Saturday, May 26, 2007

RUKHWAT.......

Actually "RUKHWAT"are the items displayed by the girl’s family on a wedding day. It’s usually seen in Maharashtrian weddings and not in a Goan wedding. In Goans it’s the ' SHIWAN' i.e. the stitched things or items that are usually on display for the members of the boy's family to admire. Shiwan or stitched items, is the embroidery or the patchwork done with great love and fondness by the bride's mom or near and dear ones.
I will make a separate post of the shiwan when I get an opportunity to attend a typical goan wedding.
This wedding which I attended was half Goan and hence the Rukhwat.



THE BRIDE

 
HOME MADE JAM IN DECORATED BOTTLES AND COASTER


 
I was in Pune last weekend for a wedding in the family, in olden times we could see all the items supposedly made by the bride, or given by the father to his daughter, it could be anything clothes, utensils, cupboard, everything was displayed. Traditionally you can say the significance of Rukhwat is that these are things a bride carries to her new home to start her new life. It is not done at that scale nowadays; there are enthusiastic mothers who love to display some really artistically and creatively made things. This are not necessarily made by the girl but are usually a team effort of her mother, aunts, friends and relatives, but some of the items are specially made by an expert who does it only for such occasions and for the purpose of an appealing display.

ITEMS MADE OF REDUCED MILK AND ARE EDIBLE


LADOOS PRESENTED IN A DECORATED BOX WITH A BEDSHEET [ seen below the box] WHICH IS A PATCH WORK BEDSHEET MADE BY AN AUNT.

COCONUT DECORATED WITH BEADS
 
FRUITS MADE OF MILK
  All the items made here, are made by reducing milk, if you look at these items you see how intricately they are made and such precise proportions. All the items are hand made.
.
These items are made by a lady in Goa, Ms PRAFUL KELEKAR, who I haven’t had the opportunity to meet but have heard a lot about.


POOJA THALI