The various rituals related to marriage in Uttar Pradesh are followed since centuries. The wedding rituals start when mate selection is done and continues ever after the groom and bride and changed as husband and wife.
2. Wedding Rituals of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh – the biggest state in
India in regard to population
accommodates people of various
religions and cultures. The major
community being of Hindus, when
you say Uttar
Pradesh marriage rituals, we you
mean to say about rituals related to
a Hindu wedding.
A typical marriage in the state of
Uttar Pradesh consists of pre-
wedding rituals, wedding rituals and
post wedding rituals.
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3. Wedding Rituals of Uttar Pradesh
Pre-Wedding Rituals:
The first step of any marriage process
is the mate selection. In the state of
Uttar Pradesh, since there has been a
long joint family system, the elder of
family has monopoly in deciding the
mates. The criteria for mate selection
are matching of caste, direction of
residence of would-be-couples and
matching of horoscope. There is a
unique conception that the girl should
be married in west and south direction
and bride will be taken from east and
north direction.
After the mate selection is finalised,…
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4. Wedding Rituals of Uttar Pradesh
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the ceremony of Rokka is performed.
This is followed by the ceremony of
Mangni (the engagement) where the
exchange of rings takes place between
the groom and bride.
A few days before the wedding day,
parents of the bride bring a Thal of
Shangun to their home. The bride is
given Chunari of red colour and
bangles. She wears the same on the
wedding day. This is followed by the
Sangeet where women
sing wedding songs and dance on their
tunes. One or two days before
the marriage, the henna is applied on
hands and feet of the bride.
5. Wedding Rituals of Uttar Pradesh
Wedding Rituals
On the wedding day the groom takes
the marriage procession to the house
of bride. He rides on the Ghodi (She-
Horse) and leads the barat (marriage
procession). At marriage venue he is
received and welcomed by the relatives
of the bride. This ritual is known as
Milni.
When the barat reaches the house of
the bride, Varmala ceremony is
performed on a stage specially made for
the purpose and bride and groom
exchange the garlands.
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6. Wedding Rituals of Uttar Pradesh
In the mandap, rituals of kanyadan,
phera etc are performed. After the ritual
of Saptapadi, the groom and wife
become the husband and wife.
Since the marriages in UP are held in
winter season and in night, the feast is
an important part of marriage. The
feast consists mainly of heavy and
delicious vegetarian food like Kheer,
Gajar Ka Halwa, Shahi Paneer,
Golgappey, Laccha Parantha, Jalebi
and many more dishes.
Post Wedding Rituals
After the wedding is completed, …
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7. Wedding Rituals of Uttar Pradesh
the barat (on the next morning) returns
with the bride. The departure of the
bride from her home is known as the
ritual of Vidai. It is very emotional
moment as the bride after birth spends
her many years of life and
after marriage she has to leave that
home permanently.
When the new husband-wife reaches
the home of the husband, they are
welcomed. The newly-wed wife is not
allowed to place her bare feet in the
ground. The couple is taken to home-
deity where they perform the worship.
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8. Wedding Rituals of Uttar
Pradesh Marriage
After four days of marriage the newly-
wed wife is taken to her parental home
and she returns to her matrimonial
home after 2-3 days and live there
permanently.
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