On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, let’s take a tour through the best indigenous wedding rituals in India.
India has upheld its principle of ‘Unity in Diversity’ through the years. While there are people like us, living in the city surrounded by an abundance of technology and facilities in all aspects of our lives, there are also people who still live the traditional way, who subsist their life through nature’s wonders and minimalistic objects, and live happily in the togetherness of their tribe. Indian tribes are spread all over the country and while most of them have evolved over the years by accepting bits of modernity into their daily lives, their social customs such as marriages remain untouched and are highly venerated with religious beliefs.
To celebrate the indigenous people of our country, Wedding Affair is all set to take you through a tour of the unique and colourful wedding rituals of the indigenous tribes of India.
North Indian Tribal Wedding- Lahaula Tribe
The Himachali people are known for preserving their traditions and a tribal wedding here is filled with traditions paying homage to the gods and goddesses and ancient rituals.
A tribal wedding in Lahaula, an indigenous tribe of the region begins with the Nata Gota ceremony welcoming the gods and guests to the wedding. This is followed by Dham, a traditional Kullu feast, the wedding and the reception. Nature plays an important role in the wedding in the form of alcohol, sattu, pressed flowers, green twigs and butter being used in various ceremonies. An arrow wrapped in a white scarf and dipped in alcohol is the symbol of these weddings and has to be upheld at all times.
Every tribal bride and groom has a unique wedding outfit and in the Lahaula tribe, the bride looks ethereal in traditional silver headgear, gold and bead jewellery, traditional cap, and dress. The groom compliments her in a formal suit with a Himachali cap adorned with dried flowers. If you are ever visiting Lahaul-Spiti, make sure to visit this tribal region to see a colourful wedding.
Central Indian Tribal Wedding- Gond Tribe
The Gonds are famous, not only for being the largest Indigenous tribe in South Asia but also for being featured in Oscar-winning films like S.S. Rajamouli’s RRR. They have a firm belief in art, nature and supernaturalism.
The marriage in the tribe is finalised after Ghotul, a youth dormitory where unmarried individuals engage in social activities. The marital symbols are mostly natural like rice, jaggery, coconut and Mand (liquor). The ceremony begins with the creation of the Mando (mandap), Karsha Bharai where the bride and groom take the seven holy rounds, tel haldi to ward off the evil and Sakshi Jal to complete the ceremony. Uniquely a Gond wedding is conducted by a female priest who is the most elderly woman of the tribe.
The bride wears a Kosa saree with jewellery like phuli, nathani, karnaphul and bahuti, along with tattoos that all have a different meaning. The groom accompanies her in a Kosa dhoti and shirt. The marriage in the Gond tribe is a unique blend of nature worship and dancing celebrations on traditional dhols and nagadas.
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South Indian Tribal Wedding- Banjara Tribe
If you have been a fan of South Indian weddings just like us, a Banjara wedding is a sight! The Banjara Tribe resides in the region of Andhra Pradesh and is a patriarchal social unit.
Their marriage begins with the ceremony of Garatani Tool where colourful feet ornaments worn by a young girl signifying her virginity are broken. While the marriage rituals of this indigenous tribe are similar to that of a traditional Hindu marriage, dowry is prevalent here to date. They also value nature’s addition to their life as most of the wedding artefacts are collected from the nearby forests like beads of leaves and flowers, mahua liquor, lakatho or gaja sweets and more.
The bride honours traditions in a unique colourful outfit consisting of Phetiya, Kanchali and Odhni with applique and mirror work with attachment of coins in the border of the odhni. Heavy silver jewellery and elaborate hairstyles complete her look. Interestingly the groom arrives in a palki dressed in a kurta, dhoti, pagdi and silver kada adorning his feet.
West Indian Tribal Wedding- Bhil Tribe
We have never seen a tribe that values their tools and ornaments more than the Bhils. The Bhil Tribe residing in the western region of the country value their tools during their marriage ceremony. At the beginning of the haldi ceremony, the bride is given an arrow that is tied with colourful ribbons. Then, the Pagadhi ceremony happens where the groom is offered a turban by the pride party along with some money or chandala.
The most important ceremony is the Chandala Vidhi ceremony where the bridegroom’s brother brings water in a pot which is placed on a plate. All the chandala offerings are placed on this plate. Followed are the Mangal Pheras and the Kanyadan where alternatively the bride is showered with gifts by her and her husband’s side of the family. The bride dazzles in a ghagra, choli and heavy silver jewellery whereas the groom adorns the traditional pagri, angrakha, dhoti, and gamcha.
East Indian Tribal Wedding Santhal Tribe
Marriage in a Santhal tribe is a pure and religious affair carried out with utmost care. Known as Bapla, the marriage begins with painting a part of the house with turmeric paste. Then the women arrive to bless the couple for their big day with grass and grains of rice. Turmeric plays an important role in a Santhali wedding and the bride and groom’s dresses are dipped in turmeric water to clean and purify them. A Mandwa (mandap) is created with branches of mahua, blackberry and sal tree and the bride and groom take the seven pheras around it. Considering their belief in supernaturalism, the tribe believes that benevolent spirits dwell in these trees that are their life-givers.
We were surprised to see the entire wedding ceremony happen with the bride and groom sitting in hand-woven baskets held up in the air by the villagers. While the bride wears a saree the groom is dressed in a yellow cloth wrapped around him like a Roman Toga and a white conical cap. Interestingly, the bride remains hidden under a fabric during the entire ceremony and is given to the groom only after the application of the sindur. Then, the ends of their attires are tied together to foster the forever marital bond.
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While marriage as an institution in modern Indian society has evolved over the years and become more and more modern and experimental, it is the Indigenous tribes of the country who inspire us to value what is unique, what has been passed down through the generations and what has made us who we are today. Wedding Affair wishes a very happy and celebratory International Day of World’s Indigenous People, to the indigenous tribes of India.
