Migal ghara Vaina Puja!

01/Sep/2019 - Today we had Vaina Puja in my house. It is also known as Gauri Puja. This puja is performed a day before Ganesh Chaturthi every year. This puja honors Gauri also known as Parvati, mother of Lord Ganesh.

The preparations start a few days prior with coconuts playing a major role. COCONUTS? Yes! All married women de-husk the coconuts and decorate them. Coconuts are worshiped and must be in batches of odd numbers of 3, 5, 7, 11 or 21. We as in my mother-in-law has been following her ancestors and worship 21 coconuts year after year. 
Some families have this as a ritual practice as their ancestors have been doing it, some families do not have it as a ritual hence do not practice it. Just like some worship Ganpati at their homes and follow it as their ancestors have been doing it, others don't.  

The coconut decoration is done after early morning bath before breakfast. The coconuts are de-husked. They are washed in haldi water and ready for decoration. The eyes are first decorated with 'black kajal', above the eyes you put a dot with red 'Kumkum', then an orange colored vermillion known as 'Sindoor' is put which many married women adorn on their forehead.  Turmeric (Haladi) is used on the top left side of the sindoor and Sandalwood paste 'Gaandh' made from fresh ground sandal wood is placed on the top right side of the sindoor. The area where the coconut can be exactly halved is covered with a white line done with a chalk.

   Huge plantin leaves are spread on the wooden manai (short legged flat stools). A mound of rice is placed on these leaves.

 

 The vaina as they call them are placed on a heap of rice. The white flowers and earthen lamps are then placed on top of the coconuts.

The 'Gauri' is adorned with bangles and mangalsutras.

 

The statue are being washed and cleaned before the Arti begins.

 

 The diyas are cleaned and made ready with cotton wick dipped in ghee or  oils.

Traditional Arathi (traditional hymns sung in praise of the lord) and Puja are conducted. 

Once the puja is concluded, all married ladies are presented with the coconuts and adorned with kumkum. We also distribute the vaina coconuts at a later time after the ceremony is over to other married women from our family who were unable to make it. Special food is then served to all the members which includes patoli, patrodo, daali toi, rice, upkari, assorted podis, undo, saaru, and godshe (sweet dish). 

This ritual is symbolic of the significance of a mother and also celebrates the respect offered to women in the family. Happy Vaina Puja!If you liked my blog-post please don't forget to comment below!

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