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BollyWHAT
This message was updated on 6/22/2003 11:06:10 PM by BollyWHAT |
How to recognise an indian by their surname?
replied on: 6/22/2003 11:05:15 PM I found some good links on this subject. First, a page about Indian surnames in general, with special attention paid to South Indian names. Second, a site all about Bengali names -- first names, surnames, caste correlations, etc.. Third, a pretty detailed look at Gujarati Patels in the diaspora. Also, if you check out the different marriage ceremony descriptions on shaadionline.com, you'll find they give (really cool descriptions of wedding traditions for each group, and also) common surnames for each religious group. Actually, I think this is kind of interesting, so I went through most of them. (Judging from the results, Bollywood seems dominated by Khatri and Punjabi Hindus.) Here's what shaadionline.com says about surnames and corollary communities: North Indian Protestant Christian surnames: Paul, Benjamin, David, Thomas. Kashmiri Hindu Brahmin names: Kaul, Raina, Matoo, Tikoo, Dhar, Razdan, Haksar, Pundit, Kar, Bhatt Kashmiri Shi'a Muslim: Husain or Hussain, Khan, Mirza, Shirazi Madhya Pradesh Rajput: Singh, Rathore, Chandels, Himmatsinghe, Rajpura Punjabi Hindu: Arora, Malhotra, Chawla, Wadhwa, Singh, Kapoor, Khanna, Dhawan (i.e., most of Bollywood, it looks like) Punjabi Khalsa Sikh: Sandhu, Gill, Bedi, Siddhu, Sodhi, Ahluwalia, Garewal, Kairon, Rarewala, Chimni, Sukhurchakia Punjabi Sunni Muslim: Khans from Farukhabad district Hyderabadi Sindhi: Hathiramani, Sadharangani, Kripalani, Daryanani, Lalwani, Samtani, Chugani, Bhojwani, Vaswani, Buxani, Hiranandani, Uttamchandani, Mansukhani, Budhrani, Chatlani, Balani, Gulrajani, Advani, Melwani, Motwani, Khemlani, Dadlani, Chandiramani, Keswani, Wadhwani, Jagtiani, Rupani (see, my -ani theory holds water!) Kayast/Kayastha (Hindu): Goyal, Srivastava, Saxena, Mathur, Bhatnagar, Pandey Uttar Pradesi Khatri (Hindu): Tandon, Mehrotra, Arora (more Bollywood folks) Uttar Pradesi Sunni Muslim: Khan, Ali Khan, Syed, Mohammad, Sheikh. From down south... Andhra Vaishnava: Gantivaru, Malladi, Magunti, Atmakuri, Rao, Pantulu, Raju, Cheruvaru, Dodla, Kolluru, Palayam, Moorthy, Sastri, Choudry, Reddy, Naidu Bunt (Aishwarya's community): Bhandary, Rai, Shetty, Adappa, Shenava Karnataka Vokkaliga: Gowda Kerala Hindu Nair: Menon, Nair, Nambiar, Pillai, Unnithan, Panniker, Kurup Kerala Syrian Christian: Chandy, George, Eappen, Cherian, Verghese, Thomas, Kurien, Abraham, Mathan, Jacob, Zacariah, Oomen. Kodava or Coorg: Ponappa, Chinappa, Kuttiah, Aiyanna, Cariappa, Muthana, Thimmayya, Nanjappa, Mandana, Subbiah, Medappa, Monappa, Thimmaiah, Somanna, Kuttapa, Karumbiah, Bopanna, Poovaiah, Chengappa, Machia, Kalappa, Ganapathy, Belliappa, Appiah Saraswat Hindu Brahmin: Pai, Shenoy , Kamath, Nayak, Prabhu, Baliga, Mallya, Kudva, Mundkur, Karnad, Benegal, Kini, Acharya Tamil Chettiar: All surnames are Chettiar. This community takes the following middle names: Mutthaiah, Murgappan, Ramaswamy, Meyappan Tamil Iyengar Brahmin: Iyengar, Ayangar, Srinivasan, Gopalakrishnan, Jagannathan, Ramakrishnan Tamil Iyer Brahmin: Iyer, Dikshitar, Sroutigal, Sastri, Sarma, Ghanpathigal, Rao Tamil Mudaliar: Mudaliar with a suffix of the first initial of the place of origin eg:Arcot, suffix will be A. Mudaliar. Telangana Andhra Reddy: Reddy, Reddi Just to give an idea of what a cool website this is, here's a sample description, explaining the marriage rituals for the above mentioned community. All the terms are linked to explanations: The Reddys or Reddis, also known as 'Kapus' belong to a Telugu speaking community, split into several subsections. Those of them who have settled in different southern states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for several generations have adapted their rituals and ceremonies to suit the local