Bihar is one of the extremely backward regions in India. Though these days Biharis have turned quite liberal, they still stick to their modest traditions in every aspect. They dont exhibit any artificial pomp and are very proud of the rural touch of their roots. Usually a traditional Bihari wedding lasts for a month, but these days it has been reduced to a five days affair.
A Hindu Bihari matrimonial rite begins with Satyanarayan Katha, a prayer that is performed by the groom and his family, under the supervision of a Pundit or priest. All the attending family members are supposed to fast. The havan is performed on the last day to conclude all the wedding rituals.
Then the ritual Haldi Kutai takes place, in this grooms mother and other suhagins(married ladies) grind the turmeric to a paste that is sent to the bride for the ritual ubtan.
After that, an auspicious day is fixed for Cheka, which is the engagement ceremony. In this ceremony, 5, 7, 9, or 11 members from the grooms family along with the groom visit the brides house along with gifts, known as Chekas and the bride and groom exchange rings. The next day, the same ritual is repeated by the brides family and they visit the grooms house.
The Shagun is performed in which the brides priest, accompanied by her brother, the barber, and four other members, take auspicious gifts to the grooms family. The brides brother applies tilak/teeka on the grooms forehead that signifies that familys acceptance of the wedding. The brother gets along a lot of gifts like vessels, clothes, jewelry etc.
Shagun is followed by Tilak. IN this ceremony, Haldi paste, specially made by the brides mother, is brought in a silver bowl that is applied on the groom. Tilak is the one of the biggest ceremonies held by the grooms party, this is equivalent to a wedding reception.
On the wedding morning, once again the haldi/turmeric paste ceremony is performed so that the bride and the groom beautify and purify their bodies after which they are dressed up the Jaimala ceremony.
Silpoha a ladies ritual, is held early in the wedding morning wherein the grooms mother in her Chunri/shawl, along with her mother-in-law or her husbands elder brothers wife grinds akshat or rice on a flat grinding stone. While grinding they seek blessings of gods and ancestors. After that, a ritual Imli-Ghutai is performed by the grooms maternal uncle and aunt just before the paricchavan. It is to drive away evil omens and to warn the groom not to indulge in any form of vices. In this ritual, the uncle feeds a betel leaf to the groom, but the groom keeps it between his teeth while his mother takes it from him and eats it herself. This act signifies that the mother will accept all the evil omens falling on him upon her.
Now the wedding function begins. The bride is brought to the wedding ground where she performs an Aarti of the groom and then the couple exchange garlands. Before the commencement of wedding rites, the brides mother and other married women hold the Galsedi ceremony. During this ritual, the mother carries a plate that contains a small lighted lamp, betel leaves and small lumps of cow dung. All the women, one by one, heat the betel leaves on the lamp and foment the grooms face, forehead and eyes at least five times each from their left hand.
After that, the brides brother or brother-in-law escorts the groom to the mandap for Kangna Bandhana ceremony for which the bride adorns a yellow silk sari with zari/gold borders without absolutely no jewelry on her body. The pundit/priest ties the bracelets made of mango leaves, raw cotton thread, colored rice, turmeric and money, on the right hand of the couple and for the next four days they have to wear this symbolic bracelet. Then the barber, present in the mandap, cuts the fingernails and toenails of the both the bride and the groom.
Then the kanyadaan takes place. In this ceremony, the brides father stretches out his right hand to the brides mother who places her right hand on it, signifying the giving away daughter. All this time, the priests chant the mantras. The groom then retires to his room and once again the bride changes her dress for theKanya nirakshan which means an introduction to the grooms family and relatives.