Anyone had past lives in India?
- Thread starter Eva1942
- Start date
Eva1942
A Walking Enigma...
You are Gujarati? Thank you! While in this lifetime, I have lived with an Indian family, so I know clothes, food and some dances/celebrations, they were Punjabi/Bengali so this is a little out of my league.
Here’s the notes I wrote down. Unfortunately, I don’t have a time era for these memories, but I took a VERY ROUGH guess at maybe sometime in the medieval era or perhaps around the mid-late 1300’s.
Vision 1:
“In this memory, I’m with my brother at what could be a Garba, or even a wedding reception. I know it is a important celebration, because I’m wearing my best saree and my brother is wearing his best outfit too (he is wearing creme with a purple dupatta?). My saree is a deep purple with gold borders, but the pattern is simple, and I’m wearing some jewellery too. I look quite dressed up, just like my brother so it must be something special. We are having a good time and very happy. We look to be no older than 12-15 years old.
I know that I’m quite close to my brother and that we care a lot about each other. I don’t see our parents around and I definitely know that we lived in Bombay/Mumbai. I know we were a middle class family, not rich, but we were not poor either..”
⁃ Now I know that some Gujarat Indians lived in the vicinity of Bombay/Mumbai. Maybe you can help me with this.
⁃ Did Gujarat Indians attend a Garba?
Here’s a similar picture to what I saw my saree like.. I’m pretty sure Gujarati woman wore bold colours, but I can’t quite remember from my research.
Vision 2:
“My wedding. It’s definitely a wedding. I’m dressed in an all red bridal what looks like a Lehenga or maybe even a red bridal saree. I’m very happy and my ‘new’ husband is wearing a matching outfit (shervani? I’m not familiar with Indian bridal outfits) Have sindoor? in my hair line. I’m very happy. Oh and also have henna on my hands too.. I also feel I had another saree for the reception too.’
I don’t feel that this vision is in Bombay/Mumbai, so is it possible to have married a North Indian? It’s a very traditional wedding. My brother is there too. He’s part of the bridal party, but in what capacity I don’t know.
This is the only glimpse I get of our parents. Mama is your typical Gujarati mother and my father is pretty much the same. My mother is wearing a saree, couldn’t get a proper glimpse of colour.”
Here’s a rough idea of what I saw in my vision of wearing a red bridal Lehenga. It’s not the exact same, but it’s similar to what I saw in this vision.
⁃ Trouble is, did or do Gujarati brides wear red Lehenga? In my research, I saw they wore a combination of colours, such as red, green and white and it was a saree, not a Lehenga.
- Also is it possible for a Gujarati woman to marry outside of Gujarat? I know some wedding customs are very across the whole of India. Isn’t it that you can’t marry below you?
Thanks for all your help! (If you can!)
Eva x
Hi Eva,Yes garba is our traditional dance Performed during Navratri(meaning 9 nights) festival that we celebrate every year. This is the longest dance festival in world which lasts for 9 nights where men and women dance in worship. Some people also follow special diet and do fasting. We also do garba sometimes in weddings so it could be both together that you might have attended. The saree style you have shown in picture is not typical way of wearing Gujarati saree. Saree is worn in all cultures in India but the way you wear it is different for each of them. Here is the picture because I can’t explain in English.
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Eva1942
A Walking Enigma...
Hi Foram,
Thank you for your replies. Since I last posted, I have done some more research into Gujarati woman.
Yes, I am aware that Gujarati woman drape their saree differently, over the right shoulder and not the left. I merely just used those photographs for colours of saree and Lehenga. Thank you for the photographs. I did not have enough time to write down everything as these glimpses went only for a few minutes at least.
Ahh yes! That’s the festival that I could not think of the name for! I’ve seen Garba in a few Bollywood films (I watched them purely to see if they would trigger any more memories) and there is a scene I watched in one that has vaguely familiar feels and may have been the function in the first vision but can’t be sure. I notice in the film too, the sarees are draped over the right shoulder not the left. FYI, the film takes place near Amritsar. Here:
The reason why I assumed it was a Garba, was because there was a lot of dance and the atmosphere was very happy. I had a very happy feeling and I know that these two visions were not connected because my brother and I were guests. But I could be wrong in saying it was a Garba and could have been something else.
It is possible that I have Lehenga and chaniya choli mixed up, as in my research the two have similar styles (but worn differently I noticed).
How do I know I was Gujarati? Because I had the “Gujarat” repeat in my mind, and I had to google it to see what or where in India it was. It is possible I myself were not Gujarati and my new husband was Gujarati instead, but I feel very strongly I was the one who was Gujarati.
Maybe I was attending a Gujarati function? Unfortunately, I do not have much more to go off other than what I have written, so I could not even tell you what it was, whether it was Gujarati or not. But I had the strong sense in the first vision, that the function we attended was with friends, hence why I didn’t see our parents. My brother could have even been an escort for me and I wasn’t allowed to attend alone.. I really don’t know, and appreciate all your help.
