SUGAR ‘N SPICE by Devinia Dass

The Indian bangle ceremony or the valai kaapu is a function held in conjunction with the seventh or ninth month of an expectant mother in the expectant mother's house. This ceremony is only conducted during the first pregnancy.

The expectant mother would be made to sit in the middle of a rather elaborate spread of rose water, fruits, sweets and flowers. The ceremony is conducted by the womenfolk, who will bless the expectant mother with the fruits, flowers and sweets.

The womenfolk will add glass bangles to the expectant mother's hands, rub sandalwood paste on her cheeks and face, place red vermillion on her forehead and add fresh jasmine to her hair. Every married lady guest invited to the function is expected to perform these functions as a form of blessing towards the expectant mother.

The expectant mother will be handed an ammi kallu or grinding stone by each one of the womenfolk. This ritual symbolizes the womenfolk asking the expectant mother to give birth to a child as strong as the grinding stone. The ammi kallu is exchanged three times between the expectant mother and the womenfolk, symbolizing the womenfolk asking the expectant mother to give birth to more children.

Once these ladies perform these rituals they are given a little gift consisting of red vermillion, a yellow string and a few glass bangles as a sign of appreciation for the blessings given to the expectant mother. When all the womenfolk have blessed the expectant mother, the ' arathy ' tray is moved in circular motions in front of the expectant mother to ward off the evil eye.

In some functions, the expectant mother is told to bend over and stand while a banana leaf is held behind her and milk is poured down the banana leaf. This is to signify a safe journey for the newborn baby during childbirth. Although this seems to look like an uncomfortable position for a pregnant mother to stand in, it has been medically proven that this position eases the whole childbirth process.

In some functions also, the father of the baby is asked to pick between sweet rice, tamarind rice and yogurt rice wrapped in banana leaves. This practice, in pre-ultrasound days, was said to be used to determine the gender of the baby.

By the end of this ceremony, the expectant mother will have many bangles on her hand which will be there till the day she goes into labour. It is believed that these bangles make a pleasant tinkling sound which can be heard by the baby in the womb.

SUGAR N SPICE by Devinia Dass

The tillak or pottu invokes a feeling of sanctity in the wearer and others. It is recognized as a religious mark. Its form and colour and can vary according to one’s caste, religious section or the form of the Lord worshipped.

In earlier times, the four castes, the Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vyaishya and Sudra, applied marks differently. The Brahmins applied a white candanam or sandalwood mark, as his profession was of a priestly or academic nature. The Kshatriya applied a red kumkum or vermillion mark signifying valour as he belonged to warrior races. The Vvaishyas wore a yellow kesar or turmeric mark signifying prosperity as he was a businessman or trader devoted to the creation of wealth. The Sudra applied a black bhasma or charcoal mark signifying service as he supported the work of the other three divisions.

Vishnu worshippers apply a sandalwood tillak in the shape of a ‘u’, Shiva worshippers a pattai (three rows of horizontal holy ash or vibuti), Devi worshippers a red dot of kumkum and so on.

The tillak covers the spot between the eyebrows, which is the seat of memory and thinking. It is known as the Aajna Chakra in the language of Yoga. The tillak is applied with the prayer - “May I remember the Lord, May this pious feeling pervade all my activities, May I be righteous in my deeds “. Even when we temporarily forget this prayerful attitude, the mark on our foreheads reminds us of our resolve. The tillak is thus a blessing of the Lord and a protection against wrong tendencies and forces.

The entire body emanates energy in the form of electromagnetic waves – mostly from the forehead and the subtle spot between the eyebrows. That is why worry generates heat and causes a headache. The tillak or pottu cools the forehead, protects us and prevents energy loss. This is why sometimes the entire forehead is covered with chandan or vibuti.

It should be noted that using plastic or reusable ‘sticker bindis’ is not very useful or beneficial, even though it serves the purpose of beautification.