Seetha kalyanam

Seetha is a character in Hindu mythology. She is one of the main characters in the Ramayana. Seetha represents the female, she is believed to be the incarnation of the Mother goddess. Rama, the protagonist in the tale Ramayana, is Seetha's husband. He represents the male or the 'Purusha'. Their divine union was a source of joy to everyone. It is said that during their marriage, all of 'Bharathadesam' (India) rejoiced and celebrated!

The word 'Kalyanam' means marriage in Sanskrit and in Tamil. Tyaga Brahmam (also known as Tyagaraja), a great saint and musician came up with this stellar idea of re-enacting Seetha's marriage. He started the tradition of Seetha Kalyanam (and also Raadha Kalyanam. Raadha is Krishna's consort and finds mention in the Mahaabharatham). There are two ways of conducting Seetha Kalyanam. The age old, vedic and traditional method which is the prescribed method of marriage that every Hindu still follows and then there is the Naama Sankeerthanam method.In the Naama Sankeerthanam tradition, the marriage is conducted by Bhagavathas (devootees who sing the Lord's praise). This tradition consists of two phases:

The First Phase

In the first phase, bhajans are sung and dancing takes place. The Lord and his consort are requested to join in the festival. In Raadha Kalyanam, 'deepa pradakshinam' takes place, that is, devotees circumambulate an oil lamp while singing and dancing. The singing and dancing starts in the evening and goes on into the wee hours. While bhajans are being sung, other bhagavathas dance around an oil lamp. The dancing also involves the re-enactment of the Gopikais' dance. The gopikais' anguish when Krishna leaves them also finds place in the day's events. The bhagavathas who represent the Gopikais dance with enthusiasm, however, after a few songs, they sit down singing Krishna's praise and beg him to come back. However, Krishna does not return until the gopikais surrender their all to Him.

The Second Phase

The second phase is the actual marriage which is re-enacted very realistically. Two devotees representing Seetha's parents give their daughter Seetha in marriage to Raama, whose parents, Dasaratha and Kausalya are represented by two other devotees. One of the rituals involved in the festival is a dance which is performed holding (or rather brandishing) an olakai (which is a thick stick used to dehusk grains). Wheat grains are ground with the olakai. The husk covering the grains represents the worldly desires that veil the soul. The soul is represented by the grain. Raama Naama (the name of the lord) is enough to remove all the coils of desire.The 'mangalya dharanam' or the wearing of the holy matrimonial thread takes place after which there is more dancing and singing! This time the dancing and singing represents the ecstasy and the joy of all those who actually witnessed the marriage of Seetha and Rama.