Cultural Awareness — Wedding Rituals in the Bhojpuri region

Marriage is way more than ties between two individuals

Weddings in the Bhojpuri area are traditional, rustic, and linked to agriculture. There are various rituals that are performed in a Bhojpuri wedding, in this blog I will list down most of rituals.

Disclaimer — Rituals vary between region, caste and locality. These are based on my recollection of wedding in Gopalganj.

Chheka | Barachha

This ceremony is the official engagement that takes place at the bride’s house. The groom’s parents visit the bride’s house for this. They carry gifts or shaguns (jewelry, clothes, dry fruits, and sweets) with them on this visit. This is done in presence of at least 5–7 elder members from both families.

Note: If the groom is not available for some reason this can also be done on the day of Tilak.

Haldi Kuchai | Haldi

This marks the beginning of the marriage.

• Turmeric
• Five married women

Nyota

This is an official invitation for all to join the wedding. First, all Nyota is given to all gods and Kuldevta. After that first invitation is sent to the Maternal home of the bride. After that, wedding cards are sent to everyone else.

Tilak

The brother of the bride applies tilak on the groom’s forehead, after which he gifts him jewelry, clothes, and sweets to celebrate the alliance. He also gifts the groom’s marriage day clothes that Groom would wear on his wedding day in maaro.

After this Dhaan (Paddy) milaan is done. In this process Dhaan from the bride’s home and the groom's home are mixed.

The groom’s parents offer jewelry and bridal clothes for the bride and send off her brother after a grand dinner.

Maado (Mandap)

• In Bride’s home’s courtyard, a wedding alter is made
• The dimension of the altar is 5 hand-length, 7 hand-length of the bride
• 9–13 bamboo trees are needed for the altar

• The first (and center) bamboo is erected by Five married men, in the priest’s supervision
• The altar’s Roof is made of Khar (grass)
• The altar’s entrance is always Non-south-facing
• In the center hal (plough) is erected vertically

Haldi

• married women

Maanar Puja

In this ritual, the parents of the bride will seek blessings from departed ancestors and elders of the family to bless the new couple. This happens on the sound of tanner’s drum. In this Akshat is put on the drum and then taken back.

Matkor

After maanar puja, ladies go to collect soil which will be used in the boundary of the maaro called the bedi.

• sprout black chana is distributed post matkor
• spade/shovel

Satyanarayan Katha

This Katha is organized by the parents of the bride. This Pooja is elaborate and all the relatives of the bride take part in it. The Katha is narrated by the priest and a havan is lit.

Haldi

• 5 married men

Kohrout ka bhat

• At the bride's house, 5 unmarried girls eat rice

Samdhi Milan

• Welcoming the baraat with garlands and other sweets

Duarpuja

• Puja at the gate of the bride’s house.
• In this puja Groom’s feet are washed by the Brides side (parent or brother)

Jaimaal

In Jaimaal, the bride and the groom exchange garlands & rings. This happens on a stage so that everyone can see it. Later on, elders bless the couple and click pictures to remember the occasion.

Once Jaimaal is done the Groom along with baraat returns to the place where baraat is staying (Janmasa).

Angia Bijay

Five elders from Bride’s side go to the Janmasa and send an invitation to Groom & family to come to the courtyard for the marriage ceremony.

Barnait (Gurhetthi)

In this ceremony, Groom’s elder brother, or bhaisur, gifts the family jewelry to the bride.

Imli Ghotai

Imli Ghotai is done to ward off Burinazar. During this wedding ritual, the bride’s mama or maternal uncle gives her a betel nut. The bride then holds the nut between her teeth. The mother eats the nut thereafter.

Shaadi

Kanyadan

In this ritual, the bride’s parents (Mother / Father / Guardian) give her to the groom.

Granthibandan

• Knotting Bride’s & Groom’s dress

Panigrahan

• Generally, the brother performs this ritual. He pours a stream of water on the gathbandhan.

Lava Milan

• Generally brother

Sindoor Daan

Groom applies vermillion on the bride’s hair partition.

Mathjhakka

In this ritual, The Father-in-law puts the veil on the bride and the groom removes that veil. This happens five times. This is symbolic and only a corner of the saari is folded and unfolded by FIL and groom.

Kohbar

• This is the house of Kul-devta
• After marriage Bride & Groom meet in this room for the first time. They pray to the deity and throw colored rice as high as possible in the room.
• Unmarried girls will block the way of the Groom and ask for something in exchange.

Bandhan Kholai

• Five elder men

Vidai

The Bride is escorted to Groom’s car. The bride’s brother escorts the couple to the decorated car. Brother(s) will wash the Bride’s feet. Then Bride and Groom leave for Groom’s house.

Things that come from different section / communities

Daala— from fitter’s house
Mouri — from Malhouri house
Laava — from Kaanun’s house
Haandi — from Potter’s house
Khar — from Malhouri house

Various rituals performed by relatives

Maangar / Matmaanger — Bhabhi
Pokhra Khonai — Buaa
Maura — Jija
Imli Ghotai — Mama
Lava parichhavan / khelai — Brother
Chumawan — Sarhaj

Throughout the various rituals, ladies will sing songs (geet as well as gaari). This represents the collective cultural memory of the society since these songs are not taught but passed on from one generation to another by participation.

A Bhojpuri wedding takes a lot of time and patience to complete. Overall, as we can understand from the rituals mentioned that a Bhojpuri wedding is linked with ancestors, relatives, agriculture, and society. It requires the whole community (barber, laundrymen, fitter, Potter) to complete a wedding.

Hope it was informative. Edits are welcome for missing information.