Bihari Wedding

The Land and the People

Bihari weddings are held in Bihar, a state in eastern India. Bihar is a land with a very old history. It was home to great kingdoms, and it is the place where Buddhism and Jainism grew. The state has three main regions, Mithila, Magadh and Bhojpur. Each region has its own small differences in customs and songs. Many Bihari families living in other cities and countries also follow these customs.

Mithila is famous for its beautiful Madhubani paintings. Magadh is known for its old cities and holy places. Bhojpur is known for its folk songs and lively spirit. All three parts share many wedding rituals, and the wedding is a big social event in every village and town.

How Long the Wedding Lasts

A traditional Bihari wedding takes three to seven days. The rituals begin many days before, and the guests stay in the house through the whole event. Today, many families finish the main rituals in two or three days. But the songs, the customs and the feasts are still an important part of the wedding.

Before the Wedding

The wedding starts with the Tilak ceremony. In this ceremony, the bride’s family visits the groom to fix the match. The bride’s brother or father puts a tilak on the groom’s forehead and gives gifts. The groom’s family welcomes the guests and serves them food. After the Tilak, the wedding date is fixed, and the preparations begin.

Haldi and Matkor rituals are held in both homes with songs by women. In Haldi, turmeric paste is applied to the bride and groom. In Matkor, the women go out to bring holy earth, and they sing as they walk. The earth is placed in the home, and it is used in the wedding rituals. These rituals ask for blessings from Mother Earth.

The Wedding Day

The Barat reaches the bride’s home on the wedding day. The groom is welcomed with Dwar Puja. The bride’s family stands at the door with flowers and lamps. The priest reads prayers, and the groom is greeted with respect. The bride’s mother welcomes the groom in a ritual called Parchhan. She waves a plate with rice and a lamp around his face and blesses him.

The couple exchanges garlands and then sits before the holy fire for the main rituals. Kanyadaan and Sindoor Daan are the most important moments. In Kanyadaan, the bride’s father places the bride’s hand in the groom’s hand and gives his daughter with love. In Sindoor Daan, the groom applies sindoor to the parting of the bride’s hair. This shows that they are now husband and wife.

In Kohbar, the couple visits a special room with wall paintings and plays games. It is a light and fun ritual that takes place after the main wedding rites. The couple sits with the women of the family, who tease them and ask them to play games. The bride says goodbye in the Vidai ceremony. This is a sad moment, and the bride’s family often cries as she leaves for her new home.

Clothes and Jewelry

In Mithila, the Kohbar walls are often painted with Madhubani art. The paintings show fish, birds, lotus flowers and gods. These are symbols of luck, love and children. The bride wears a red or yellow sari with gold jewelry. The groom wears a kurta with a turban or a sherwani. The bride also wears bangles, a necklace and a nose ring.

Food, Music and Fun

Popular wedding food includes puri, vegetables, curd and sweets. Guests sit in rows and are served on plates or on leaf plates. The women sing folk songs during most of the rituals. Some are songs of blessing, and some are teasing songs about the groom and his family. A Bihari wedding is loud, happy and full of warm feelings.