Kaleerey
Tinkling bells of the Kaleerey
The chuda ceremony can never be complete without the 'kaleerey'. These dome shaped streamers with tinkling silver and gold bells are considered auspicious for the bride. The bride's cousins and friends tie them to the chuda. They are like blessings for the bride for her new life and also to remind her of her old friends. It is said that the bride has as many friends as there are leaves in the kaleerey. So the more leaves the merrier!
Sometimes coconut pieces and dry fruits are tied to the kaleerey. This is because during ancient times when the bride started for her husband's home in a doli, it would take days to reach her destination. She could thus feed on the coconut and dry fruits tied to her kaleerey. Times have changed and although it takes but a few minutes to reach anywhere, the significance of this ritual still stands strong.
Another tradition being that when the bride leaves for her new house she is supposed to hit her unmarried friends and cousins with the kaleerey. Whoever gets hit first will get married next. We also see a similar ritual in Christian weddings where the bride tosses her bouquet and the girl who catches it is purported to be the next in line to marry.
The dreams and desires of a contemporary woman may vary but it always needs something special to define her persona and reflect the woman that she is. Following the dictates of a poignant past and these tiny symbols of marriage can indeed make her feel so married and so much like a woman.
hope that help
