Traditions and rituals of Assam reflect the rich cultural heritage of the state. The wedding tourism in India is gaining popularity due to the distinctive celebrations and religious ceremonies that are held in the course of a wedding. Wedding tourism in Assam helps to explore the hidden facts of an Assamese wedding and enjoy the warmth and hospitality that Assam has to offer.
Wedding is an union of two souls which is made by God. An Assamese marriage is the wedding ceremony which takes place in the state of Assam or between Assamese people. Assamese wedding is based on Vedic traditions and rituals.
Assamese Pre Wedding Ceremony
Juran Diya :- Juroon is a pre-marriage ceremony which was carried one 1 day in advance. This is normally an ladies affair and men seldom take part in it. The main ocassion is that the groom’s mother along with her close relatives/friends visit’s the bride’s house and apply Sindoor (Vermilion) to the bride along with showering gifts to her. Gifts would include the main bridal trousseau (Mekhela Chadar), which the bride is suppose to wear on the marriage day along with other items. These may include a make-up kit, earthen pots, fish, sweets, betal nuts and leaves, tumeric etc. This ritual is performed by women. The bride’s mother greets them and gives them a warm welcome with the xhorai, a brass plate, in which betel nuts and betel leaves are neatly arranged and covered with a gamocha.Here the groom’s mother along with some close relatives visits the bride’s house. Groom’s mother gives the gifts to bride and her mother.
Pani Tola & Nuani :- PANI TULA which means collecting the sacred water by the bride and groom”s mother for the ceremonial bath. According to Nuani tradition, after bath bride and groom to help get ready for their wedding ceremoneny.
Ceremonial Bath :- The wedding day start with the performance of the bathing custom. The bride and groom’s mother visit the nearby river or lake with a pot and fetch holy water. They are bathed with the holy water, at their homes.
Wedding Reception :- In Assamese wedding, reception party is held before the marriage ceremoney. In older age assamese people mostly serve Doi Jaalpan and Gur (Curd & Rice & Jaggery) in the reception. But now a days most of the people serve Rice, Daal, various Veg, Non-veg etables etc.
Wedding Ceremoney :- The marriage starts with the groom being dresses up in traditional Dhoti, Kurta and Cheleng (Assamese form of a Shawl). All this items are being given by the bride.
Therein the groom starts his journey to the bride’s place with his best friend by his side and sisters on the other. On arrival the groom’s family is welcomed with rice being thrown by the bride’s family. His friend is suppose to held and umbrella to save his mate from being hit. After things settled down and the bride’s mother performs an Aarti of the groom to welcome him into the home. The bride’s sister washes his feet.
The bride’s mother welcomes her future son-in-law. In the mean time, the bride’s younger sister washes the groom’s feet, for which she is rewarded with a gift. After that, the bride’s brother lifts the groom and takes him to the wedding hall. The bride enters the wedding hall on the shoulder of her elder brother.
The bride and the groom sit at the mandap, facing the sacred fire. In the front of holy fire bride and groom exchange their garlands of flowers and amidst the chanting of mantras. Bride and groom take a vow in front of sacred fire. Conch shells are blown as a sign celebration by the ladies. The groom applies sindoor on the forehead of the bride. After completion wedding ceremoney the friends and relatives come forward to bless the newly weds.
The bride leaves their parental home after wedding. After the wedding newly wed couple moves to groom”s house together. The bridegroom’s mother performs the traditional aarti, to welcome her son and daughter-in-law.
In old Assamese wedding rituals traditional bullock cart was used by grooms travelling to their in-law’s residence.
