MY SWEET CHILDHOOD FRIEND MEETHA PAAN
Child hood memories are the most precious treasure that we are being blessed of by the passing time.
Today while sitting in the backyard of my house,I was recollecting and rejoicing those splendid moments,the
closest to my heart happened to jog through my brain and that was,the
silly act of munching in Meetha Paan silently with supreme excitement clubbed with a hidden fear of being caught by mom.
But honestly,that was a moment; a moment to remember !!!
I mean Meetha Paan satisfying your tongue temptation and giving brillant red colour to your lips like a natural lipstick!!!
What else one wants????Just superb feeling!!!
What else one wants????Just superb feeling!!!
With my growing age,importance of betel leaf has also increased manifolds, that's the way I perceive it haha
Being a wedding professional,I got a chance to discover more about my childhood friend which i would love to share with you all.
Apart
from being an integral holder of our childhood memories,Paan or betel
leaves also has a Socio-cultural connection with us.Loud presence of
which can be realized and understood in its coverage with Superstars in
top movies of the era.
Amitabh Bacchan grooving on"Khaiye ke Paan Banaras Bala Khul Gaye Band Akal Ka taala" To Bipasha Basu holding Paan in her hand covering her face for an age old ritual
All these clearly highlights it's unavoidable and unforgettable Presence.
In
marriage ceremonies, Paan-supari is offered to the elders and their
blessings sought by the newly wedded couple. During the marriage
ceremonies in the ‘Haldi-rasam’
or ritual, there is the custom of applying Haldi or turmeric to the
bride and bridegroom with the tip of the Paan.It is also required in
‘Annaprasana’ or the first ceremonial eating of rice, Upanayana, or
ceremony of wearing the sacred thread and in Shrada pindadana ceremony.
Again, offering Paan-supari to guests is a standard form of hospitality
in Hindu as well as Muslim homes. 
The
ritual that most signifies a Bengali style wedding is the ritual of
Shubho Drishti, where the bride covers her face with a betel leaf and is
carried by her brothers on a peeri (wooden plank meant to be used to
sit on the floor) and take seven rounds of the bridegroom before being
face to face with him for the ‘Shubho Drishti’ Literally it means
‘auspicious sight’ .
Betel
leaf is considered sacramental in Hindu religion. Its different
portions stand for different symbols and is said to be the seat of
goddess Lakshmi i.e. Goddess of wealth.
Well that was not all !!
Paan Patta also carries significance health benefits
and is praised highly in Ayurveda for its medical benefits.
It
improves digestion,work as remedy for cold and cough,ideal for treating
gastric ulcer and also promotes a better oral hygiene.
From being a friend to a Healer ,the journey of Paan Patta is inspiring and never ending.
In every ages,in every generation it is going to flashback the same story .
(Kindly note:I dont claim the images to be mine,its has been taken from different sources)
