Sanskar (Religious Ceremonies) in Garhwal in Pal/Shah Period

Administration, Social and Cultural Characteristics History of Garhwal in Shah Dynasty -74 

   History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -264     

   History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -511

                        By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)

 There are said to be 48 Sanskar (religious Ceremonies) performances in a life of Hindu.  However, there are 16 main Sanskar those are to be performed by all barring Shilpkar or they are exempted to do so. In each Sanskar, family performs a specific religious ceremony through Pundit.

1-Garbhadhan or egg formation –This Sanskar was /is not performed in Garhwal. Or if at all was performed only by King or very rich family.

2-Punsvan or Godbharai –Historians did not mention about this Sanskar performance in Garhwal

3 Seemantonnayan and 4 Jatkram Sanskar was also not mentioned by historian in Garhwal.

4- Birth –Women used to sing folk song after a boy baby used to take birth.

5-Namkaran or Naming Ceremony –Definitely the upper caste people used to perform this ceremony on eleventh day of birth.

6-Niskraman or Pavitra ceremony was performed on 2^nd day of baby delivery and from this day newly mother could touch others and could enter into kitchen etc.

7-Annaprasan or feeding grains food to the child- Very rarely performed in Garhwal.

8-11- Yagyopavit or Chudakram , Keshnat and Karnbhed ( ear piercing)  of boy

12-Vedarambh or initiating education- Only elite Brahmins used to perform this Sanskar.

13-Keshnat or cutting head hair- Elite families used to perform Keshant ceremony

14-Marriage

15- Bachidan before death very rarely

16-Anteshthi or death ceremony

After death, there were religious ceremonies of Tirain /Terhaveen thirteenth day of death, Barkhi on completing twelfth month and Shradh every year.

 Upper cast people used to burn the dead body near a river and bones were submerged in Ganga. A stone picked up from Ganga shore was kept in Pitarkudi as member of Pitar or forfathers . Pitarkudi used to be in village. The Shilpkar used burn their dead relative on a hill top and a Tumadi with water was hung on a tree branch there.

  Every male including boy from a Mundit (families of a link) used to shave their head after death of a family member).

Children were buried nearby village.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com14/12/2014

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -512

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

History of Garhwal from 1223-1804 to be continued in next chapter ….

History of Characteristics of Garhwal Kings Shah dynasty, to be continued

XX                     

Notes on Garhwal ka Itihas, Garhwal ka Madhy Yugin Itihas , South Asian Modern Period  History of Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Pauri Garhwal; South Asian  Modern Period   History of Chamoli Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Rudraprayag Garhwal; South Asian Modern  History of Tehri Garhwal;  South Asian Modern History of Uttarkashi Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Dehradun, Garhwal;  Modern  History of Haridwar ;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Manglaur, Haridwar;  South Asian Modern Period  History of Rurkee Haridwar ;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Bahadarpur Haridwar ; South Asian Modern Period  History of Haridwar district, South Asian History of Bijnor old Garhwal

Xx 

History aspects of Sanskar (Religious Ceremonies) in Garhwal in Pal/Shah Period; History aspects of Sanskar (Religious Ceremonies) in North Garhwal in Pal/Shah Period; History aspects of Sanskar (Religious Ceremonies) in South Garhwal in Pal/Shah Period; History aspects of Sanskar (Religious Ceremonies) in East Garhwal in Pal/Shah Period; History aspects of Sanskar (Religious Ceremonies) in West Garhwal in Pal/Shah Period;