ओढ लावती अशी जीवाला गावाकडची होळी

 Sharing an old memory...2 years..

You all know this is a marriage season and we keep attending all of them. Few for our relatives, friends and know families in the society. Yesterday I was fortunate to attend my brother in laws Sushil Joshi marriage in Nasik. Though it was very tiring me to attend as had to travel from Hyderabad to Pune and then to Nasik by road. But it was a must in terms of the relationship I share with him. After all the traveling hastles we (me n my wife Anita) reached Nasik.  Entering in to the hall itself was a great feel as it started creating positive energies. There was a time for the bride family to arrive and soon after us they arrived. As usual after Welcome of all the guests the first day rituals started. By offering a prayer to Lord Ganesha the religious rituals have started. 

The first shloka itself attracted me towards the stage wherein Amey Kathe the main lead was chanting vedic mantras. It was all new for me though have attended thousands of weddings till now. The way he was chanting was very good and after every mantra he used to give a detailed description of the act in Marathi and also the meaning of the mantras. This attracted me more towards the rituals and thoroughly enjoyed the same with full satisfaction. Then was the next day where in Amey Guruji reached venue at around 6 am and started preparing for the further rituals. He changed the entire atmosphere by his way of decorating the area dividing in four different portions. One is the central vidhi Mandapam. Second on the left of it was for Madhu Park. 

Third on the right was for Kanyadaan and fourth one was a big flower layer color with multi color flowers was for Saptapadi. Believe me the way it was decorated was just awesome and am sharing few photographs which I could take in my cell phone. Others will be sent as I get them. Around 8 am he again started with Lord Ganesha prayer and in no minute I went to the site. The entire event venue was spreading the fragrance of his creativity.. Knowledge and beautiful decor of the bride n groom. First was Madhu Park.. 

He started explaining all the steps and it was connecting everyone to the rituals. Normally we attend the function for the name sake. Have food meet people and come back. But it's a lot that we carried with us while returning from this unforgettable event. When he started the Kanyadaan vidhi.. He took all of us into ancient trends and how it was to be done those days.. And explained every mantra and its significance. Though I was a third party but with his deep explanation of handing over a daughter to some one made me cry. At the same time he sensed the boy as to how good he should take care of her in future with certain promises through acts n mantras. I have ever seen a vidhi like this. 

Then came a ritual of Saptapadi.. Where each step was of the life was divided into 7 different promises the couple had to make. It was all about how they should live a good life as partners in all the different phases and conditions in life. How both should stand strong for each others in all the times.. Let it be good times or bad times or tough times. A lot of thrust ob building a strong mutual relationship by an open sharing approach. I am proud that our vedic systems are well designed and I am more proud for Shri Amey Guruji for his all round efforts to bring this to us and spreading the knowledge of our own rituals. I must mention  here that Mr Amey is an Engineer.. Works at Mahindra n Mahindra.. Still manages to do all this.. The entire event was supported by an appropriate background music again created by him. I salute Ameyji a high tech, knowledgeable.. Young energetic n powerful Guruji. There is a lot to write.. But space is a limitation here.. I appreciate Ganesh Joshi my brother in law for arranging this with lot of passion.. Rest everything viz. Food.. Tea.. Breakfast n other arrangements were just as perfect as the event I explained. Overall I must say that out of all the events I attended.. This remains at top of memory....

Sharad Puranik