Oriya Matrimony Attire

Oriya Matrimony

The unique tradition of Orissa is truly reflected in the Oriya Matrimony Functions. The state is known for its handloom saris and what better to get a display of the handloom saris than a wedding of Oriya people. The bride is no doubt the center of attraction in any wedding. Here in Orissa, there are many rituals before the actual wedding day. These functions are attended by family members and close friends. The female members attending the wedding wear traditional saris from the state on most occasions.

The bride wears a traditional silk sari on the wedding day. The colors of the bridal saris are usually red, orange, magenta or pink. Most of the saris are silk and have heavy golden thread work on the pallu and borders. The bridal saris have attached fabric for making blouses. The blouse fabric also has the same borders as that of sari. The saris have heavily embroidered golden work all over.

Traditional gold jewelry complements the bridal look of the girl. The bride wears heavy gold jewelry on the wedding day. On other occasions, light-weight jewelry is preferred. Bangles, earrings, finger rings and choker are some of the pieces of jewelry worn by the brides. The other female family members also wear gold jewelry completing their traditional saris. Silver jewelry of Orissa also famous and women attending the wedding wears silver jewelry during daytime. Hairpins, earrings and bangles of silver are preferred among the women.

The groom also wears traditional Indian attire on the wedding day. Mostly he wears a silk kurta and dhoti made of tassar silk. The dhoti and kurta sets on the wedding day have heavy thread embroidery done. Some grooms also wear a western-styled suit during the reception party. Other male members also wear traditional Indian clothes for the various functions related to Oriya Matrimony

Author: Shipra Sinha

Enjoy the Sumptuous Fare in a Sindhi Matrimony

No wedding is complete without a feast of the local cuisine. In a typical Sindhi Matrimony, the very best of the Sindhi cuisine is served after the wedding rituals are over. The Sindhi reception ceremony is known as Sataurah. This ceremony is usually held in the groom’s house. Food served at the Muslim Sindhi Matrimony is an assortment of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. The Sindhi cuisine has influence of other regions like South Asia, Central Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine.

Snacks are served during various rituals in a Sindhi Matrimony. A range of snacks, sweet and salty variety, are served. Some common traditional Sindhi snacks are Mithi Loli, Chhola Dhabal and Maal-apuroo Mithaee Maanii.

Muslim Sindhi Matrimony includes dishes made of beef, fish and lamb. There are also many vegetarian dishes served to the guests. Beh is a very famous dish made of lotus root and cooked in clay pots. The use of various spices gives Beh its unique flavor and aroma. Another very tasty dish served at the wedding functions is the Sindhi Biriyani. Rice is steamed and then special spices typical of Sindh are used to add flavor to it. Other tasty vegetarian dishes are Koki, Seyal Mani, Sindhi Curry, Seyal Phulko, Dhodo Chutney and Curry Chawal.

The mutton dish, Bhugal Teewarn and the Lamb meat dish cooked in cardamom, Phote waro Tivan are some of the non-vegetarian items served and are favorites at any Sindhi Muslim Matrimony functions. The Keemo is a special dish of minced lamb meat. The Seyal Pallo is pomfret fish dish cooked in garlic sauce.

Guests at the Sindhi Matrimony function are served thadal, which is a famous drink made from almonds. Another drink, Khi-r-ni, is served hot and is made of milk and cardamoms and saffron are added. Special sweets from the Sindh region are included in the wedding menu such as Varo, Dothi, Geara, Mesu Tikki and Boorani.

Author: Shipra Sinha

Gujarati Matrimony – Truly Represents the Rich and Vibrant Culture

The state of Gujarat lies in the western part of India. It is one of the prosperous states of India, having its distinct culture and traditions. Weddings in the state display the rich and vibrant culture of Gujarat. The people from Gujarat have their own set of matrimonial customs and religions. Gujarati Matrimony is a joyous occasion with family and friends attending the celebrations. Dancing, singing and enjoying the regional specialties are part of every Gujarati wedding.

Alliances for the Gujarati Matrimony are fixed after consulting the castes and horoscopes of bride and groom. The state of Gujarat has people from all religions, though Hindus constitute majority of the population. The various caste and communities of Hindu Gujarati are Patel, Brahmin, Vaishnav, Lohana and Nagar. In addition, many Rajputs and Baniya Community members are found in the state. There are also many Gujarati following Jainism. The Jains from Gujarat belongs to either Shwetambar or Digambar sects. Gujarati Matrimony also includes Sunni Hanafi community grooms and brides.

