Tripuri Wedding

The Land and the People

Tripuri weddings are held by the Tripuri people, also called the Borok people. They live mainly in Tripura, in the north-east of India, around Agartala. Tripura is a land of green hills, forests, rivers and old palaces. The Tripuri people have a long history, and they once had their own kings.

Some Tripuri families also live in Assam, Mizoram and Bangladesh. The Tripuri society has many clans and follows Hindu customs, old tribal faiths or Christianity. Their weddings are simple, close to nature and full of music. The people are gentle, and they love to celebrate with their neighbours.

How Long the Wedding Lasts

A Tripuri wedding usually takes one to three days. The families may take more time to agree on the match. The wedding is a big village event, and neighbours help with the work. The days are filled with prayers, songs and feasts.

Before the Wedding

The families first meet and agree on the match. The elders of both sides talk about the young couple. They check the clans, as marriage inside the same clan is not allowed. If everything is fine, they agree on the wedding.

Elders of both families exchange gifts and sweets. The gifts may include cloth, fruits and food. The families share a meal. The elders bless the couple. A date is fixed for the wedding.

The Wedding Day

A traditional priest, called an Ochai, says prayers and blesses the couple. The Ochai is a respected priest of the Tripuri people, and he knows the old prayers. He speaks to the gods and asks for their blessings. He offers flowers, rice and water to the gods.

Offerings are made to the gods and to the ancestors. The Tripuri people believe that their ancestors watch over the family. They offer food and drink to them, and they ask for peace and health for the couple. The offerings are placed on a small altar, and the family stands in silence.

The couple takes blessings from the elders. They bow to the elders and touch their feet. The elders bless them with rice and flowers, and they give them gifts. The families then share a wedding feast. The whole village joins the feast, and everyone is served with care.

The bride goes to the groom’s home after the wedding, with songs and blessings. Her family and friends walk with her, and they sing songs on the way. At the groom’s home, the family welcomes her with love. She begins a new life with her husband.

Clothes and Jewelry

The bride wears a Rignai, which is a wrap-around cloth, and a Risa, which is an upper cloth. The Rignai is a woven cloth with bright colours and patterns. The Risa covers the chest and is also woven by hand. She wears silver jewelry, beads and flowers. The groom wears a dhoti and a kurta, or a traditional Tripuri dress.

Food, Music and Fun

The feast has rice, fish, bamboo shoot dishes and local drinks. Dried and fermented fish, called Berma, is loved by many Tripuri families. Folk songs and dances like Hojagiri are loved by all. The Hojagiri is a dance done by young women. They balance a pot or a lamp on their heads, and they dance on a small earthen pot. The dance is graceful and full of skill. A Tripuri wedding is a simple and happy celebration of nature and community.