If it wasn’t for the delivery boy bringing a heavy lunch pack surrounded by a heavenly aroma, I would have forgotten all about it. Sometime yesterday, my in-laws had called to announce that being an auspicious day, some ‘alpo khabar’ (food) but virtually in form wonderful Bengali delicacies with exotic names, were being despatched. All this because India had beaten the Pakis, I thought with utter naivety. I was reminded it was indeed ‘Jamai Shasti’ !
Of course ! The coin dropped like the way it does in T20 WC matches these days. From olden times, one festival that holds a special place in the hearts of Bengalis is ‘Jamai Sasthi’. It’s a celebration of the bond between a Ma-in-law and her son-in-law, also known as “Jamai”. This festival is observed on the sixth day of the waxing moon in the month of Jyeshtha according to the Hindu calendar. This year the ‘tithi’ happened to fall on 12th June. Since age is no barrier to qualify for this festivity, at 69 I still enjoy an exalted status.
But the Bengali son-in-laws aren’t the only lucky guys on this planet to get these annual benefits ? In the other communities too, there are customs to give due importance and show solidarity to the ‘Jamai Sir’. Some films have depicted the guy as ‘Jamai-Raja’, who throws wanton tantrums and has to be handled with kid gloves, at least in the initial stages, till the daughter wields the stick, he’s properly domesticated and loses his sting over time !
In whatever form it may exist, the idea of honouring the ‘Jamai’ is noble in it’s underlying intent. The event is seen as important in bringing the couple, and more particularly the son-in-law closer to the in-law’s family, hence strengthening family bonds. As we’ve all known from experience, as per our traditions, we don’t just marry the person, we marry the families as well !
Working on Living 