Ever Wondered Why People Drink Milk On Their ‘Suhagraat’?!
How many times have you squirmed uncomfortably in your seat as you came across the scene of a newly-wed bride offering a glass of milk to her husband on their wedding night, on television?
Not your fault actually, the way it’s portrayed on TV, the ritual makes all of us cringe inwardly.So heavy is its suggestive power. More so, if you happen to watch it in the presence of an older sibling or a parent. But have you ever given thought as to where and when this ritual originated? After all, most of what is portrayed or repeated in popular culture has some origin in our history or culture. It’s a different matter that it acquires a much more twisted avatar by the time it reaches our respective idiot boxes.
After watching a particularly melodramatic production of this scene in a 90s movie (I am a millennial, sue me!), I decided to investigate the origins of this ritual so as to not burst into uncontrollable peals of laughter every time I come across it on TV. My search took me online to a site called Quora, where several self-proclaimed culture experts had given several reasons substantiating this ritual and the need for it. Though I am yet to be convinced, this is what they had to say about it:
1. It Is Consumed For A Pure Start To A New Life, Apparently
According to this gentleman, milk is a symbol of purity in Hindu culture and is used at the beginning of all auspicious ceremonies and pujas. Since, the wedding night of a couple marks the beginning of their conjugal life, which is an important phase of the grihastha (married life) life, it makes sense that they begin it by consuming the purifying liquid (1).
Don’t know about you guys, but I will take some more convincing. Besides, didn’t the ceremonial fire around which most of the Hindu ceremonies are performed already act as a purifying agent?
2. It Is An Aphrodisiac…Is It, Really?
Another gentleman, on the same platform, had this brand-new information about this fortifying liquid. “Milk is a substitute for food. You need energy after a hard day for some ding-dong. Also, they mix almonds and some other dry fruits to this milk, which act as an aphrodisiac” (2).
This is brand new information to me. Also, side note, this answer was viewed nine thousand times, so the next time your SO offers you milk as a nightcap, you know what they’ve been reading on the Internet.
3. It Is Supposed To Help With The Sperm Count
This answer, which was coincidentally posted by a man (yet, again. Sigh), claimed that the tradition emerged from a popular myth that milk was supposed to fortify one’s stamina and bolster their sperm production.
Kudos to the gentleman for admitting that this piece of information was at best a myth and also for his very wise advice that follows this information, wherein he says that consuming anything before the act of intercourse doesn’t help (except you know, the magic pill) (3).
All jokes aside, I did find a piece of scientific evidence which had quite a different view on milk’s sperm count bolstering capabilities. In fact, it claimed that only low-fat dairy or low-fat milk had a positive relation with sperm production and motility(4).
4. It Helps The Couple Rejuvenate For The Vigours Of Night
Yes, this too has been listed as a reason by a couple of users on the platform. According to them, the newly wedded couple would need this pick-me-up after a long tiring day of wedding rituals in order to proceed with socially sanctioned intercourse!
There was another group which seemed to have the quite opposite view, according to them, the milk was given to induce a peaceful sleep after a hectic day. Well, that is one principle that is backed by science (5).
5. Well, It’s The Indian Panacea To All Problems
Oddly enough, the only lady to weigh in on this question had something very different to say about this odd ritual, according to her in our culture, milk is supposed to be the solution to all evils. She writes, “Lol. It’s a thing in India where everyone believes milk is the solution to everything. Got Cold? Drink hot turmeric milk. Want to become fair? Drink turmeric milk. Want fair children? Drink kesar, haldi badam wala milk when pregnant. Want to become stronger? Drink lots of milk…(6)”
And we would like to concur, that she is not too far from the truth!
So, do you believe these? In our opinion, the tradition is mostly a product of popular culture and as such has its origins in the countless movies, which further established it as a part of a faux tradition.
Did any of these reasons convince you? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
