“You do one thing . You take this table and keep it over there . Bring that chair here. ”
Said Makhan lal Ji to me in that marriage . It was perhaps June 1978. We had been awake for the whole night busy in making arrangements for the BARAAT of the sister of one of our friends. At that particular moment, We were decorating the lane leading to the Shamiyaana with Buntings made of kite paper . Makhan Lal ji came at 8AM on the BARAAT day well dressed with a neck tie. His shoes were shining like a mirror. He was a close relation of the family .
It was pretty common in Kashmiri families that such like people would come just one hour before the BARAAT arrival time and start directing workers essentially to make their presence felt or give an impression to one and all that they too had joined the group of workers or arrangement makers .I always noticed them in marriages . We used to call them “ YOU DO ONE THING ”.To my surprise I found them in marriages of my Muslim friends also .
Marriages in Kashmir used to be a tough job not only for the family of bride or bridegroom but also for the relations and more essentially for the neighbours . People would Pitch a Shamiyaana at a convenient open space in the Mohalla . Young boys from the Mohalla would join as workers . Relatives would also send work force from their families. The workers shared space and food . It was a time to make new friends . Marriage halls or Banquet Hall culture was totally absent in Kashmir valley.
In Rainawari , We would collect the cooking utensils and beddings in a roof less Boat( Locally known as Demb Naav ) from various families. A diary was needed to enter them with specific identification marks so that it was easy to identify these items at the time or return. I vividly remember having noted identification marks like RNK ( Rugh Nath Koul ) GB( Gup Bhat ) DKK ( Dam Kaak kachru ) written on the rim of Brass Utensils popularly called DEGHCHAA .The tent house man would bring Thaalis , Glasses , Gas Lamps ,Chairs , Tarpaulins , flooring and other items . He would also bring standing makeshift wash basins which always leaked . A group of workers would always be there to share any responsibility smilingly.
Marriages were mostly held during daytime. For office going guests , meals were ready at 8AM . Guests were made to sit for eating . White sheets spread systematically would determine the sitting arrangement . Workers would enter the shamiyaana and help the guest to wash their hands . This was followed by distribution of Thaalis( Eating Plates ) . Then one worker would come for cleaning the Thaalis with a fresh piece cloth . Suddenly you found a battery of workers trooping into the Shamiyaana and serving dishes and rice . Lastly the cook would come barefooted with an earthen Pot known as LEJJ to serve Cheese cooked in turmeric known as Kalee. For a non vegetarian feast ,Mutton kalee Would be served last of all. The cook would blacken the white sheets upon which guests ate with his foot impressions while moving to serve guests .Women would drag workers and request them to put more dishes in Thaalis of their relations to whom they were supposed to play host .They would say:-
“Traav Yemis ”
“ Put in this Thaali ”
“Akh Garam Bhatah Phoal ”
“ Just small quantity of hot rice ”
“ Saibaa Kyaazi Aav Na ”
“Why did not Saiba come ”
“Amma ji Khaatireh Nizi Dabuss Munz Me Thovmai Kuthis Munz Khaarith .
Kaansi Vanizi naa ”
“For Amma ji I have kept the food in a box. Take it silently to your place when you leave .”
“ Waza hayee chhukh Sham Lal . Kraal khod Baithak Pyaath Onmut. Chhunai Theek Ronmut ”
“ The cook is sham lal from Kraal Khod Habba kadal Baithak. Has he cooked well ”
Serving to women guests was a tough assignment for the workers . They made frequent demands to workers . Some time they would ask workers to keep vigil on their sandals . Some women would take food sitting on their sandals lest they be stolen.
Workers would be there serving in Menhdiraat , Baraat Reception , Gar Achunn and Yagneopavit Functions . The would be there when the bridegroom would come to his inlaw’s house first time after the marriage. This function was known as PHIR SAAL.He would also carry children of his close relation with him . I also knew a good number of persons who were known as DUDDA or uninvited guests. They would be seen in all marriages .They would enter with confidence and eat to fill. Workers would recognize them and smile while serving them .A DUDDA only entered the Shamiyaana after carefully befriending the workers .My father has told me that there used to be a DUDDA known as KASHI NATH . He was known as Kashi Dudda. Kashi Nath belonged to a well off family but the DUDDA Impulse made him to dress up and rush to Feasts uninvited .One day he went to the marriage function of DHAR family of SAFA KADAL thinking that the feast would be lavish and none could recognize him . It so happened that the Host while welcoming him , asked him if he belonged to Munshi family. Kashi nath was trapped . But here he cleverly replied as under
“ Dhar sahib I am from the Miscellaneous ( MUTFARQAA ) list . Remember when you and your wife were preparing the list of guests for invitation , you kept 50 guests as Miscellaneous ( MUTFARQA) . I am just one from that list .”
Where have those workers gone ?
I end this post with some more childhood songs which i still remember . Here they go
1
Yuss laagi Tuss Laagi Sarkaari
Maharaj Saabin Zimavaari
2
Budaa Budaa Vothu Vaen
Ba Vothai Naa
Soan Sundh Poand Dimai
Ba Vothai Na .
3
Sheena Pyeto Pyeto
Maama Itto Itto .
4
Bukka Bukka Aaab Khaasie Asmaanuss
Yuss me Vohavee Tuss panuss.
5
Sheen Heytunn Waalunn ,
Assi Chhunnaa zaalunn ,
Gachhav sonaa Shawlunn,
Push Heymoss Vaalunn,
Sui Heymov Zaalunn..
6
Gaash Broar Aav
Daari Kin Tsaav
Ratuss Rotun Yeti hay ,
Poshaunn Kariss Foet Hay,
Tim Kuss kitt hay ,
Lal Saabuss kitt hay.
.
CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.
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