Arunachali Wedding

The Land and the People

Arunachali tribal weddings are held in Arunachal Pradesh. This state lies in the far north-east of India, in the green hills of the Himalayas. The land is full of forests, rivers and mountain villages. It is often called the land of the rising sun, because it is the first part of India to see the sunrise.

More than twenty major tribes live here. Some well-known tribes are the Adi, Apatani, Nyishi, Galo, Tagin, Monpa and Mishmi. Each tribe has its own language, its own dress and its own way of holding a wedding. Some tribes follow old nature-based faiths and pray to the sun, the moon and the spirits of the forest. Some tribes, like the Monpa, follow Buddhism. Some families follow Christianity. Because of this, there is no single wedding style in the state. There are many styles, and all of them are full of colour and love for nature.

How Long the Wedding Lasts

A traditional wedding usually takes one to three days. That may sound short, but the talks that come before it can take a long time. The families may meet many times over weeks or even months before they agree on the match. Once everything is settled, the wedding itself is a big and happy event for the whole village.

Before the Wedding

Marriage is a matter for the whole family, and not only for the bride and groom. The elders of both families sit together and talk about the match. They talk about the clan, the family name and the gifts that will be given. In many tribes, marriage inside the same close clan is not allowed, so the elders take care to check this first.

In many tribes, the groom’s family gives a bride price. This is not seen as buying a bride. It is a way of showing respect to the bride’s family and thanking them for raising a daughter. The bride price can be a mithun, which is a large forest ox and a very valuable animal in the hills. It can also include beads, pigs, cloth and other gifts. The number of animals and gifts is decided after long and polite talks between the elders.

The Wedding Day

Before the wedding, prayers are offered. Animals such as chickens or pigs are often offered in prayer to the gods and spirits. In some tribes, the priest looks at signs to see if the marriage will be blessed. These prayers ask for a happy home, good crops and healthy children.

Among the Monpa people, the wedding has a Buddhist touch. A lama, who is a Buddhist teacher, picks a lucky day for the wedding. He also says prayers and blesses the couple. The Monpa live in high mountain areas, and their weddings feel calm and holy.

After the prayers, the two families share a big feast. Rice beer is poured for the guests, and everyone eats local food together. The feast is a time to make new friendships between the two families. Elders make speeches and give blessings. The bride and groom sit with their families and receive good wishes from every guest.

Clothes and Jewelry

The bride and groom wear the special clothes of their own tribe. Woven cloth is an important part of the dress. Each tribe has its own patterns and colours, and people can often tell the tribe just by looking at the cloth. Beads are also very important. The bride may wear many strings of colourful beads around her neck. Some tribes also use special caps, and some use feathers or animal teeth as decoration. These items are often passed down in the family from one generation to the next.

Food, Music and Fun

The food at an Arunachali wedding is simple and fresh. Rice is the main food. It is served with boiled vegetables, meat, fish and local greens. Rice beer, or a local drink made from millet, is served in bamboo mugs. In many places, food is cooked in big pots over open fires.

Folk songs and group dances go on late into the night. People hold hands or stand in rows and move together to the beat of the song. Old songs tell stories about the tribe, the hills and the brave people of the past. The whole village often joins the celebration. Neighbours help to cook, to carry things and to look after the guests. In this way, an Arunachali wedding brings the entire community closer together.