Goody bags for wedding guests

JS Raghavan 

On the eve of South Indian weddings, it was customary to put together a goody bag, meant for departing guests, the task superintended by a mirthful uncle of the bride-to-be, who regaled young nephews with risque stories, since all would be in a celebratory mood. Such joyous group activities that made weddings memorable have been taken over by business-like event managers.

The plastic bags would carry names of the couple, host-hostess, the date and venue. Such goody bags are in vogue even now, but the contents vary in style and value.

Yet, all along, the main item by default had been a coconut, with the fibre removed, ready to be broken for use in the recipient’s kitchen. The uncle would also dabble in quality control by bringing each coconut near his ear, tapping it with his fingers and ruling if it was good from the sound it made. The guest, after breaking it at home, should not feel cheated by the freebie. Such feeling might radiate negative energy on the married couple.

If the wedding was on a shoestring budget, oranges would replace coconuts. Having no rigid shells to shake and tap, quality control was made easier. Nevertheless, the uncle would detain one or two before stuffing, like a technician would a product at random in a factory’s assembly line.

Betel leaves and nuts are pronouncedly auspicious. It used to be the dark-brown nuts once, but later, packets of supari were used. A non-funded pseudo-professorial research undertaken by me had revealed 97.99 recurring percentage of such leaves and nuts being thrown away unused. Yet, they find a place in the bags, as tradition is sacrosanct.

Some would choose to add a small prayer book. A zealotic writer known to me had included a compilation of his (unpublished) articles in the bags for his guests to enjoy reading them. One uncharitable review from a recipient was that the wedding dinner was more digestible than the text printed in the book given gratis.

I received an intricately carved silver bowl and spoon in the goody bag of a rich man that might have cost quite a packet. Having the skill to earn, and more importantly, heart to burn, he made the wedding memorable. One diamond merchant, reputed to sit on a mine like Kimberle, had even embedded a sparkler on the invitation card. Perhaps a diamond is his visiting card. Fancy that!

The reaction of the guests who received a diamond, or a coconut, may be varied. But the best I came across is by the one who does not use it for food, but habitually breaks it in the nearby Lord Ganesh’s temple, seeking His blessings on the wedded couple. Bravo!