IN our part of the world, wedding ceremonies are celebrated with great zest. When a person ties the nuptial knot, it is considered to be one of the most significant events in his or her life. By and large, elders of the family play the leading role in organizing any such event. The majority of marriages that take place in our society are ‘arranged’ by families’ senior members. Having said that, wedding ceremonies are thought to be functions where women hold sway as far as customs and traditions go.
Women in our society are quite sensitive about traditional values. They love to adhere to them and stick with them no matter how unfavourable the circumstances are.
The preparations for participating in a marriage include making special dresses for the occasion and decorating the groom’s car with fresh flowers and garlands (sometimes made of currency notes) for the would-be couple. The tying of the Sehra (garland) to the head of the groom is an inseparable part of the groom’s attire.
Such customs and traditions have for long provided many people with their livelihood. Flower vendors and garland makers make their living out of happy occasions like marriages.
Laeequr Rehman, a flower vendor, is known to be one of the masters in the field of Sehra-making. He owns a small cabin-shop of flowers at the Teen Hatti bridge that he claims is the oldest shop in the vicinity.
Laeequr Rehman excels in the art of garland making using new currency notes. He has many ready-made garlands on display at his shop, ranging from Rs1,000 to Rs5,000. Hundreds of 10-rupee currency notes arranged exquisitely in the shape of a garland show the vendor’s artistry. He claims that he learnt this art from his father, who started the business 35 years ago. He intends to teach this art to his son.
“When my father started this shop, it was the only shop in the vicinity. People used to come here from every corner of the city. Now I am running the business. I pray my son will continue to run this business successfully in the future.”
Laeequr Rehman admits that these days the garland made of currency notes is not in vogue. But there was a time when people were crazy about it. In the ’70s no marriage ceremony was thought to be complete without it. Many guests preferred such garlands to other gift items to present them to the groom. He says that this business is still doing well in villages and smaller cities of the country.
“In villages and small cities, traditionally people throw money at brides and grooms to protect them from bad omens. That money, later on, is collected by the poor. Flower vendors and garland makers give new currency notes to the relatives and friends of the couple after getting a nominal commission,” he says.
Laeequr Rehman apprehends that small currency notes are fading out very fast, making the garlands made of notes of bigger amount expensive. It will ruin the business. “My father used Rs1 and Rs2 notes. I used Rs5 notes; but as soon as all those notes ceased to exist, I started using Rs10 notes,” he says.
“Since the Rs10 note is being used in other decorations, garlands have become expensive, which is not good for my business. Sometime I feel that my son would not be able to run the business in the same manner as I have,” Laeeq says.
IN our part of the world, wedding ceremonies are celebrated with great zest. When a person ties the nuptial knot, it is considered to be one of the most significant events in his or her life. By and large, elders of the family play the leading role in organizing any such event. The majority of marriages that take place in our society are ‘arranged’ by families’ senior members. Having said that, wedding ceremonies are thought to be functions where women hold sway as far as customs and traditions go.
Laeequr Rehman, a flower vendor, is known to be one of the masters in the field of Sehra-making. He owns a small cabin-shop of flowers at the Teen Hatti bridge that he claims is the oldest shop in the vicinity.
“In villages and small cities, traditionally people throw money at brides and grooms to protect them from bad omens. That money, later on, is collected by the poor. Flower vendors and garland makers give new currency notes to the relatives and friends of the couple after getting a nominal commission,” he says.
