Haldi Kunku – Version 2.0

Haldi Kunku – Version 2.0

Being from a Maharashtrian family, I have seen the custom of celebrating  Haldi Kunku ever since I was a little girl. My mother used to welcome SOUBHAGYAWATI's and offer them a vaan (a little token of gift) and apply Haldi Kunku on their forehead. Ladies exchanging haldi kunku is a symbol of their wedded status and a desire they make for the long lives of their better half.

From a few years I am seeing that the number of ladies visiting my home for this function is increasing. May be on the grounds that my mother is making new companions is why we see this increase in number.Now this year I saw another advanced form to this function.

I was so glad to see that my mother welcomed ladies from the Hindu religion as well as she ensured she welcomed ladies from different religions too either they were Muslims, Christians or from some other religion. 

Celebration of this ceremony was traditionally restricted only to married woman whose husbands are alive (SOUBHAGYAWATI). No matter how harsh this sounds ...this not just was ...but still is a reality. This year my mom not just invited SOBHAGYAWATI’S (married woman whose husband are alive) but woman of every marital status …the one who is waiting for marriage, the one who could not get married, the one who never wants to get married, the one who lost her husband, the one who got divorced, the one who is a single mother, the one who is wishing to be a mother. She made sure she included every single woman.

Don’t take me wrong ….Neither did she power anything on anybody nor did she hurt anybody's notion. She didn't apply Haldi Kunku to those lady who don't wish to apply either because of conventions, their very own will or because of religion however she gifted the Vaan, a flower and desserts to each and every lady. My heart was over whelmed to see the entirety of this. To see that with the developing time how dynamic our mind and heart has become and that exact second I understood that this ceremony for me was never again a function of just SOBHAGYAWATI's nevertheless this Haldi Kunku function is an approach to praise woman, engage woman and cause her to understand that she is the same than any other individual, she is strong,courageous and powerful, regardless of what fate brings to the her table.

My mother likewise instructed me this is the way we regard each lady additionally regard their beliefs. She didn't invite the ladies who might get uncomfortable...as this is exceptionally touchy to some lady who customary accept that widows can't be a part of it. She didn't constrain her dynamic idea on others since that isn't the manner by which we can change things … All we need to do is care for other people, their suppositions and ensure that nobody gets left out due to their rank ,culture ,statement of faith , relationship or marital status. For me this is the new meaning of Haldi Kunku and I will follow my mother's strides until the end of time. I call it Haldi Kunku Version 2.0. Do you?