The story of human development is history. Humans make mistakes and humans correct them. Our Kutch Kadva Patidar caste is also one of them. Our elders came from Gujarat to Shikara village in Kutch Vagad. It has been about 500 years today. Our elders could not elevate their lives due to illiteracy, destitution, and poverty. Perhaps due to these reasons, despite being pure Hindus, they might have fallen victim to the heretical fanatical forces of that time. Consequently, forgetting their true religion, they unknowingly became victims of the cunning and dangerous ploy of Pirana Satpanth. But it is said that excess has no speed (excess leads to downfall). The Supreme Lord showed us the path of true religion at the right time and we returned to our original religion.

About 75 to 100 years ago from today, what were the marriage customs and festivals of Janmashtami like in our society and what are they like today? Want to talk a little about it.

Marriages used to happen only once in 12 years: In old times, child marriages used to happen. Similarly, in our society also mass child marriages used to happen once every 12 years. 15 months to 12 years old sons and daughters used to be married off. The last 12-yearly marriage took place in Samvat 2002 Year 1946 AD. After that, due to government restrictions, the 12-yearly mass marriages stopped.

In that era, people felt proud to marry off small children swinging in cradles with engagement. Marriages were performed in all villages on the day the Gedheras (leaders) of Panchada fixed the date. The marriage ceremony was performed by the village Mukhi (Head). Since all marriages happened on the same day in a span of 12 years, small children were carried (in arms) to perform marriage rounds (Phera) and children who had learnt to walk used to walk the marriage rounds themselves.

Unique problems of that custom: In some families, even if the son was six months old and the daughter was three-four years old, both were married off. As a result, due to mismatch, household life used to become like poison. In that era, not many people used to come in the marriage procession (Jaan). Because there would be three-four small children in one house and since all of them had to be married on the same day, the father would have gone to marry off the son and the mother would have stayed at home to marry off the daughter. Other siblings, uncles-aunts, maternal uncles-aunts, etc. used to help in marrying them off and carry them to the marriage procession. In some families, four marriage processions had to be taken and if there were daughters, four marriage processions used to come home. These marriages mostly happened in the month of Vaishakh.

Ana (Send-off) Custom: Since marriages happened in childhood, when daughters became about 15 years old, the in-laws’ side used to come with Ana (gifts) to fetch them. During the first Ana, the daughter used to stay at her in-laws’ house for about 15 to 20 days and go to play Ditvar (Sunday) on the first Sunday of Jeth month. The second Ditvar used to happen on the second Sunday of Jeth month.

There was a custom of Ana in the month of Vaishakh. Parents of the daughter who were rich or well-to-do used to do second Ana in the second year and third Ana in the third year also. Parents of the daughter whose financial condition was weak used to send the daughter during the first Ana only and did not do the second Ana.

After the second Ana, daughters used to stay at in-laws’ house for more days. When the second Ana came in the month of Vaishakh, immediately after Janmashtami, in-laws used to come to fetch the bride (Vahu). After that, the daughter used to stay at the in-laws’ house only.

Going to meet Maternal Uncle-Aunt: In winter after Diwali, the daughter used to go to her parents’ home for a big festival. At that time, the daughter used to go for a big meeting (Malan) at relatives’ homes. In which, at paternal aunt’s (Fai) home, maternal aunt’s (Masi) home, used to go for a big meeting at maternal uncle’s (Mama) home. This custom was there even about 20 years ago from today. Somewhere this custom is still continuing today.

Individual marriages started: Due to social and religious revolution in society and government restrictions coming, from Samvat 2002 Year 1946 AD individual marriages started happening. As per government rule, at that time minimum age for marriage was decided as 18 years for son and 16 years for daughter. But internally secretly some marriages used to happen at an age younger than the age limit. If someone informed government officials or police department about it, they used to come to stop the marriage. But used to leave after compromising.

Creation of tragic situation: Due to government control on age limit for marriage, a very big tragedy was created in our society. Because till Samvat 2002 sons and daughters of similar age were married. Children after that could be married when they became 16 years old.

When the daughter becomes 16 years old, it is natural for her parents to find a suitable boy and marry her off. But on the other side, the son’s age was also 16 years only, so the son could not get married. Along with that, since sons started studying more in that era, their parents started marrying them off late.

On this side, the daughter’s age was increasing so her parents started worrying. So during the period of 1965 to 1980 AD, many daughters in our society had to be married off in Gujarat out of compulsion. This is the real reason for marrying off our daughters in Gujarat. At that time there were not many daughters but due to the difference of two-three years in age, we had to suffer bad consequences. Today as per government rule, son’s age is 21 years and daughter’s age is 18 years.

Satam-Aatham Festival: Even though our elders were illiterate and innocent, we can be proud of one thing that even though they were in Pirana Satpanth, they continued to celebrate the festival of Janmashtami. So it can be said that we were saved from going into another religion. Despite being in Satpanth religion, our elders used to celebrate the festival of Satam Aatham with fanfare.

Special way of K. K. P. caste to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami: The entire Hindu society celebrates Krishna Janmashtami, but in Kutch Kadva Patidar society, this festival is celebrated in a somewhat different way and with different vigor. After the start of individual marriages in our society, individual marriages mostly happened in the month of Vaishakh. Marriages happened in villages throughout the month of Vaishakh. Since there was no electric light at that time, marriages took place at night in the light of Petromax (gas lamp). The marriage procession stayed for one night and two days. The procession was bid farewell in the afternoon of the next day. The menu of the marriage was also very simple. After marriage, 20 to 25 people from daughter’s side used to go to in-laws’ house with Ana to fetch the daughter. During Ana, son-in-law was also brought along, staying for two-four days, they used to take the daughter (bride) along.

After that when the first Sunday of Jeth month comes, the daughter goes to play Ditvar (Sunday) at parents’ home. On the day of Ditvar, she goes to play in the farm (Wadi) in the morning. Where she plays games by tying a swing on Neem, Peepal or Tamarind tree. Bathes in the water tank at the farm and goes to play games in the river sand in the afternoon.

After that when the festival of Satam Aatham of Shravan month comes, she goes to play festival at parents’ home one month before Janmashtami. Before the festival of Satam Aatham of Janmashtami comes, daughters of the village sing songs of Satam Aatham from one month in advance. First 15 days sing songs while sitting and next 15 days sing songs while moving around. The custom of singing these songs is still continuing in many villages today. Even today, newly married daughters go to parents’ home to play Satam Aatham. They prepare Krishna Bhagwan’s Gokuliyu and celebrate the festival of Janmashtami.

After the festival of Janmashtami is over, people from in-laws’ side come to fetch the bride. After that the daughter stays at in-laws’ house till Diwali. And after celebrating the festival of Diwali at in-laws’ house, the daughter goes to parents’ home to do the big meeting (Malan) of winter. Even today these customs are continuing.

Note: This article has been prepared from the stories heard from the mouths of living (surviving) elders whose child marriages took place in the year Samvat 2002 . There might be a little variation in customs of different areas in this.

Through this article, it is a small attempt to take note of the changes happening in the method of celebrating festivals over time.