India is a nation full of diversity and diverse are its wedding traditions and rituals. While some take vows of togetherness by taking seven pheras around the fire, some seal the deal by saying ‘Qubool Hai’ thrice. But marriage isn’t just about these Bollywood approved rituals! Attend an Indian wedding and you will certainly come across various unsung rituals and the legends behind them.
One such ritual which doesn’t allow the groom to attend his own wedding has been followed since decades in Surkheda village of Gujarat.
According to the legend, the groom’s unmarried sister or any unmarried woman from the family represents him at the wedding and performs all the rituals. She marries the bride and gets her home. The groom, although dressed up in a sherwani and safa, stays home with his mother.
“All the rituals that a groom traditionally does is conducted by his sister. She takes the ‘mangal phere’ with the bride instead of her brother,” says Kanjibhai Rathwa, local resident, Surkheda village said, reported NDTV.
Three villages in Gujarat follow this tradition. Their folklore states that the male deities of these villages were bachelors. Hence, in order to show them respect the villagers ensure the grooms stay at home for the duration of the wedding.
“This practice is followed in three villages here; it is believed that if we don’t follow this custom then some harm will befall. A couple of times some people have tried not to follow the tradition, either they ended up with broken marriages or other types of problems arose,” Rathwa further added.
Have you heard about any such bizarre wedding rituals in your city or village? Do share your interesting stories with us.
Cover Image Source: Left