" DAYA BATAAH " CEREMONY OF KASHMIRI PANDITS ..WHEN BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM ARE MADE TO EAT FROM THE SAME PLATE

                                                                     

“ DAYA  BATAAH"  RITUAL   IN A KASHMIRI PANDIT MARRIAGE  CEREMONY..

DAYA BATAAH  OR SAHAASHANAM ( EATING TOGETHER)  HAS BEEN PRACTISED  SINCE VEDIC AGE. IN THIS  RITUAL, BOTH BRIDE AND  BRIDEGROOM   PARTAKE   FOOD   FROM THE SAME PLATE    AT THE END OF VIVAAHA OR    MARRIAGE  CEREMONY   .

I was informed by an  elderly and well read person from Kerala that the marriage Lagana among south Indians  ends by what is known as ANNA-  PRASHANAM or PARTAKING  OF FOOD  BY BRIDE AND BRIDE GROOM. He also added that after this ceremony ,   the newly weds  are given Aashirwada  or blessings  first by the priest and then by the elders  present in the ceremony.

This Anna-Prashanam is nothing but a custom practiced by Kashmiri Pandits known as DAYA BATAAH  or partaking of food by bride and bridegroom from the same plate on the day of marriage after offering a small quantity to the sacred Homa fire  . The bride and bridegroom feed a morsel of food to each other with  their hands  from the same plate and thereafter share the food. This  common plate has all the dishes  that are cooked on the day of the  Lagna for the guests .

 DAYA BATAAH ceremony is  performed at the end of the Vivaaha or marriage ceremony .Among Kashmiri Pandits,  It follows Posh Pooza ceremony  (  showering flowers petals ) wherein the bride and bridegroom  are worshipped as Shiva and Parvati by all close relations who keep showering them with flowers while the priest recites sacred  Mantras for their union as Purusha and Prakriti.

In Daya Bataah   the couple make offerings of food into the sacred fire with chantings of Vedic  Mantras. Having done this, the couple feed a morsel of food to each other – symbolic of mutual love,  proximity  and affection.The DAYA BATAAH or  conjugal food is believed to unite two  hearts  and two minds  and make them  one.  The bride and the bridegroom are now ready to  look  together in the same direction to discharge their duties as husband and wife.

I vividly remember that first Morsel was offered by the bridegroom and thereafter the bride would  reciprocates . The relatives sitting around would cry  ..

                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                     

" Diess  Bo'dd  myon'd " or "Give him/ her a bigger morsel"

                               

 Post Marriage , Once the bride comes to her Inlaw’s house , another “ Daya Bataah” is fed by bridegroom’s  Puphi or some  lady to both the  newly weds . This is again fed  from the same Thaali or plate  .  This time they are together taken to the kitchen and made to sit over the traditional Dhaan ( Chulaah or cooking place ) . 

                                                                                                                          

They are made to bow to Goddess Annapurna .  Goddess Annapurna is prayed to grant food and good health to the newly weds .

Annapurna is the form of Divine Mother who is believed to grant nourishment apart from  cultivating a connection with the Divine.

( Avtar Mota )

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