As for food, I have always been fond of Chapatti’s and in particular ‘Vedhmi’. You’re probably very familiar with them being Gujarati. When I lived with my friends Indian family, I was always helping in the kitchen because it felt right and natural for me, so I picked up a lot of traditional Indian cooking methods (as I stated earlier they were not Gujarati and I suspect were Bengali/Punjabi). I also had a taste for a sweet snack food, which unfortunately I cannot remember the name of (dammit!
). I freakin’ LOVE Lentil Dhal and some curries.
continued in next post...
Eva x
Thank you for your replies. Since I last posted, I have done some more research into Gujarati woman.
Yes, I am aware that Gujarati woman drape their saree differently, over the right shoulder and not the left. I merely just used those photographs for colours of saree and Lehenga. Thank you for the photographs. I did not have enough time to write down everything as these glimpses went only for a few minutes at least.
Ahh yes! That’s the festival that I could not think of the name for! I’ve seen Garba in a few Bollywood films (I watched them purely to see if they would trigger any more memories) and there is a scene I watched in one that has vaguely familiar feels and may have been the function in the first vision but can’t be sure. I notice in the film too, the sarees are draped over the right shoulder not the left. FYI, the film takes place near Amritsar. Here:
The reason why I assumed it was a Garba, was because there was a lot of dance and the atmosphere was very happy. I had a very happy feeling and I know that these two visions were not connected because my brother and I were guests. But I could be wrong in saying it was a Garba and could have been something else.
It is possible that I have Lehenga and chaniya choli mixed up, as in my research the two have similar styles (but worn differently I noticed).
How do I know I was Gujarati? Because I had the “Gujarat” repeat in my mind, and I had to google it to see what or where in India it was. It is possible I myself were not Gujarati and my new husband was Gujarati instead, but I feel very strongly I was the one who was Gujarati.
Maybe I was attending a Gujarati function? Unfortunately, I do not have much more to go off other than what I have written, so I could not even tell you what it was, whether it was Gujarati or not. But I had the strong sense in the first vision, that the function we attended was with friends, hence why I didn’t see our parents. My brother could have even been an escort for me and I wasn’t allowed to attend alone.. I really don’t know, and appreciate all your help.
As for food, I have always been fond of Chapatti’s and in particular ‘Vedhmi’. You’re probably very familiar with them being Gujarati. When I lived with my friends Indian family, I was always helping in the kitchen because it felt right and natural for me, so I picked up a lot of traditional Indian cooking methods (as I stated earlier they were not Gujarati and I suspect were Bengali/Punjabi). I also had a taste for a sweet snack food, which unfortunately I cannot remember the name of (dammit!
). I freakin’ LOVE Lentil Dhal and some curries.continued in next post...
Eva x
Eva1942
A Walking Enigma...
I’m sure it was a red bridal saree or lehenga I saw myself in. I know it wasn’t draped in the way I shared in the first picture, but the colour was the same that I saw in my memory. Yes, we are talking about 100’s of years ago in comparison to today’s fashions. But I feel they haven’t changed a lot in terms of bridal wear..
I googled ‘Gujarati Bridal wear’ too in my research and found a picture that is still not quite how I saw myself, but is more how I saw the red Lehenga that I was wearing. The caption states is “Gujarati Bride in Panetar Lehenga and Gharchola Saree”. When I looked down at myself, the skirt pattern was more or less like the one I shared in the first picture.
My hands had henna on them, and I know it went up my arms, and the picture you showed does look like how I saw my hands, but they were not completely decorated (does that make sense?) as I could still see skin.
I researched too, the ceremony itself and was quite surprised because there was one point that seemed very familiar to me and may have been what I saw in my memory (vision 2).
It is this.. (contained here in case you’re interested: http://rajcardshmt.com/weddingceremonysymbol.aspx )
“Suhaag or Sindhoordana
The groom places sindoor (red powder) on the bride's hair symbolizing her as a married woman.”
How do I remember this? Because in the same vision I saw my new husband do it, and felt the powder drop onto my scalp.
Eva x
Wow that’s amazing Eva. Very strong memories and Your love for vedhmi proves that you were Gujarati 
. I can’t make very good vedhmis like my mom does but I can make all other typical gujju food so You are most welcome to my house anytime you visit Chicago. It feels amazing how we are all connected with each other.
. I can’t make very good vedhmis like my mom does but I can make all other typical gujju food so You are most welcome to my house anytime you visit Chicago. It feels amazing how we are all connected with each other.
Eva, you keep mentioning Punjab and Bengal in the same context, like they're interchangeable or, in an either or situation.
Both Bengal and Mumbai are quite a distance from Punjab.
Is there any relationship between the two cultures? I'm just curious as somewhat of an outsider I wouldn't think so and I'm curious how they're related to you.