customs, so slight variations will be apparent in the sequence of events in a marriage. The marriage rituals begin with a promise made by both families to each other that a wedding will be solemnized. After consultations with an astrologer, an auspicious day and time are fixed for the marriage ceremony and both the concerned parties draw up written contracts. These contracts are then placed in yellow cloth bundles along with betel leaf, turmeric, nuts and fruits and blessed by an officiating 'pujari'. List of ceremonies: 1. Patrika: A marriage contract is drawn up by both the families 2. Nischaithartham/Pradhanum: The engagement 3. Vara Puja: A puja is performed in honour of the groom 4. Paindlipilla/ Haldipaspu: Ritual bath and beautification of the bride 5. Vivaham (Muhurtham): Commencement of the marriage ceremonies 6. Kankana Shastra: Invoking the blessings of all the deities 7. Kanyadaan: Giving away the bride 8. Saptapadi: Seven steps around the sacred fire 9. Grahapravesam: The couple enters the marital home 10. Reception: Post wedding celebrations 11. Kalyanautsavam: A puja in the Venkateshwara Temple in Tirupathi Patrika: A marriage contract is drawn up by both the families This ceremony can be performed even one day before the wedding. Both families make a promise that a marriage will be held between their families. After consultations with an astrologer, an auspicious day and time is fixed for the marriage ceremony and both the concerned parties draw up written contracts. These contracts are then placed in yellow cloth bundles along with betel leaf, turmeric, nuts and fruits, blessed by an officiating 'pujari' and exchanged by the fathers of the bride and the groom. Back to top Nisachaithartum or Pradhanum: The engagement The bridegroom arrives at the bride's home accompanied by fifty to hundred family members and 'shehnai' (traditional wind instrument popular at most Indian weddings) players. He brings platters of fruits and gifts for the bride's family. His mother applies 'kumkum' (vermilion) on the bride's forehead and gifts her saris and jewellery, into which she changes and a 'puja' is performed. In many Reddi families the groom does not accompany his family members at this time. Back to top Vara Puja: A puja is performed in honour of the groom During this 'puja' the groom is given lavish gifts by the bride's parents, which may include clothes, money, a gold chain, a gold ring and a wristwatch. Back to top Paindlipilla or Haldipaspu: Ritual bath and beautification of the bride This ceremony literally involves the 'dressing up of the bride' and takes place on the morning of the wedding day. Five, nine or eleven 'sumangalis' (married ladies) perform a small ceremony to drive away evil (dhristi). Each of the 'sumangalis' holds a coin in her palm, circles it around the bride's face and throws the coin into a vessel. They then perform the traditional 'aarti' for the bride. Oil is applied on the bride by the 'sumangalis' after which she is taken for the ritual bath or 'mangal snahne'. After the bath the bride changes into a new sari and adorns herself with jewellery given to her by her family. Her mother applies a touch of 'chandan' (sandalwood paste) under the bride's chin and on her arms. As a gesture of respect the bride hands her mother a 'paldaan' (betel leaf, nut and fruits) and touches her feet to take her blessings. This same ritual is performed by all the 'sumangalis', and the bride is blessed by all of them in a similar fashion. Back to top Vivaham (Muhurtam): Commencement of the marriage ceremonies The marriage ceremonies are traditionally held in the bride's ancestral home with two 'pujaris' officiating. A large 'pandol' or canopy is erected outside the bride's home and decorated with, mango leaves, banana palms and flowers. Traditionally this 'pandol' was made from the barks of palmyra trees. The oldest member of the bride's family applies 