Tradition: The dolls’ wedding
Summer vacation gives ample time to all kids to dig into their forgotten toys and indulge in various activities. Such was the case with my darling little cousins this summer, as they revived a forgotten tradition of yesteryear — a doll’s wedding!
Yes, a doll’s wedding or ‘guriya ki shaadi’ as it is lovingly called. It is a unique activity that used to take place every now and then when we were kids, but it seldom happens now. The doll wedding tradition allowed kids from the family and neighbourhood to join in the event and enjoy to the fullest, just like a real wedding. All the rites and rituals are celebrated just like adults have a traditional wedding with different functions such as mayoon, mehndi, shaadi and valima.
A doll wedding was not just a way to pass some leisure time when gadgets weren’t invented and the television was on for just a few hours. It also provided an opportunity for the children arranging it to learn social skills and responsibility at an early age. Sometimes these doll weddings were celebrated as a grand occasion where adult family friends and relatives were also invited. The adults too would join in to help in the arrangements and enjoy the festivities. My cousins were lucky to celebrate their dolls’ wedding in such a grand manner.