Bhojpuri Wedding

The Land and the People

Bhojpuri weddings are held in the Bhojpuri-speaking region. This includes western Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and parts of Jharkhand. Bhojpuri families in Nepal, Mauritius, Fiji and other countries also follow many of these customs. Their ancestors travelled to these countries long ago, and the wedding songs and rituals travelled with them.

The Bhojpuri people are known for their simple life, their strong family ties and their love of folk music. Bhojpuri weddings are full of folk songs, humor and family joy. There is a song for almost every moment of the wedding, and the women lead the singing.

How Long the Wedding Lasts

A Bhojpuri wedding usually takes three to five days. In some families, it can last up to a week. The days are filled with rituals in the morning, songs in the afternoon and feasts in the evening. Relatives stay in the home for the whole time and help with the work.

Before the Wedding

The wedding begins with Tilak. In this ceremony, the bride’s family visits the groom’s home. They bring gifts and put a tilak on the forehead of the groom. This is a sign that the families have agreed on the match, and the wedding date is fixed.

Matikor is a ritual in which women go to dig sacred earth and sing songs. The women walk in a group, often to a field or a pond. They dig a little earth and bring it home. This earth is used in the wedding rituals. It is a way of asking the Earth Mother for her blessing.

Haldi is applied to the bride and groom on separate days. The women rub turmeric paste on their arms, faces and feet. It is a fun ritual with lots of laughter and songs. Each family holds this ritual in its own home.

The Wedding Day

On the wedding day, the Barat arrives at the bride’s home. The bride’s mother welcomes the groom in a ritual called Parchhan. She waves a lamp and a small plate of rice and other items around the groom to bless him and to keep away the evil eye. She also puts a tilak on his forehead.

Dwar Puja and Jaimala follow. In Dwar Puja, the bride’s family greets the groom at the door with prayers. In Jaimala, the bride and groom exchange garlands. The friends of both sides try to make the moment funny, and everyone laughs.

The main wedding rites take place in the mandap with Kanyadaan, the pheras and Sindoor Daan. The mandap is a decorated stage or canopy where the holy fire is lit. The priest chants mantras, and the couple takes the vows.

In the Kohbar ritual, the couple plays small games in a decorated room. The room is often painted with pictures, and the couple’s relatives play games with them. It is a fun way to help the shy couple get to know each other. The wedding ends with Vidai, and a small function is held a few days later.

Clothes and Jewelry

The bride wears red, which is a colour of good luck. She wears gold jewelry and the sindoor on her hair parting. The groom wears a kurta with a turban or a sherwani. He may also carry a small mark of tilak on his forehead.

Food, Music and Fun

Women sing Gaari, which are teasing songs, and other wedding songs. The songs make fun of the groom’s family in a friendly way. The wedding meal usually has puri, vegetables and sweets. The food is served with love, and the guests are asked to eat more and more. The wedding is a time of joy, humor and warm family bonds.