| On the east coast of India, along with the Bay of | | | | the bride and groom, where they face each other |
| Bengal lies the amazing state of Orissa, the locals | | | | and the bride’s brother places the hand of his |
| there are knows as Oriyas. The Oriyas like to live | | | | sister in the groom’s hand and puts puffed |
| a simple and plain life with minimal pomp and | | | | rice in their hands. Once these are complete, the |
| show, which gets reflected in their festivals and in | | | | kanyadaan takes place in a nicely decorated |
| their weddings. | | | | madap, which is basically performed by the father |
| The weddings in Orissa are very similar to Hindu | | | | of the oriya bride where he hands over his |
| weddings. | | | | daughter to her groom. |
| In a typical Oriya wedding, one can find many | | | | Besides these rituals, special attention is given to |
| similarities with a Hindu wedding. An Oriya wedding | | | | the attires of the bride and the groom. The bride |
| is also a prolonged event that goes on for several | | | | wears a rich red, orange or pink colored lehnga |
| days the basic rituals are also similar. One thing | | | | and is adorned with gold jewllery and flowers. The |
| that is different when it comes to marriages in | | | | groom, on the other hand, adorns a dhoti or a jor |
| Orissa as compared to other marriages in India is | | | | i.e. a white silk cloth draped around him. For |
| that the mother of the doesn’t attend the | | | | grooms in Orissa, dhoti is considered as the best |
| marriage; neither does any of the aged female in | | | | and most preferred attire for a wedding. |
| the groom’s side. Even in the Oriya category, | | | | There are many big and small pre as well as post |
| there are two types of Oriyas; one is the | | | | wedding ceremonies in Orissa like - Jayee |
| Brahmin Oriyas who perform the wedding rituals | | | | Anukolo, Mangan Tradition, Jairagodo Anukolo, |
| during the day time, whereas the non-Brahmin | | | | Diya Mangula Puja, Barajatri & Baadua Pani |
| Oriyas conduct the marriage ceremony during the | | | | Gadhua to name a few. Each ritual has its own |
| evening or the night time, just like most grooms | | | | procedure and importance. Hence it’s pretty |
| in OrissaIndian weddings. | | | | evident that like a regular Hindu marriage, wedding |
| Like all other Indian marriages, Oriya marriage is a | | | | in Orissa is an elongated process that goes on for |
| long and extended affair but it is a lot more | | | | several days. |
| simple and free from any sort of hassles and | | | | Once all these ceremonies are performed and the |
| complex rituals. In a Orissa wedding, the bride and | | | | bride bids farewell to leave for her groom’s |
| the groom are made to sit together next to the | | | | house, there is a custom called the astha mangala |
| holy fire aka mandap where the pandit recites | | | | where after eight days of the marriage the newly |
| various chants and mantras followed by saptpadi, | | | | wed couple is invited to the brides house for a |
| where seven mounts of rice are kept each | | | | delicious treat. Both are served nicely cooked |
| signifying the saptakulaparwata and the seven hills | | | | food by the bride’s family. The procedure to |
| after which the pheras are taken by the bride | | | | conduct a wedding in Orissa is not much different |
| and the bridegroom. After the pheras are | | | | from other weddings in India and it’s a pious |
| performed, the haatha ghanti takes place, where | | | | occasion for both the bride and the groom and |
| puffed rice is offered to the holy fire as a lajja by | | | | their families. |
