6 Cool Indian Wedding Traditions You Never Knew!
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So you thought only Joota Chupai was a fun tradition in Indian wedding. Nope. There are a ton of fun rituals across cultures in India. Here are the top 6 wedding rituals de-mystified!
Tearing Off The Grooms Clothes!
Before the wedding, the Sindhis perform a ritual called saanth. An anklet is tied around the right foot of the bride and the groom (in their respective homes), by the priest. After this, seven married women pour oil on the bride and the groom’s head. Then both of them have to wear a new shoe on their right foot and break an earthen lamp with it. This considered as a good omen. To end the ceremony, the groom’s relatives tear off his clothes to ward off evil eye.When the groom runs away!
In Tamil Brahmin (Iyer) weddings there is a ritual where the groom has to pretend that he has a change of heart before entering the mandap, in the process deciding to live life as an ascetic. The ritual requires the bride’s father to reach out to the groom and convince him to change his decision. Bhagwat Gita, umbrella, sandals and hand fan are the props that the father uses to bring the groom back.Pulling the groom’s nose
Gujarati weddings have a ceremony called Ponkvu or Ponkhana where the groom is welcomed by his mother-in-law, who first performs an aarti and then playfully pulls the groom's nose. This is a playful way for the bride’s family to remind the groom that he has come to their door to marry their daughter and he has to learn to be humble and grateful.That’s Fishy!
In Manipuri weddings, fishes play a very important role. During the wedding, one woman from bride’s side and other from the groom’s side release a taki fish in a pond. If both the fishes move side by side in the water then it is considered to be a good omen for the couple.The Balancing Act!
In many parts of Bihar, after the wedding, the mother-in-law places an earthen pot on the newly wedded bride’s head. After this, more earthen pots are added to make a pile. The bride is expected to balance them and touch the feet of the elders in the house simultaneously. The balancing of pots symbolises how well a bride can adjust to her new family and the responsibilities of the new life.The Dividing Factor!
In Maharashtrian weddings, they use a silk shawl called Antrapat to separate the bride and the groom. The antrapatis removed only when the Magalsutra is to be tied to the bride and this is only when the bride and groom can see each other. Super cute!Any more fun and crazy traditions that you'll know of?
By Apoorva Pagar