Little Goddesses: Kanchak, March 26

[Guest guest]

March 21, 2007: It is a ritual that aims to put the girl child in a

pious position.

 

The Kanchak ceremony, which is celebrated during the nine days of

Navratri, worships women in the form of Amba or Durga or Mata Rani.

In this Punjabi tradition, the girl child is worshipped as the

Kanchaka — the divine virgin.

 

This year Kanchak will be celebrated on March 26 [i.e. the eighth

day of Vasant Navratri - DB].

 

" On the eighth day, or Ashtami, devotees break their fasts by

calling young girls home, who are then treated to a ritual where

they are regarded as the goddess herself, " says homemaker Poonam

Gulliani. " We call them Kanchak devis. The ritual is based on the

belief that Durga mata resides in these young girls; so inviting

them home and worshipping them is equivalent to worshipping the

goddess in person. "

 

While homes fill with the chatter of giggling adolescent girls, who

bask in the attention and savour the goodies they are treated to,

the ceremony demands a minimum of at least five girls to be present

for the pooja to be conducted. Once at the doorstep, the man of the

house, either father or son, washes the feet of these girls in order

to welcome them inside.

 

" The girls are also given puri, halwa and channa. Adding to this, we

also gift them a small token, which is kept on the plate itself, "

says homemaker Swarnlata Mehta. From bindis and bangles to hair

clips, ribbons and earrings, these kanchakas get to take home a

treasure trove.

 

Incidentally, most of things that the girls receive as a part of the

pooja bear a significance. For instance, the money, known as shagun

or the chunni is a sign of auspiciousness.

 

" The pooja also involves the tying of a sacred thread called the

mauli on the right wrist of the girls. The special red chunni

usually takes form of an embellished red cloth intricately decorated

with golden thread. Some people even offer the girls bangles, "

informs Gulliani, elaborating further that all things that the

goddess loves are offered to these young girls.

 

One of the most beautiful parts of the ritual, is the devi poojan,

where the young maidens are asked to light a unique diya, specially

made from kneaded flour.

 

" Though this tradition is not frequently followed in Pune, young

girls hurrying in ghagra-cholis and ornate salwar-kameez from home

to home on the day of Kanchak are a common sight in the North, "

shares Gulliani.

 

SUMMARY: Kanchak occurs in the Hindu calender on the eighth day or

Ashtami. Little girls known as Kancak Devis are invited home, as

they signify the entry of the goddess into the homes of those who

invite them. Washing their feet with milk and water, making them a

lunch of halwa-puri and kala-chana, and giving them knick-knacks

like bangles and earrings, along with a red chunni and some money as

shagun, forms the core of the ceremony. This tradition is native to

North India.

 

SOURCE: Pune Newsline. Little Goddesses, by Anuradha Mane.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007.

URL: http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=227662