Rituals and Ceremonies of the Muslims of Kerala   The Muslim community has a lot of rituals which vary according to the different sub-castes.   Kutchi & Memon   The Memon community came into existence in 824 A.D., when some people of the Lohana community of Sindh accepted Islam. Memon means pure believer. From Sindh, they migrated in groups to different places in search of livelihood. One group in due course of time came to Bhuj, capital of Kutch. These people who settled down in Kutch are called as the Cutchi Memon. In due course of time, these people migrated to different parts of the country and settled down as businessmen. They came in early nineteenth century to Kerala and settled in Kochi and Alappuzha, during the time of Raja Kesavadass, the Dewan of Travancore. At present, they are settled in Alappuzha, Kochi, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram, especially in urban centres.   Marriage   The Kutchi Memon’s marriage is celebrated with gaiety at the bride’s residence or at a mandap. The boy’s side goes to the girl’s house with new clothes, ring, etc. For betrothal (sanq or mangni) there used to be a congregation of females of both sides in the night for pan-supari mazlis and chaya mazlis within seven days of marriage. The piti - an Ayurvedic medicine, is applied to the boy and girl for one and three days, respectively, before the marriage day. After this, the girl is not supposed to see any other male until marriage. Two days before marriage, ground medai (mehndi) is applied to the girl. In the past, the boy used to sit in the house for seven days prior to marriage, but now it is not done. In the past, the boy used to come in procession consisting of males only and ladies came separately. Now, ladies also come with the procession. On the marriage day, the girl sits in a corner of a room where ladies from the boy's side, also sit. The maternal uncle or father or Imam’s representative takes the consent of the girl and then informs the Imam. Then the Imam performs the nikkaah, after which the boy goes inside to see the bride and there he gives mehar. The bridgroom presents a ring to the bride and offers milk for drinking. In the past, during this ceremony, the bridegroom and bride are left alone, but now generally females will be present there. Then the bride goes to the bridegroom’s house accompanied by the bride’s people and a feast in served. Thereafter, the bride comes back to her parents' house where a feast is given to the jamat people. This used to continue for seven days. Last day, satara ritual is performed where the bride receives gifts from her relations and then she returns to the bridegroom’s house to lead a conjugal life. But, now, this seventh day ceremony is done on the marriage day by giving sataraka taufa (gift of satara). The marriage is recorded in the marriage register kept with the jamat. The consummation of marriage takes place at the boy’s residence. Birth   Upon the birth of a child, a Kutchi Memon’s grandfather will touch honey on to the baby’s tongue. The mother is not allowed to cook or do namaj for forty days after delivery. However, now they can go for work before forty days due to economic compulsions. On the fortieth day, she takes bath (challa nahama), wears new clothes and offers namaj. Some go to milad. Naming ceremony (nal uvijna) is celebrated on the sixth day of birth. The child is kept in the lap of the khalifa and he pronounces the name of the child three times in the ear of the child.    The circumcision   The circumcision (sunnath) for the Kutchi Memon boys is performed before seven years of age. But, generally, it takes place at the age of one or two years. The circumcision is performed by the Ossan (barber) or doctors. A feast is given to relatives and the boy receives presents from his close relatives. The aqiqa ceremony for the child is performed within ten years of age. It means the tonsuring of the new born infant. Generally, at this ceremony, two goats are sacrificed for a male child and one for a female child.   Death Rituals   The Kutchi Memon bury the dead. The body is washed and covered with a new cloth. Before burial, a sacred bath is given to the body and later the body is tied in white cloth. The body (janaya) is carried to the burial ground. In some places, they have separate burial grounds, but they can also bury in common muslim burial ground. After the janaya namaj, the body is buried. Wooden planks are placed on four sides and on top, but not below the body. They observe challum ritual on the fortieth day of death, during which only near relatives assemble at the burial ground, and the Imam conducts the prayer for which he is given some money. On challum day, a feast is given in the night. After one year, they observe barshi, which is generally performed on Monday or Friday. The duration of observance of life cycle rituals is curtailed, because they are getting more expensive.   