Mature Function : A Traditional & Sacred Ritual

Mature Function : Involves various rituals and customs. Here are the details:

1. Setting up the Place: Choose a sitting place facing east and spread grass on the floor. Place a white blanket or saree on top of it, held together by five elders. These elders should bless the girl by performing akshintha on their heads.
2. Arrangement on the Cloth: On the white cloth, place beans, fruits, and soaked items in the middle. Also, put tambulam (betel leaves and nuts), a dry coconut shell, and a wooden doll next to it. The doll should be clothed.
3. Adornments: Put yellow parani on the girl’s legs and have her wear an oni (blouse). Make five bunches of yellow betel leaves, tie one to the roll and pestle, and give tambulam to the girl.
4. Rituals: Seat the girl and have her trample five chimmili mudds in the roll, followed by taking aarti. Sing Samarrapata and Mangalaharati songs. The girl should hold the chimmili in her hand three times, and the rest can be given to other children. Apply bottu (vermilion) and sandalwood first to the competent bride’s daughter and then to the grandmothers.
5. Food during the Ritual Period: For the first three days, cook Pulagamu rice (rice mixed with pesara dal). Eat the rice with a piece of jaggery or sugar, avoiding chopping or crushing the sticks. Peel the banana for the girl if needed. Use a separate bowl or silver bowl for the rice, as the one used during Upanayana should not have any defects. Take consecutive baths on the 4th, 7th, 9th, and 11th days.
6. Diet after the Ritual Period: On the 4th day, serve diluted atlu (pancakes). After bathing four times in a row, the girl can eat normally. The subsequent meals should include coconut powder, appadam, and vadi. If the girl is unable to eat it, dilute milk and buttermilk and pour it over the rice. Keep the girl in a room with a lamp and offer Shri Sandham, flowers, and tambulams to Suvasins (married women).
7. Restrictions: During this period, avoid consuming brinjal, gongura (leafy vegetable), chopped food, rice, and cheese. Additionally, refrain from using cow’s milk, curd, buttermilk, tambulum, and sandalwood. However, chimili muddali or any other sweet can be eaten. It is considered auspicious to distribute chimili muddalu in front of a temple.
8. Eleventh Day: On the eleventh day, the girl wears bangles. Relatives are invited, and a meal is served to them. Two bangles are distributed to everyone. Four Samarthalu are given and should be seen by at least three girls. During this time, it is advised not to cross the outskirts of the town.

Mature Function & Customs

These are some of the customs and practices associated with the Mature Function tradition.

Also Read : https://telugutraditions.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=748&action=edit