In Kashmiri language:

VIRKIN POSH

POSH                     means – Flower.

JAFER POASH       means – Marigold flower

GULAB POSH        means – Rose flower

ALLA POSH         means – Pumpkin Flower

AARGE POSH      means – Flowers mixed with rice

DATRI POSH          means –  ?

MADAV POSH    means –  ?

AKASH POSH       means – ?

POSH POOZA     means – Worshiping with flowers or praying by offering flowers

In Kashmiri “VIRKIN POSH” is type of flower which used to emerge from the ground in between February and March month. Even you used to find these flowers under fallen snow.  During this period biggest festival of Kashmiri Pandits “HERATH”/ “SHIVRATRI” is celebrated. Me as child along with other children’s in our village Pazipora- Kashmir were too excited to go out to climb the small hill top (in Kashmiri we used to call it “WOODERPETH”/ “BATHISSPETH”) for collecting the “VIRKIN POSH”. These were the only fresh flowers available at that time, and in the evening we used to offer “VIRKIN-POSH” to Lord Shiva and was used for “WATAK POOZA”  (Shivratri Pooza), THAAL BARUN and NAVREH. Rest flowers were all dry flower garlands (POSH MALLIE). These garlands used to be prepared by our elders during summer season and were stored in proper containers for the purpose of whole winter seasons POOZA’s.

I am not sure ,but incase Kashmiri Pandit marriages held in winter season, these flowers may have been used in “POSH POOZA” too.

POSH POOZA

At the end of the Kashmiri marriage ritual, the bride and the groom are made to sit in a comfortable posture. A red cloth is placed on their heads, and then all the people around offer them flowers (posh) in accompaniment of Veda mantras. This is called worshipping the couple with flowers. The rationale behind this custom is that the couple is considered to be Shiva and Parvati and the two are duly worshipped. First there are mantras for the bride and the groom separately followed by those meant for the two jointly. We are of the view that marriage is a spiritual union between a boy and a girl and they have to live this life of Artha (wealth) and Kama (desires) with due regard to Dharma (righteousness) and aspire for Moksha (emancipation). The four together are called Purusharthas. That is why the newly-weds are treated as Shiva and Parvati and worshipped as such at the time of the Posh Poozaa.

Thanks (Bharat Bushan Dhar)

Leave a Reply