India is a nation with diverse cultures and traditions, regarding any ceremony of occasion. The marriage occasion differs from place to place, caste to caste and state to state. The marriage takes place for each person as per their own culture. Every state has something new to represent their culture, community and tradition taking forward the legacy and beliefs. Hindi matrimony gives a good account of their beliefs and traditions.
Madhya Pradesh consists of various tribes and villages they all have their own beliefs and ways to celebrate the wedding. When the boys enter the teenage, they want them to get married saying that they have reached the marriage age and there is no one to do the farm work. They have simple marriages with no invitation cards sometimes they would invite the people at village and relatives by just inviting them with words. When they go to invite, they put some rice soaked with turmeric at the side of the door. At times, if there is no one at home, when they return, they would ask others and know seeing the turmeric rice. This is the Bhil people’s tradition.
When the marriage has been fixed, bride’s family members would go to groom’s house and would enquire about: what does the groom have as in property and what all can be negotiated, it is enough if they have well and land.
A week before the marriage, the village women would take the bride to the town. There they would buy turmeric by singing the village songs. Before a week of marriage, the relatives would apply turmeric on the bride, sing songs and would enjoy dancing. A day before the marriage, the groom’s side would give a feast every guests joins the feast. Father in law of the groom would bring a dress and cover him. And to all the families, the one coming as father in law relation would bring and cover one by one. Moreover, they would carry the groom in the shoulder and dance with drums. At marriage, feast is an important thing. Everyone likes the marriage food. It is only rice and Dhal curry. In some houses they would prepare sweet dish. People would gather in large to eat this food.
They decorate the bride and the bride groom by applying turmeric powder. Early morning the groom and people with him would come to the bride’s house. The groom would be keeping a sword in his hand and has to wear a turban.
They should not enter immediately to the shamiana, when they reach bride’s place. So they would sit under the tree nearby. They should enter the shamiana only after invitation from the bride’s side. This becomes a fun task.
The bride side has to be careful with arrangements. After going to shamiana, they would welcome the guests and provide water and tea. The groom’s side gifts things to the bride. Then they decorate the bride but not too much. The bride would wear silver ornaments. Fixing 1 or 2 kg, they would wear. The marriage saree would not be Kanchipuram silk or any other silks. They would wear a simple saree. When she gets ready, her Uncle (mother’s brother) would carry her in his shoulder and take her to the shamiana and make her sit. From that time the bride has to put a veil over her face.
They do not wear ‘Mangal Sutra’ as all hindu wedded women wear. They would exchange the ring at the time of marriage, the bride and the groom would take rounds around the pole in front of the elders of the village or may take rounds around the fire. Then relatives, neighbors and friends would give vessels, bed, almirah, mattress and things in the name of their daughters. They call this as ‘kanyadan’. They would take a note of who has given what. Hindi Matrimony has all the detailed analysis of these traditions and customs keeping the Madhya Pradesh tribes and their marriage rituals still alive.
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