Samipya 1992 Vol 09 Ank 01 02

Author(s): Pravinchandra C Parikh, Bhartiben Shelat
Publisher: Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Adhyayan Sanshodhan Vidyabhavan

Page 67

Acharya Shri Kailassagarsun Gyanmandir
known. Whereas no change is observed in the dress of the male members as well as the female members in rural areas of Saurashtra. But the new generation has started to march with the time and try to adopt the current fashions of dress and also try to imitate the youths of the higher society. Unfortunately, they cannot afford it economically. As a result, they wear second-hand (old) clothes of modern style. Further they cannot afford to wash and keep them neat, clean and press them properly. So it is difficult for them to maintain the etiquette of dressing and that is why they can be immediately identified as the youth belonging to the Vaghari community. However, some remarkable change is noticed amongst the Vagharis residing in the cities like Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Palanpur, Patan and Baroda. It is further said that "new fashion ends with the Vagharis." For instance, few years back, the youngsters all over were moving with transistors in the market and other public places. The same fashion was adopted by the Vaghari youths, by the time, it was out of vogue from the youths of the higher class people. They have stopped by moving with small radio-transistor on their arm, but the Vaghari youths have continued to move with the transistors as a status symbol even today. Simțlarly, latest Hair style is also adopted by the Vaghari youths but they can be immediately identified. This indicates that they want to march with the time and adopt the change but here they cannot adopt the same in toto. However they try to keep up with the modern trends. Betrothal
For the settlement of the betrothal, as a custom the girl's party does not come to the boy's party with the offer. It is customary for the boy's party to go to the girl's party and ask for the engagement. Wedding ceremony
Normally thc engagement takes place between the age of 14 to 20 years. The boy's party has to consult the girl's party in rural area of Saurashtra. The boy's party has to pay Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 5,000 in cash to the bride's party at the time of marriage and the failure of making such payments, the groom's party has to return back without the bride. Whereas in city areas of Saurashtra and Gujarat, the amount is very nominal. It varies from Rs. 100 to Rs. 500. The moment, the boy's party makes the payment in cash at the time of marriage, the matter ends with peace. In marriage, the only procedure required is the wed-lock in which one end of a panetar' (a sari for wedding) is tied with the groom's cloth and during this period some unknown peculiar words are chanted as Mantra by maternal uncles. Sometime, they used to call Brahmins for conducting the wedding ceremony. Of course, there are few sub-groups among Vagharis where the Brahmins are invariably called for the marriage ceremony, Particularly, Brahmins are called in Vedu, Gamiya and Maghia Vagharis of Kutch.
In some of the Vaghari communities of Saurashtra area, if the bride's party is not in a position to entertain the feast to the groom's party, the bride's party sends Rs.
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[Samipya : April, '92-September, 1992