History of Origin of Some Clans in India/Jat From Jutland/Ceremonies in a Jat Life
History of Origin of Some Clans in India
(with special Reference to Jats)
By Mangal Sen Jindal (1992)
Publisher - Sarup & Sons, 4378/4B, Ansari Road, Darya Ganj, New Delhi-110002, ISBN 81-85431-08-6
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Chapter 1: Jat From Jutland
Ceremonies in a Jat Life
Chhati: After six days of the birth of a child, Chhati is observed when the household, friends, and guests were served rice with curry made of curd.
Karan Chhedan Samskar:During the teens, Karan Chhedan Samskar is performed when a particular vein of the ears is penetrated with a needle and a little gold ornament called Murki is worn through it. This particular penetration has got medical significance since it saves the person from many future ailments, particularity of testicles.
'Marriage': Before completion of twenty, marriage is performed and in selecting the match, the boy or the girl has little say. That is purely a duty left to parents. Important considerations in the selection is the health, the reputation of the family, and area of land which the selected family owns for cultivation. As has been stressed elsewhere of this thesis, a Jat adorns above all other things, the land which he cultivates. His respect for the soil is no less than his own mother. In case, little or his land is usurped by some one, even by his own cousin, he will
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prefer to die in a quarrel than to allow the other to kidnap his land. His love for land spells no bound. After the settlement, Sagai is sent from bride's side which is a proof of final engagement, because the performance of marriage may be delayed for some months or even some years. On the day of marriage, the revival of old glory of a Sardar of his domain comes in to play The manners of a Raja or King or Chieftain or Khan invading his foe's estate are repeated. A feast is thrown to the marriage party as was used to be done for the military acompanying the Raja on the expedition. Afterwards, the bridegroom representing the Raja rides on horse (known as Ghur-charhi) when the women relatives make a tika on his forehead as symbol of success. Followed by his military personnel (Baratis) and other staff, he goes to the temple for blessings of God to won over the enemy. On this occasion he is bound to be properly dressed of his office i.e., military dress with crown on his head (Mod). The whole army (Barat) either on elephants, horses, chariots, Rath, Behli or carts drawn by bullocks or even on foot starts to the destination of invasion. Before reaching the bride's village, the army stop in a garden for preparation of invasion. In the mean time if envoys of the foe come before the chieftain for settling terms of peace and bring presents according to his status, the Raja accepts the presents. This function is known as Barothi or Khet. The foe now a friend, requests the head of the army to come with his men and stay with him and throws a rich, heavy, tasteful dinner with drinks and dance (only rare) to the whole party. After the dinner, the ceremonies of marriage are performed according to the custom prevailing in the religion to which the individual Jat belongs. The feast is repeated for a day or two whereafter the father of the bride gives presents to the party and more particularly to the bride-groom. The groom thereafter with his bride on a suitable ride, starts for home where the bride is welcome into the house.
The female number lesser in Jat clan and therefore there is no hitch to accept a bride from outside the clan if the match is otherwise suitable. The offsprings of an outside bride are Jats in all respects. Likewise if one of the brothers dies leaving his widow, the widow can be taken as wife by the
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other brother of the deceased, in case he is bachelor or a widower.
Janav ceremony: Thread (Janav) ceremony is not prevalent amongst Jats. Only those who profess Arya Samajist religion undergo this ceremony. This ceremony, however, is essential amongst the twice-born Hindus i.e. Brahman, Kshatriya and Vaish.
After death, mourning is observed for thirteen days. On thirteenth day, all relatives and family members get together to elect the new Sardar for the family, always out of his sons and generally the eldest son of the deceased is choiced for the leader. A turban is then put over his head by members of the family in presence of relatives and other members of the clan in proof of his having been chosen as head of his family. This is known as Pagdi Ceremony. All those present on the occasion offer their presents to the new head mostly in cash and fruits. Acceptance of the presents shows the authority of the new head over his family or group of families. Thereafter a feast is arranged from the side of the new head which further puts a seal on his authority. This reminds us of the occasion of throning of Ogatai as successor of Genghis Khan which has been described by Herold Lamb in his work Genghis Khan, Emperor of all men on page, 178 as :
"He (Ye Liu Chutsai, the sage Catheyan) urged Ogotai to mount without delay to the gold throne on the felt-covered dais, and as the new Emperor was doing so Ye Liu Chutsai went to his side and spoke to Chatagai. Thou art the elder, he said but thou art a subject. Being the elder, seize this moment to be the first to prostrate thyself before the throne. An instant's hesitation and Chatagai threw himself down before his brother. All the officers and nobles in the council pavilion foll- owed his example and Ogotai was acknowledged as Kha Khan. The throng went out and bent their heads to the south, toward the sun and the multitude of the camp did likewise. Then followed days of feasting. The treasure that Genghis Khan had left, the riches gathered from all the corners of unknown lands, was given to the other princess, the officers and the Mongols of the army."
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"Then the rule passed from the house of Ogotai to the sons of Tuli-Mangu and Kubilai Khan. And the third and most extensive wave of conquests swept the word," page 180.