Seven Vows For Every Birth (II)

Abhay got ready in Dhuti and Panjabi. The panjabi was designed by his wife. He was looking handsome in bengali attire with a white topor on his head as per Bengali tradition. Devika came to his room 'My baby boy is looking so handsome.' 'Thank you Choti ma.' 'I am so happy today finally we are going to bring our daughter back to our home. Now let's go and take blessings from your parents and mother - in - law.' Vishal was waiting for them downstairs. Abhay came down and take blessings from his parents and Mrinal's mother. Soon they started their journey to Mrinal's house. In the whole ride Vishal was continuously teasing him. The more he was going towards Mrinal's house. the more his heart was being filled by thousands of emotions. Their first time marriage was against Mrinal's will. She was in her tears but this time she will be smiling from her heart. They will perform all the rituals with the blessings of elders. Though last time he took all the vows wholeheartedly and this time their vows will be taken again and their fate will be sealed again for their every birth. *************************************** Arti did Boron of Abhay. (When the bor jatri reaches the bride's place, usually the mother of the bride along with other members come out to welcome the groom and his family by showing the holy earthen lamp, sprinkling trefoil, and husked rice placed on a bamboo winnow (kula). Then they are served sweets and drinks.) Soon the priest started the wedding rituals. Soon Mrinal was taken to the wedding altar for saat paak. (Saat Paak - The bride, usually seated on a low wooden stool called pidi is lifted by her brothers and is taken round the groom in seven complete circles. The significance is they are winded up securely to each other.) After seven complete Mrinal was asked to remove the betel leaf from her face. And she did. It was their Subho Dristi. (After saat paak the bride and the groom are made to look at each other in front of all the assembled invitees. The bride is told to remove the paan leaves. This exchange of loving glance is to initiate them to be together officially by the society.) Soon her eyes met with a pair of eyes which was longing to see her. *Innocent against Dark* *Angelic against Devilish* *Dark Brown against Hazel* *Beautiful against Cold* AND *Love against Love* Abhay's wait was over finally. She was looking like a nymph in a red banarasi saree. The deep khol applied on her eyes only made him to lost himself more in her eyes. Her hands were filled with Alta holding the betel leaves which she just removed from her face. They were still lost in each others eyes. And soon both few drops of happy tears from both pairs of eyes. All the members looked at them in happiness, love, affection and prayed for their happily ever after. (Subho Dristi - After saat paak the bride and the groom are made to look at each other in front of all the assembled invitees. The bride is told to remove the paan leaves. This exchange of loving glance is to initiate them to be together officially by the society.) After the circles are completed, still sitting high on the piri, the bride and the groom exchange garlands of fragrant flowers thrice. This is the first step in which they accept each other. It is called Mala Badal. After exchange of garlands the priest skipped a ritual called Sampradan or Kanyadaan. Both Abhay and Mrinal didn't want to do this. She is his love of life but precious daughter of her parents. There is no need to give her away. Their love is pure and that's enough. Soon they sat in front of scared fire Agni for yagna and started chanting the mantras after priest. Agni, the fire god is made the divine witness to the marriage. After Yagna Mrinal's Mother did the ritual of Gathbandan by tying a knot between the Mrinal's anchal and the Abhay's scarf. She removed the happy tears from her face. Then Abhay and Mrinal was asked to stand up for Saat Phere. Abhay hold Mrinal's hand in his hand. They are going to take Seven Vows For Every Birth. As they started taking vows around holy fire the family members started showering flower petals on them. Priest's preface The world of men and women, united in the bond of marriage by Saptapadi (Saat Phere), to further promote the joy of life, together listen with triumph. Step 1 Groom's vow: Oh!, you who feeds life-sustaining food, nourish my visitors, friends, parents and offsprings with food and drinks. Oh! beautiful lady, I, as a form of Vishnu, take this first step with you for food. Bride's vow: Yes, whatever food you earn with hard work, I will safeguard it, prepare it to nourish you. I promise to respect your wishes, and nourish your friends and family as well. Step 2 Groom's vow: Oh!, thoughtful and beautiful lady, with a well managed home, with purity of behavior and thought, you will enable us to be strong, energetic and happy. Oh! beautiful lady, I, as Vishnu, take this second step with you for the strength of body, character and being. Bride's vow: Yes, I will manage the home according to my ability and reason. Together, I promise, to keep a home that is healthy, strength and energy giving. Step 3 Groom's vow: Oh!, skillful and beautiful lady, I promise to devote myself to earning a livelihood by fair means, to discuss, and let you manage and preserve our wealth. Oh! dear lady, I, as Vishnu form, cover this third step with you to thus prosper in our wealth. Bride's vow: Yes, I join you in managing our income and expenses. I promise to seek your consent, as I manage our wealth, fairly earned, so it grows and sustains our family. Step 4 Groom's vow: Oh!, dear lady, I promise to trust your decisions about the household and your choices; I promise to dedicate myself to help our community prosper, the matters outside the house. This shall bring us respect. Oh! my lady, I, as Vishnu, take this fourth step with you to participate in our world. Bride's vow: Yes, I promise to strive to make the best home for us, anticipate and provide necessary things for your worldly life, and for the happiness of our family. Step 5 Groom's vow: Oh!, lady of skill and pure thoughts, I promise to consult with you and engage you in the keep of our cows, our agriculture and our source of income; I promise to contribute to our country. It shall win us future. Oh! my skilled lady, I, as Vishnu form, take this fifth step with you to together grow our farms and cattle. Bride's vow: Yes, I promise to participate and protect the cattle, our agriculture and business. They are a source of yoghurt, milk, ghee, and income, all useful for our family, necessary for our happiness. Step 6 Groom's vow: Oh!, lovely lady, I seek you and only you, to love, to have children, to raise a family, to experience all the seasons of life. Oh! my lovely lady, I, as Vishnu, take this sixth step with you to experience every season of life. Bride's vow: Feeling one with you, with your consent, I will be the means of your enjoyment of all the senses. Through life's seasons, I will cherish you in my heart. I will worship you and seek to complete you. Step 7 Groom's vow: Oh friends!, allow us to cover the seventh step together, this promise, our Saptapad-friendship. Please be my constant wife. Bride's vow: Yes, today, I gained you, I secured the highest kind of friendship with you. I will remember the vows we just took and adore you forever sincerely with all my heart. They took the vows with their whole heart. These aren't only vows, it was the promise to stand by your partner, your soulmate in their worst and in their best. She will be his in their every birth. At the end of the Saptapadi Abhay kissed Mrinal's forehead. Everyone was looking at them in awe. Mrinal became beetroot due to all cheering. These sacred rituals made their more close. The holy mantras sealed their fate with love, care, respect and affection. ************************************** ( I wrote this as per my knowledge. I myself excluded few rituals from this because my protagonists didn't want to perform. If you want to know more about wedding rituals please google it. Thank you. I don't want to hurt anyone's sentiment and emotion. ) ****************************************** ******************************************