Chumavan

Chumavan

चुमाओन
Chumaan
Conducting chumavan ritual at a Maithil Upanayan ceremony in the Mithila region
Classification
Maithils ritual
Sanskar
Region	Mithila region
Occasions	Maithil Vivah, Upanayan, Kojagra, Mundan, etc
Rituals and Blessings	Chumavan Geet, Durwakshat Mantra
Materials for ritual	Coloured rice grains with turmeric, durva grass, and curd
v t e

Chumavan or Chumaon¹² (Maithili: चुमाओन) is an auspicious ritual performed during weddings, sacred thread ceremonies, Kojagra and other auspicious ceremonies in the Mithila region of Indian subcontinent. It involves anointing with rice grains coloured with turmeric, durva grass, and curd. During the ritual process, women sing Maithili songs known as Chumavan Geet, and the elders of the family give blessings by chanting Durwaksht Mantra. It is based on folk lore in the region.³⁴⁵⁶⁷

In the Mithila region of the Indian subcontinent, the Chumavan is an auspicious ritual practised during some auspicious occasions in the families of Maithil's people. It is generally observed on the occasion of Upanayan, mundan, Maithil Vivah, and Kojagra, etc.⁸³ Apart from Mithila region, it is also extended in the Bhojpuri speaking region of Bihar.⁷

During the wedding ceremony, it is performed for the physical examination of the bride and groom. During the Chumavan ritual, the women attending the ceremony examine the body parts of the bride and groom by touching them secretly. In the ritual, the women sing Chumavan Geet and one by one they touch five parts of the body with akshat (rice grains) and finally impart blessings to the wedding couple.⁵ The Chumavan Geet are blessings songs sung for the couple.³

In the Mithila region, the items or money that the invited person gives to his relatives to fulfill the invitation during the auspicious occasions is also called Chumavan.³