mother in law in a chiding manner.

They did not need parenting lessons or counselling for stress as they found it in their gathering, dancing and singing with beautiful and colourful attire. This was followed by potluck lunch

So to sum it up they actually pampered their senses with fragrant flowers in hair colorful clothes and beautiful jewelry, alta which is crimson red color, sang and danced and created very witty and sweet words.

My astonishment was watching these wonderful group performing with such vigour and joy.

I noticed that each one had special skills of singing, dancing, speed, breathing, creative sounds from lips, rolling and expressions of  trained danseuses. They are all women who otherwise are working, have careers, have families and are successful women in their own fields. But here they were like a beautiful family all celebrating the rich tradition of Maharashtra women with the zest and energy of a 20 year young person.

Each one of them were gorgeous, beautiful, demure and still very assertive and confident.

At the end of the function they all introduced themselves and I felt that I had met the entire Maharashtra talent in one evening.

I salute them all to keep the tradition alive and pray that we would all keep the childhood and the youth in us alive by playing more on these games than finding the need to go to gyms.

I remember myself enjoying the holding hands with friends and going round and round a lot in childhood.

I also loved playing floor games and many physical games till about age 16. Some even with my brothers.

The day all this stopped the need to diet began.

So moral of the story is stay with our roots and enjoy the richness of our culture.