Georgia: The 40th Day, Part 3: Cemetery and Supra

Kardanakhi, Georgia

Kardanakhi, Georgia

Where did I leave off? Oh yes, tables were set up in readiness for the supra to follow the cemetery visit in honor of Nely's sister-in-law, Jajuna, who died 40 days ago. Many loaves of bread awaited breaking. Plates, utensils, cutlery, glasses awaited filling.







But first it was time to go to the cemetery.

Kardanakhi, Georgia

Jajuna's sister, Lidia, gathered roses from the garden to place on the grave.

 

















At first I thought we were to walk to the cemetery, which conformed to my sense of solemn drama.  

Kardanakhi, Georgia

But no, we were just walking to nearby vehicles.


Close family and friends gathered by Jajuna's grave.

Kardanakhi, Georgia

Kardanakhi, Georgia

Neighbor Rusudan gave Jajuna an emotional shout-out.

Irakli, Nely's husband and Jajune's sister, brought with him to the cemetery wine and glasses plus some food. Men and women drank half-glasses of wine and shared the other halves with Jajuna by tossing the remainders onto her grave in a cross pattern. A few people ate some token bites of food graveside, but the majority was left untouched, which Irakli dropped off at a villager's house on the way home. As is customary, the recipient was either a cemetery worker or someone down on his luck.

When we arrived back at home, the feast (supra) table was set.
   

Kardanakhi, Georgia

Kardanakhi, Georgia

But wait, before we could eat, there was the "tabla" to complete and deliver. The tabla is a petite version of the main feast, with a few twists. It, along with china, cutlery, and some personal items are given to an individual (in honor of?)(in memory of?) the deceased. In this case, neighbor Elena would be the recipient.

Gathering the items, Kardanakhi, Georgia

Boiled chicken, svardi, roast chicken,boiled beef,  rice with meat,  Kardanakhi, Georgia

Cheese, fish, salad, corn bread, khachapuri, corn with honey, mustard in middle, Kardanakhi, Georgia

Potato salad, mushrroms, picked flower and pepper, roast chicken, eggplant with walnut sauce in middle

Blini, liver dish, coffee, greens dish, Kardanakhi, Georgia

 

Rusudan next to tabla items been placed on trays, Kardanakhi, Georgia

 

Kardanakhi, Georgia

Carrying the tabla items to Elena's house, Kardanakhi, Georgia

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To Elena's house, Kardanakhi, Georgia

To Elena's house, Kardanakhi, Georgia

Kardanakhi, Georgia

Elena's house, Kardanakhi, Georgia

Elena receives the tabla, Kardanakhi, Georgia

Kardanakhi, Georgia

Kardanakhi, Georgia

Kardanakhi, Georgia

Some shots from Elena's house:

Dormant qvevri in floor, Kardanakhi, Georgia

Kardanakhi, Georgia

And now it was time to begin the supra (feast).

The seating more or less conformed with Georgia's traditional gender segregation. The tamada (toastmaster) toasted the deceased, God, families, country, everyone's health ...

That's not iced tea in those jugs. Kardanakhi, Georgia

Kardanakhi, Georgia

Next: Kardanakhi: Making Churchkhela