Gond Tribal Wedding

The Land and the People

Gond tribal weddings are held by the Gond people, one of the largest tribal groups in India. The Gonds live mainly in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Odisha. Their homes are often in or near forests and hills. The Gonds have a long history, and in the past some Gond kings ruled large parts of central India.

The weddings follow old tribal customs and a deep love for nature. The Gonds pray to the forest, the rivers, the hills and their ancestors. They believe that the gods live in nature, and they take care to keep the land clean and green. The village usually takes part in the celebration, and no one is left out.

How Long the Wedding Lasts

A Gond wedding usually takes two to four days. Some parts are held in the groom’s village and some in the bride’s village. The wedding often moves from one village to another, and the guests travel with the couple. This makes the wedding a long and happy journey.

Before the Wedding

The families first talk and agree on the match. The elders of both sides meet, sometimes many times. They talk about the boy and the girl, their clans and their families. If the match is good, they fix a date. The village elders are also asked to give their blessing.

The groom’s family often gives a bride price in the form of grain, cloth or money. The bride price is a sign of respect for the bride’s family. It is not seen as a payment for the bride. It helps the bride’s family to arrange the wedding feast and to thank their guests. The amount is decided by the elders and is kept simple.

The Wedding Day

On the wedding day, the groom’s party goes to the bride’s village with drums and songs. The villagers walk together, and they dance on the way. When they reach the bride’s village, the people of the village welcome them with water, flowers and a warm greeting.

The bride and groom are rubbed with turmeric and oil. This is done by women of the family, and it is a sign of purity and good luck. The bride and groom are then given a bath and they wear their wedding clothes.

The couple often sits in a small marriage shed made of leaves and branches. The shed is built for the wedding, and it is decorated with flowers and green leaves. It reminds the couple that their life is tied to nature. Elders bless the couple. They put rice and flowers on their heads and wish them a long life.

The tribe worships its gods and ancestors before the feast. They offer prayers and small gifts of food, and they ask for peace and health for the couple. The couple is then taken to the groom’s home with songs and dance. The women of the groom’s family welcome the bride with a lamp and songs.

Clothes and Jewelry

The bride and groom wear simple tribal dress with beads and flowers. The bride wears a colourful cloth, silver ornaments and beads. She may also wear flowers in her hair. The groom wears a white cloth, a turban and a garland of flowers. The dress is simple, but it looks bright and natural.

Food, Music and Fun

Folk dances like Karma are often performed at the celebration. The Karma dance is a group dance, in which men and women dance in a line, holding hands. It is done with drums and the sound of bells. The dance goes on for hours, and the whole village joins. The village shares a big feast with local food and drinks. The food includes rice, lentils, vegetables and sometimes meat. A Gond wedding is a joyful gathering, where nature, faith and family all come together.