People from Gujarat are found in every part of India. The Indian states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and West Bengal have a good number of Gujarati community members. Many Gujarati community members are also settled in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the United States of America. In addition, the African countries like Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa have a strong presence of people hailing from the state of Gujarat. Some countries in South East Asia like Malaysia and Myanmar also have Gujarati community from India. Gujarat Matrimony celebrations outside Gujarat include and follow the same rituals and customs.

The Gujarati community members are industrious and most of them are into business and trade. It is an acceptable fact that Gujarati communities have a stronghold in global business scenario. With the changing times, people from the state are shifting to different occupations. The community members, belonging to any caste, are joining public and private services. Men and women, both are equally involved in professional activities. Gujarati are also into the field of medicine, engineering, information technology, and banking and finance.

Author: Shipra Sinha

The Baraat of a Sikh Matrimonials

The happy and cheerful sardars and sardarnis dancing to the beats of dholak, a huge procession of musicians, and in the procession is a man riding the horse- Yes guys, I am talking about the ‘baraat’ of a Sikh wedding. The ‘baraat’ or the groom’s procession to the wedding venue is important ritual of Sikh Matrimonials. And, the man riding the horse is the groom himself. Unlike other community weddings where the groom’s procession to the wedding venue happens in the night, the Sikh community baraat happens during the daytime. The groom decked in wedding fineries like sherwani and jeweled turban heads to the gurudwara with his family members and friends. Traditionally, the groom is supposed to ride a horse to venue of wedding. With the changing times, some groom prefers to come by car, decorated with flowers and ribbons.

The groom’s friends and family members dances and sings to traditional Punjabi songs. Women members of the groom’s family equally participate in the dance. Apart from traditional Punjabi songs, the band of musicians also plays latest Punjabi chart busters and pop songs. Everyone present soaks in the dancing spirit. Whether you are a dancer or not the beats of the drum makes you shake a leg. On arrival of the ‘baraat’ in the wedding venue, the bride’s mother welcomes the groom with a tikka and sweets. Traditional Punjabi songs are sung to welcome the groom.

The Sikh matrimonial function is usually held in a gurudwara. According to the custom, a sikh wedding is solemnized in front of the holy book, Guru Granth Sahib. Whether the wedding venue is a gurudwara or any other place, the holy book should be kept before the wedding rituals take place. The granthi is the man who conducts the Sikh wedding, sings hymns from the Granth Sahib. The bride and the groom then encircle the holy book four times. This ritual solemnizes a Sikh wedding.

Author: Shipra Sinha

Enjoy the Varied Customs and Traditions of Kerala Matrimony

The state of Kerala lies in the southwestern region of India. The population of the state comprises a majority of Malayalee Hindus. Other religions in the state are Islam and Christianity. The Malayalee Hindus are a mixed community, which traces its lineage from the Aryan and Dravidian communities. The followers of Islam in the state are originally Arab traders who have made the state their home. The Christian population in Kerala is mostly from Syria. The Kerala Matrimony differs in customs and rituals for the various religious communities settled in the state.

The Hindu Kerala Matrimony spans for several days with many pre-wedding rituals. The Hindu rituals for the people of state of Kerala are many and one of the important rituals is the ‘Kanyadaan’. In this ritual, the father of the bride gives her hand to the groom. The Hindu bride from the state of Kerala wears a white sari called Mundu and a jubba made of silk. The groom wears a white shirt and a dhoti.

The Kerala Matrimony rituals for the Christian Matrimony members take place in the church. The wedding happens during daytime while the reception party is organized in the evening. The groom wears a western-styled suit while the bride wears a white silk sari. A white veil covers her head. The color white symbolizes purity and most brides in the Christian Kerala Matrimony prefer this color for the wedding dress.

The Muslims of Kerala follows the rituals and customs as stated in the Islamic haddiths. The weddings of the Muslim community of Kerala are a joyous function with fun and serious rituals. The groom and the bride signed the marriage contract known as the ‘Nikahnama’ in presence of witnesses and the qazi. The Muslim brides from Kerala wear traditional styled lehengas. Some also wears a traditional Indian sari on the day of wedding in Kerala Matrimony.

Author: Shipra Sinha