2 - Nepali Hindus in southern California

Summary

The setting: here comes the bride

A marriage ceremony is in progress. A purohit (Brāhmin priest) conducts the marriage ceremony according to the Vedic tradition. Seated cross-legged in a lotus position, he instructs the parents of the bride to place a flower garland on a copper pot filled with water. Several green magnolia leaves are layered around the mouth of the water pot. A coconut sits firmly on the wide mouth of the water pot, which, in turn, sits on the bed of rice spread in a large metal tray. Vermillion paste, a sacred thread, a piece of red cloth and flower petals adorn the coconut. The tray contains various accoutrements, such as betel nuts, coins and sacred threads. Light glows from the oil lamp and aromatic smoke wafts from the incense sticks standing nearby. Chanting Sanskrit mantras from the Yajur Veda, the purohit rings a ghaṇṭi (small bell) as he offers flower petals to a small statue of Gaṇeṣa, the elephant-headed God of Beginning. The priest pours a little water to the deity from an achmani (small spoon-like utensil) and performs a ritual called pūjā, asking the deity to remove obstacles during the ceremony of holy matrimony. Ganesa also is the remover of obstacles, and hence his blessings are considered redemptive for during a long wedding many things can go wrong.