Muslim - Ossan   The Ossan are an occupational group among the muslims. They are also known as Ossatha or Ostha and their females are called Ossathi. They are scatterd throughout the state. Marriage   Among the Ossan, marriage takes place at the bride’s house. Generally, the boy’s parents approach for matrimonial relations, but in some cases the girl’s side can also approach. Before the nikkaah, a ceremony known as achaaram is conducted at the boy’s house. On this occasion, both parties will be present. On this day, they decide the pocket money to be given to the boy, and date of nikkaah, valayidil function, in which boy’s sister offers a gold ring to the bride. After achaaram ceremony, they approach the jamat for permission. The Imam, also known as khatub, officiates the nikkaah ceremony. The consent of the girl is taken by the witnesses for nikkaah and communicated to the Imaam, who then proceeds with the nikkaah ceremony. The marriage is recorded in the marriage register kept with the jamat. The marriage rituals are performed as per the muslm customs and traditions. After the nikkaah, the bride sits in a separate room and the bridegroom goes there along with relatives and places the thaali around the bride’s neck, to be tied by his sister. The wedding feast is served by the girl’s parents. After the thaail-tying ceremony, the newly wedded couple go to the bride-groom’s house for a few hours and return to the bride’s residence. The consummation ceremony is held at the girl’s mother’s residence. The bride groom stays for two or three days at the bride’s parent’s house.   Birth   During the seventh month of first preganancy, they observe a pre-delivery ritual called the najigudi, which is generally held at the husband’s house. The namaz prayer is said by the Imaam wherein the family members and relatives assemble. On this day, the pregnant woman is taken to her mother’s house for delivery. After the birth of the child, sweet and honey will be touched to the child’s mouth and it is known as thulukurppu. The post - natal restrictions on the mother exists for forty days. Perapmudi (tonsuring of the child) is held during this period. On the fortieth day, the mother returnes to her husband’s house. In some cases, the piercing of ear is done after two years without any celebrations.   Death   The Ossan dead are burried. The body is given a bath by the kith and kin of the deceased. Thereafter, the body is covered with a while cloth (kaffan). The kaffan is tied at three places – head, abdomen and toes. After the arrival of the musaliar, the body is taken to the mosque (palli), where prayers (namaj) are offered and then the body is carried to the burial ground. The body is placed in north-south direction, in such a way that face is directed towards the west. On the third and the fortieth day, prayers are offered for the deceased. Thereafter, a feast is given. Some of them offer prayers on the 11th day. On the fortieth day, memorial stones at the grave are erected. Thereafter, every year aandnercha is performed, during which prayers are offered to the ancestors, and a feast is given to the relatives and the poor. Some people depending upon their economic position call on the priest to recite verses from the Koran. The lifecycle rituals are performed as per the muslim customs and traditions prevalent in their community. The rituals are being curtailed as they are becoming more expensive.    Muslim-Shafi   The Muslim - Shafi are concentrated in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Cochin, Kottayam, Idukki and Trichur districts. They are also found in erstwhile Malabar Region, where they are generally referred to as the Maappila.The Muslim – Shafi suffixed kunzu, ghani, saheb etc. to their names. They have titles such as the Musaliyar and Moulavi, which are given to people who are well versed in religious activities.   Marriage   The Muslim – Shafi’s nikkaah ceremony takes place at the bride’s residence or at the shadi mahal (marriage auditorium). Both men and women participate and witness the nikkaah, but women are seated in a separate area. Either the bride’s or bride-groom’s party can approach the other for matrimonial alliance. After negotiations, the marriage achaaram ritual is observed at the bride groom’s house, wherein they collect pocket money for the bride groom. The females of the bride groom’s side go to the bride’s house and offer finger- ring and bangles to the girl. The consent of the girl is taken by witnesses and the same is communicated to the Musaliyar, who conducts the nikkaah. The nikkaah is recorded in the register and it is signed by the bride’s father, bridegroom and two witnesses from both the sides. The bride will be seated in a decorated room where the bride groom and his sister come and tie the tali around the girl’s neck. The bridegroom will be given a glass of milk, half of which he will drink, and remaining half he offers to the bride. The couple stay for a few hours at the bride’s house for two to three days. Then on the arrival of the bride groom’s parents, a feast is given. Thereafter, the couple return to the bridegroom’s residence. The parents of the bride visit their daughter with fruits and sweets, and this is known as nalla vaathal. Birth   During the seventh month of pregnancy, a pre-delivery ritual called vayattu nercha is observed. In this, ghee and sweets are given to the would be mother by her husband’s relatives. The post-natal restrictions exist on the mother for forty days. In some families, the hair of the child is tonsured on the fortieth day after birth. Sweets and paayasam are distributed.   Death rituals   The Muslim – Shafi dead are buried. The body is given a bath by relatives under the supervision of the sacred specialist. The body is wrapped in a white cloth. Thereafter, the body (maiyyath) is taken to the mosque where last namaj (prayers) are offered and then the janaja is carried to the burial place. Thereafter, Khattam (generally on the fortieth day after the death, but can be done on any day say after seven or eight days) is performed and a feast is given.   The lifecycle rituals are performed as per the muslim customs and traditions prevalent in their community. The rituals are being curtailed as they are becoming more expensive.   References   1. Singh, K.S. (ed). People of India – Kerala. 2. Arthropological Survey of India, New Delhi.