Haldi
Tel Baan and Haldi
Our family members and friends ‘prepared’ Karan and Shweta for the forthcoming wedding. At this ceremony, a paste made from herbs, mustard oil, fresh yogurt, henna and turmeric was applied on our faces, arms, shoulders, and feet. All the ingredients for Tel Baan were separately put in bowls made of clay. The ingredients were applied using the brushes of grass or cotton.
Shweta’s ceremony was festive – ladies sang traditional folk songs while they applied the paste in the same sequence. The men in the family applied the paste in the reverse sequence. Those who don’t know the traditional folk songs that go with the Tel Baan ceremony can sing the modern day children’s song “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”!
Karan’s ceremony was humorous with relatives taking turns trying to smear as much as possible during their turns! Suryaraj came up with the ingenious solution of dabbing the same area 7 times in a row before moving to the next one. Karan facilitated the process by raising up his legs to make the feet easily accessible and offering his kurta for the offenders to wipe their hands clean!
In addition to the Tel Baan, the Haldi ceremony was performed on the bride and groom. Ubatan or a paste made primarily of haldi or turmeric was rubbed on Shweta and Karan. The idea being turmeric makes the couple glow. It proved true for Shweta at least!
