Mitini ceremony

Namaste,

Friendships between pairs of girls and between women are very important in Nepal. So much so that there is a special ceremony to cement best friends, who then become Mitini, very like a sisterhood bond.

The staff at the school were anxious that we attended what they termed “a party and dancing” on a Friday evening. Luckily I returned to the school to see what was happening, and it turned out to be a Mitini Ceremony for two girls aged 16 from Class 10. It was obviously a very special event.

On the platform outside the dining hall, a table had been put, with two chairs, one on each side. On the table were several trays and dishes; a tray containing flowers and a dish containing a rice mixture with possibly sugar to make it sticky. There was a bronze jug filled with white chrysanthemums and a few marigolds. Kata garlands of flowers and colourful Buddhist kata scarves were also beside the table and a bag of sweets was hung on a small hook.

Before the ceremony started an older boy had turned on some music, from a small tablet, and some of the boys were dancing. However when the ceremony began the music stopped and everyone crowded around to watch.

The two girls sat opposite each other on either side of the table, and all the boarders from the hostels, along with all the teachers, stood around to watch the ceremony. The two girls had their hair styled carefully, and wore tartan shawls and lungi, long skirts worn by the Gurung women.

Firstly the girls took flowers from the table and secured them into each other’s hair. Their hands were entwined to do this. They also put a small dollop of sticky rice onto each other’s foreheads. After a few flowers in the hair, they placed the kata garlands and ceremonial scarves around each other’s necks, while the audience clapped.

Then their girl friends from the class proceeded to come forward and honour them both with rice and flowers, and wrapped presents.

Later the boys in the class also stepped forward, one at a time, to put rice and flowers on them. The boys however finished their part by giving each girl a small sum of money, straight into their hands. The surrounding audience clapped with each gift. While this was happening a girl from the class took the bag of sweets around the crowd, offering everyone.

The evening continued with music and dancing, and much merriment, which I could hear long after I had left the school and returned to my room.