Muhurtam

Let me take you to our culture and tradition. Irrespective of religion, there are some beautiful rituals followed in each caste. The rituals followed in each occasion in the Hindu custom is more when compared to other religions. To make it more precise each of their custom has a lovely epic behind them.

You can spell the title as Muh-ur-tham. Yes, that's the way it is pronounced. It means an "auspicious time" meant for any auspicious occasions.

For any Hindu rituals peoples strictly follow "Muhurtam". It means the perfect time for any holy thing to be performed, in the presence of a Hindu priest. A perfect and determined time followed for any auspicious occasions such as marriage ceremeony, house warming ceremony, naming ceremony of new born etc. the list is endless. The occasion should ve carried forward only in this particular time.

The invitees are welcomed by giving a printed invitation in which "Muhurtam" meaning "the specified time" when the function is going to be conducted will be highlighted. Say, for instance, if it's a marriage invitation, Muhurtam will be between 10.30a.m. to 10.35a.m. and they strictly abide by the time. Wherein, the groom and bride are supposed to exchange the colourful garlands or chains within this period of time. Failing which this will lead to an unhappy married life as per rituals.

Hindu rituals for marriage is quite a lengthy process. When two people wish to get married, first they compare the horoscopes of both the bride and groom. According to them, in ten signs atleast 6 signs should match, which means its a happy marriage that will last for years. But if they do not match then it will result in bad omen. So the respective parents are very particular in getting the signs perfect for a marriage to live long. The matching process is conducted a month ago. When the horoscope doesn't match the marriage gets cancelled.

But there are instances where love marriages takes place, whereby, the couples are totally against this ritual. Here you cannot expect a ten out of ten signs to match as per horoscopes. The bride and groom decide to get married against their parent's wishes, if the horoscope fails.

To build a new house is anybody's dream. Here also, to lay the first stone for foundation, "Muhurtam"ie., the auspicious time is considered. Once the dream house is completed one waits for the house warming ceremony. For this also a date and time to step into the new home is given by the Hindu priest. Mostly this happens in the early hours of the day.

After performing some Pooja-"the rituals by the Hindu priest in front of the deity " - the lady of the house is asked to get into the kitchen and is directed to boil a big pot of milk before the "Muhurtam" gets over. Once this process gets over, all the invitees are welcomed with sweet porridge followed by breakfast.

Naming ceremony of the new born is also celebrated with great pomp in Hindu custom. Here the respective heads of the family put the infant in their lap and whisper the name of the child in the ear and finally call out in piblic before the "Muhurtam"- the specified time gets over. A moment of joy for the parents with pride. Relatives are gathered in the function to make it more joyous and lively.

In most of the invitations you can see the time mentioned during which the function will be conducted. This is part of their rituals. The people give respect to such old traditions.

These traditions are carried on from the time of their forefathers. In remembrance of this generation the traditions are still followed in most parts of our country. Respects to such culture.

As time goes by, some traditions don't fade and some customs don't leave us. As a reminder it is being carried forward by the ancestors to retain its stability in the tradition. Such is the essence and beauty of some traditions. These rituals are carried on even by the present younger generation, no matter where they live, be it Europe or Western countries or any part of the world. People still follow.....