Peetthi and Mehndi
Peetthees
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Peetthees were the domestic equivalents of Health Spa meant to rejuvenate the would be couple. The bride and the bridegroom were prepared by the Hajjamon and the Hajjam respectively at their respective homes. The two got paid handsomely for their services which included preparation of material for various Peetthies, giving body massage and helping in hot water baths.
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Peethies were applied only during the last one week or
days prior to Nikah. They included Tel ji Peetthi (oil massage), Mongen ji peetthi (green gram paste), Dawayen ji peetthi (paste made of an assort of cosmetic herbs followed by bath in hot water boiled with medicinal barks and leaves), Hyder ji peetthi (Turmeric paste), and finally Sandal ji peetthi (Sandal paste). Hyder and Sandal were usually applied ceremoniously by family members who had to be specially invited. In the case of the bride the invitation went from the lady of the house. On the peetthi days the bride was not permitted to attend any household work and was made to stay confined to a specific room or a corner.
Mehndi
Peetthi ceremonies concluded with a ceremony of minimally decorating the palms and feet of the girl with henna and to a much lesser extent the boy's. It was limited to placing a small lump of ground henna leaves, seasoned with drops of squeezed lime, in the centre of the palm and copping the tips of fingers and toes. While Peetthies were limited to the same sex members of the respective families, the Mehndi participation was wider. Both the families joined the functions at each others’ place, attendance at the girl's residence being confined strictly to women and girls. The boy's ceremony used to have a slightly different character in that the would- be - mother-in-law would place a small lump of Mehndi in the left hand of the boy, the right hand being the prerogative of his mother or an elder sister. Where the boy was still under-aged, not having attained manhood, more women relatives could join in decorating his fingers too. The present day Mehndi function where the boy and girl are smeared with sandal and mehndi all over the face was not known in those days, except as a way of teasing by intimate friends. The functions were much orderly and disciplined. One common factor was the Gor, the proceeds of which were shared between the Hajjam and Dhami at the boy’s and their feale counterparts at the girl’s.