Wedding ceremonies in India vary depending on geography, religion, and the bride and groom’s personal preferences. Basically, many occasions at the Odia Matrimony include the utilisation of large-scale decor effects through the customs of the couple’s family history and religion.
In general, the most important ritual performed in Hindu marriages is known as the Vivah ceremony. It is one of the most significant personal rites that the bride or groom must undertake in their lives. We will discuss the important elements of a traditional Odia matrimony ceremony.
Nirbandh
For their children, most Odia households prefer planned marriages. Usually, they found matches through a matchmaker or the community. After finding a suitable match they move to horoscope matching. Eventually, if the horoscopes match up well, the two families will meet.
If the families agree that everything is in order, they arrange a date for the Nirbandh or formal engagement ceremony. Basically, the bride and groom are usually not present during the engagement to decide the Odia matrimony ceremony. The elders of the family gather at the bride’s home or in a temple to give each other their words, or Sankalpa, that their children will marry.
Jayee Anukolo
The Jayee Anukolo ceremony marks the start of the subsequent wedding rites. Wedding cards are created and sent by families as an official notice of the wedding. Afterwards, they give the first card to Lord Jagannath, the god of the Orissan people. Eventually, this is the Deva Nimantrana and usually happens at the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
After this, the second invitation with a betel leaf and a betel nut to the bride and groom’s maternal uncles. The Moula Nimantrana is the name of this invitation. There is also a ritual in which the bride’s family sends the third invitation to the groom’s family. And the bride’s father, together with a few male elders, personally invites the groom with gifts. After this, the families can send out invites to the remaining guests.
Mangan
The bride and groom go through the Haldi ritual on the day before the wedding. They will make and coat the turmeric paste on the bride’s/groom’s hands and feet. Usually by seven married women, one of whom must be the sister-in-law.
Diya Mangula Puja
In this rite, the bride goes to a neighbouring temple dedicated to the Goddess and prays for the deity’s blessings. After that, they’ll present the wedding accoutrements such as the bride’s saree, ring, toe rings, and bangles to the goddess. Generally, it is a belief that the goddess will bless all of these items for the pair to enjoy a happy life together.
Barjaatri
The groom leaves his house, accompanied by various members of his family known as Barajaatri. Typically, the bride’s side sends a vehicle and a handful of male family members to accompany the groom and the Barajaatri. The bride’s family greets the groom at the wedding venue’s gate.
The mother-in-law or a senior female member of the family performs a traditional arti of the groom. After that, they’ll put a tilak of vermillion paste and unbroken rice on the groom’s forehead. After that, they clean the groom’s feet with coconut water and provide a combination of curd, ghee, sugar, and honey.
Kanyadaan
Kanyadaan is an auspicious Odia matrimony custom in which the groom enters the mandap and the bride’s father hands his daughter to his son-in-law. The bride’s father asks the groom to look after his daughter in the same way he did. He also encourages him to show his daughter due love, care, and attention. The groom agrees and seeks his father-in-law’s blessing.
Hatha Granthi Fita
The bride’s father then wraps a garland of mango leaves around her hand and places it on the groom’s. The Hatha Granthi Fita ritual of vows with their hands wrapped in the green garland is comparable to the Panigrahan rite in many other Hindu marriages.
This represents the bride’s next stage in life, as she transitions from a daughter to a daughter-in-law and a wife. The couple then goes around the fire seven times while holding hands. These seven rounds represent the seven sacred marriage commitments.
Saptapadi
During this ritual, the pair walks around the sacred fire seven times while holding hands. These seven stages represent the seven holy vows that the couple must keep throughout their marriage. While walking, the couple discreetly says their vows.
Sindoor Daan
The bride and groom leave the marriage stage and head outdoors to see the Pole Star. After that, the groom puts sindoor on the bride’s hair parting and puts conch shell bangles on her hands. After this ritual, the marriage is deemed complete.
Kaduri Khela
After the marriage rituals, the couple is put in a room and forced to play games to relax. They play with little, white, gleaming shells known as kaduri, and the rite is known as Kaduri Khela. The groom will try to pry them open while holding them in his closed fist. The identical thing happens with the bride clutching the shells in her fist and the husband attempting to collect them.
Chauthi or Basara Raati
On the fourth day after the marriage, there will be a puja at the groom’s house where they’ll roast a coconut. Basically, they decorate the couple’s room with beautiful flowers and a blazing oil lamp beside the bed. After that, the couple will have charu or roasted coconut. The groom enters the room, followed by the bride, who holds a glass of kesara dudha, or saffron-infused milk. The couple spends their first night as husband and wife together.
Asta Mangala
Asta Mangala happens on the eighth day of the marriage. Usually, the bride and groom pay a visit to the bride’s parental home for a lavish and extended feast. The couple spends the night there, and the Odia matrimony rituals come to an end.