'kumkum' on the groom's forehead, garlands him and escorts him to the marriage venue in a decorated car. The bride's relatives receive the groom at the entrance to the bride's home welcoming him with the 'aarti' and lead him to the wedding 'mantap' (platform erected for the wedding rites). As soon as he steps into the 'pandol' the bride's brother washes his feet. The bride's parents are seated in the marriage 'mantap' beforehand awaiting the groom's arrival. The groom performs the 'sita kalyani' (puja invoking the blessings of Lord Rama and his consort Sita). Back to top Kankana Shastra: Invoking the blessings of all the deities This is a very important ceremony in the Reddi community. On a silver platter are placed two handfuls of rice. A coconut dipped in turmeric is placed on top of the rice on which are placed two pieces of turmeric sticks, which have been tied to a 'kankan' or double thread. Prayers are offered to all the Hindu deities and the 'pujari' implores them to come and bless the 'kankana' with their presence and remain there till all the marriage ceremonies are completed, traditionally five days. The 'pujari' ties one sacred 'kankan' on the groom's wrist. The bride is led into the 'mantap' and the groom ties the second 'kankan' on her wrist. Back to top Kanyadaan: This is a very emotional ceremony for the bride and her parents. Two 'pujaris' recite Vedic chants and a coconut is placed on the bride's palms. Her father holds her palms and gently places them on the groom's palms, literally 'giving her away'. The bride's mother pours water from a silver 'chembu' (container with a spout) on the father's palms who in turn directs the flow of the water onto the coconut being held by the bride and groom. This ritual is called 'kanyadaan', whereby the bride's parents relinquish parental authority over their daughter. The groom ties the sacred 'taali' (two flat pieces of inscribed gold pendants strung on a cord dipped in turmeric and composed of 108 very fine threads closely twisted together) on the bride's neck accepting the gift of 'kanyadaan'. He ties the 'taali' using three knots. Then the couple exchange garlands after which they sit across each other divided by a platter of 'thalambratu' (rice dipped in turmeric). They take fistfuls of this rice and shower it over each other till the platter is empty. Back to top Saptapadi: Seven steps around the sacred fire The 'pujari' lights the 'homa' or sacred fire and the couple takes seven steps around it saying their marriage vows. The groom's 'angavastram' (shawl) is tied to the bride's sari 'pallav' throughout this ritual. Each step is a promise made to each other for an enriching and purposeful life together. As this is a Vedic rite, not all Reddi families perform it. Back to top Grahapravesham: The couple enters the marital home On their arrival in the marital home, the bride and groom are given a glass of milk from which both must drink. The groom's sisters playfully extract promises of gifts from their new sister-in-law, before allowing her to enter the room! Back to top Reception: Post wedding celebrations The reception is not a traditional concept but has become a common feature in many homes and can be as simple or as elaborate as desired. It is often held at the 'Kalyana Mantap' (wedding hall) where the wedding might have been held or even in a five star hotel or club. Cocktails and music accompany dinner. Back to top Kalyanautsavam: A puja in the Venkateshwara Temple in Tirupathi This is an important ritual in many Reddi families. The newly weds visit the Tirupathi Temple and perform what is known as the 'kalyanautsavam' - literally translated it means the marriage between Lord Venkateshwara and his consort Padmavathi. For those of them who are unable to travel to Tirupathi, this puja is performed in a Venkateshwara temple in their own city. |
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