I was a Jat, from Punjab in the 1800s.
Both Bengal and Mumbai are quite a distance from Punjab.
Is there any relationship between the two cultures? I'm just curious as somewhat of an outsider I wouldn't think so and I'm curious how they're related to you.
I was a Jat, from Punjab in the 1800s.
Eva1942
A Walking Enigma...
Hi Totoro!
Forgive me, maybe I did not explain that part properly. I know Bengal and Mumbai/Bombay are quite a distance from Punjab. I merely added that in this lifetime, I lived with my friends family, who were Indian, but they were a mix of Bengali AND Punjab. You were from Punjab in the 1800's?
This lifetime of mine as a Gujarati woman, I estimated to have been sometime in what was called 'Medieval India'. I know it was sometime in the 1300's which Gujarat was incorporated into the 'Delhi Sultanate' and a Governorate of Delhi (1297-1407). Here's a link if you wish to read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gujarat_under_Delhi_Sultanate
In a real surprise I googled 'Saree in Medieval India' and there actually was saree in India around this time, and some originated from Egypt, Assyria and Sumer. :O
Gujarat also had relations with Egypt during this time too, later in the 1400's. I think this will be on going for a while!
Eva x
Oh I'm so sorry lol. For whatever reason I just didn't pick up that you were talking about current experiences. That must have been quite an amazing time to have lived with them!
Yes, I was born in the 1780's in Gujranwala. I lived in the region my whole life and died in Lahore. I know much about my life, but I know little about the culture, which is a little strange. Probably because it's so different from what I'm used to.
My most previous last life was in China and I've always been interested in Chinese culture, so I may have felt more at home with it and it's just easier for me to understand the subtleties of the culture intuitively.
Yes, I was born in the 1780's in Gujranwala. I lived in the region my whole life and died in Lahore. I know much about my life, but I know little about the culture, which is a little strange. Probably because it's so different from what I'm used to.
My most previous last life was in China and I've always been interested in Chinese culture, so I may have felt more at home with it and it's just easier for me to understand the subtleties of the culture intuitively.
Eva1942
A Walking Enigma...
Wow that’s amazing Eva. Very strong memories and Your love for vedhmi proves that you were Gujarati
Ha! Ya know I made Jaipur Vegetables with Naan for dinner the other night. Except I kinda cheated
I haven't had Vedhmi for ages, but yes it is amazing we are all connected somehow!
I did some more research on Saree around this time in Medieval India and it seems woman wore veils too, and they were not just for weddings. I don't know how to feel about this, because I did not see it in any of those memories, except the wedding one.
Eva x
DiscoKitten
Member
Hi, I am Indian. Born in America. YES! Garba is for Gujurati Indians. I've had many Gujurati friends and Garba was HUGE for them.
Red is the color the bride wears in Indian weddings. Other guests are not allowed to wear red much like in American weddings the other women are not supposed to wear white b/c thats the brides color.
Henna is how the hands are decorated for the bride. Other members of the party also get their hands decorated.
Red is the color the bride wears in Indian weddings. Other guests are not allowed to wear red much like in American weddings the other women are not supposed to wear white b/c thats the brides color.
Henna is how the hands are decorated for the bride. Other members of the party also get their hands decorated.
Eva1942
A Walking Enigma...
Hi!
In the first vision I knew the occasion was a Garba. I’ve discovered that the reason why I didn’t see our parents was because we went to this function with Aunty. Also, I did find what the colour purple meant medieval times but I have forgotten.
I’m still working on the wedding vision.
Eva x
Eva1942
A Walking Enigma...
So I made another new discovery! I found the name of the dance I saw being performed at the Garba! It is called 'Dandiya' also commonly known as the stick dance. I found a proper video of it, one that's not bollywood and more to what I saw in my memory.
Also, now I'm not entirely sure that my entire saree was coloured purple like I posted a few posts back. It was perhaps purple with another colour, but I did google 'purple sarees for garba' but I mostly had the same results as last time.
Eva x
EDIT: Watching more videos I see that woman wore all sorts of colours to Garba. When I think about it, I sometimes "feel" after I was married I had children too.
x
Also, now I'm not entirely sure that my entire saree was coloured purple like I posted a few posts back. It was perhaps purple with another colour, but I did google 'purple sarees for garba' but I mostly had the same results as last time.
Eva x
EDIT: Watching more videos I see that woman wore all sorts of colours to Garba. When I think about it, I sometimes "feel" after I was married I had children too.
x
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Eva1942
A Walking Enigma...
Ahh! Thanks Foram! The more I research, the more I feel you're right and that it was a Chaniya choli and not a saree...
Heeh, do you hit him with the sticks? I did just now, google 'chaniya choli garba' and found a few that looked much like I described. Maybe that's where I went wrong? When I have a good look and find what looks similar to what I saw, I'll post.
Eva x