[nukkad] Nair Marriages

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 We don't understand life any better at forty than at twenty, but we 
know it and admit it. -Jules Renard, writer (1864-1910)
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Ravi Menon wrote:
1. Somebody raised the Question on marriages. Amongst the Nair community of
Kerala marriage was and is a social contract. I do not think this has
changed since then. 
# It has. Matrilineal system has been legally abolished in Kerala in 1975.
Registration of marriage in the concerned Panchayat / municipality where the
marriage ceremony takes place is now necessary. Registration with the NSS
Karayogam (as mentioned by NetGeek) is optional and is practiced only in
areas where NSS has a strong presence.

2.My brother recently needed a wedding certificate and what he was told was
that all he needed was two witnesses who could prove that he lived with his
wife for 5 years and that was good enough!
# Nothing strange about it. The marriage must have taken place before the
system of registration was introduced. Before registration of birth became
compulsory, mere affidavit of the guardian stating the date of birth of
child was sufficient for enrolment in schools. Now they insist on Birth
certificate.  The point is, certification of events which took place before
a formal system came into existence will be based on circumstantial
evidence. 

3. No priest officiates at a Nair Wedding. Also being a matriarchal family
system the groom follows the wife to her house not the other way around. 
# That is only part of the ritual. Next day, and if the next day is not
auspecious, on the same day, the couple is ceremoneously taken to the
groom's house and there are some rituals at the groom's house too. These
days Nair marriges are solemnised before noon time. 

4. Net Geek mentioned the adoption of Hindu customs by Syrian Christians.
Traditionally, Pilgrims to the famous hill temple Sabarimala (especially
first time pilgrims) are required to visit Vavar's Mosque at Erumeli before
embarking on the 60 km trek to the temple. Muslim 'priests' distribute
Prasad to the pilgrims visiting the mosque. Thousands still follow the
traditional route and rituals. Muslims too have have adopted some aspects of
Kerala culture. Just like Kerala temples having annual festivals, several
Christian churches and some Muslim Mosques have annual festivals. The annual
festival of Mosque at Pattambi is a grand affair complete with caprisoned
elephants, band, music etc. On the negative side they have also adopted the
Dowry system. Instead of the traditional muslim way of paying Meher to the
bride's father, Muslim grooms too demand and take a hefty dowry.  Sad to
say, post 1992, there are strains in the communal fabric of Kerala too.

V.K.Venugopal


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