Thursday, March 28, 2024
Himachal Pradesh

Himachal People


Customs and Traditions

Wedding

At the time of the wedding, the Suhagi jewellery (denoting a girls married status) is presented by the Mama and the rest is given by the parents of the bride and the groom. The groom's family displays their gifts (Barasuhi) to the bride, to all assembled, so that they may judge their financial status. Among the poorer sections, the gifts and the cash to be given to the bride by her family at the time of the wedding are fixed in advance.

In the plains, the bride's brother presents the groom with a 'dhoti' and a ring and ushers him to the place where the marriage ceremony is to take place. In the areas of Kinnaur the bride's father presents the groom with a white turban and ties a sword or a dagger to his waist band to indicate the start of the ceremonies. All this time wine cups are also presented to both the match-maker and the groom. When the marriage party returns with the bride it is greeted by the fellow villagers holding torches. Goats are sacrificed and special rituals are performed to ward off evil spirits and ghosts.