Wedding is an union of two souls which is made by God. Assamese wedding takes place in the state of Assam. Assamese marriages are simple but as well as stylish at the same time. Assamese wedding is based on Vedic traditions and rituals. In Assamese language ceremony is known as ‘Biya’. The traditional wedding song is known by ‘Biya naam’.This wedding is a unique traditional culture like chanting of ‘Uluni’. Uluni is the sound made by ladies by rolling their tongues. These weddings are colorful and exited. Assamese marriage covers three days for the whole ceremony. Assamese wedding is consisting of many rituals likes the other wedding. This wedding ritual categorized in three parts.
Pre Wedding Rituals Wedding Day Rituals Post wedding Rituals
Pre wedding ceremony
Juran ceremony: Juran ceremony is the first day ceremony. It held before two days before the wedding. In this ceremony groom’s family goes to the bride’s home and gives the gifts to bride and her mother.
Tel diya custom: Tel diya is the ceremony in which groom’s mother places a ring and betel on the bride parting hairs. She pours oil which she has brought. After this she applies her sindoor and wedding dress. Wedding dress is traditional include of ‘Mekhala chadar’. It’s a traditional dress of women.
Pani tola: This is the ceremony of wedding day. The bride and groom take a bath by holy water. The mother’s of bride and groom gathered holy water for the ceremonial bath. They bring this holy water from river and pond.
Nuani tradition: Nuani is the ceremony of bathing bride and helping her to get ready for the wedding. Some of the cosmetics paste applied on her to make her ready for wedding.
Wedding day ceremony
Ceremonial bath: on the day of wedding bride and groom takes a ceremonial bath in their homes. After taking a bath bride dressed up well in traditional shawl with jewelry.
Wedding reception: It’s a reception party before the wedding ceremony. This reception party is consist of various delicious foods and highlighted with fish and meat served to the guest.
Arrival of groom: This ceremony is arrival of groom. The entire wedding guest eagerly waits for the groom. The groom’s come with their relatives and friends at the wedding venue. The groom wears the traditional dress ‘dhoti’, ‘kurta’ and silk shawl on his shoulder.
Wedding ceremony
The wedding ceremony takes place in the front of sacred fire. In the front of holy fire bride and groom exchange their garlands of flowers. Wedding ceremony performed by the pundit along with 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. Sindoor is the symbol of married women. After completion of wedding ceremony bride and groom take a blessing and wishes by their elders and relatives members.
The bride leaves their parental home after wedding. This is the farewell time for bride. After the wedding newly wed couple moves to groom’s house together. The groom’s family warmly receives her daughter-in-law. This is the ‘Grah pravesh’ ceremony of bride. The groom’s mother performs an Aarti and gives a blessing for her happy life.