“ AALATH “ RITUAL OF OF KASHMIRI PANDITS

                                                                                  

“ AALATH “ RITUAL OF OF KASHMIRI PANDITS

THIS RITUAL CARRIES THE VEDIC MESSAGE OF “ATITHI DEVO BHAVA” OR “A VISIT OF THE GUEST IS LIKE VISIT OF GOD HIMSELF “

I have been discussing some rituals specific to Kashmiri Pandits with some  Vedic scholars. Upon conveying details of “ AALATH“ ritual of Kashmiri Pandits and seeking clarification on it , a learned scholar clarified as under :

“ I believe the Kashmiri Pandit culture and rituals have evolved from Vedas and also from the Shaivite traditions. This tradition, as you say of welcoming a guest or guests  at the entry point or at the door by an elderly woman with a glass or jug or a  lota or small container of water held in a plate having some rice and flowers and then moving the water container symbolically over his head and  around his body and finally carefully throwing away everything at a proper place is nothing but Abhisheka .

So good a tradition. I would say that Atithi ( guest ) is Shiva. And Shiva needs Abhisheka . The honoured guest at the door has to be worshipped and welcomed . And at that time , Shiva is both a personal guest and a cosmic presence who is welcomed at the same time to one’s home and heart. The elderly woman who welcomes the guest at the door becomes pious by this very act and attains the status of Uma or Parvati .Blessed is the home where Shiva enters as guest.  Hold on to this beautiful tradition. “

Ashwani Kumar Chrangoo adds this:-

"Usually.....among Hindus every where, Aarti (Aalath) is done with a Deepak in a Thali, yes Tilak, flowers, rice and a little bit of water are also kept in the Thali and used and applied as per the local tradition of the area. The geographical conditions in the valley might have brought a little change in the established tradition. Water, rice and fire have remained an inseparable part of our civilization in all circumstances and all the three are considered pious as well. Here also water and rice take precedence and are used in this beautiful tradition of ours.The people of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala, as has been observed by me, continue to observe the tradition of Aarti of the guest very astutely and with purpose and also on all occasions of importance."

During olden days when a potter would bring pots for the Shivratri celebrations to a Kashmiri Pandit household , Aalath was also performed for him at the doorstep. May be a symbolic  welcome to lord  Shiva.

( Avtar Mota )

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