KUMAONI BELIEFS

 

• It is considered inauspicious to visit someone's house On Tuesday / Saturday.

 

• It is inauspicious to visit a sick person on Tuesday, Saturday and Thursday.

 

• Tuesdays and Saturdays are days to when you visit for paying condolences on someone's death.

 

• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, are considered auspicious for finalising marriage talks.

 

• One does not undertake a journey to directions on days as given below:-

• Sunday and Friday - West

• Wednesday and Tuesday - North

• Thursday - South

• Saturday and Monday - East.

 

• You do not undertake any new venture/ task / important decision on a Saturday.

 

• When visiting some one you do not go empty handed but take batasha /fruits or sweets.

 

• When visiting a woman who has given birth, you take milk and batasha/ sweets.

In the modern times people do not believe in the beliefs given above, but unfortunately these things are still followed in villages and other mofussil towns.

Kumaoni Marriages

Marriages in Kumaon Hills are very simple and are one day affair. The marriage procession starts in the morning and by night the whole thing is over. We do not have a dowry system. The videos are uploaded to give you a glimpse of the marriage ceremonies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kumaoni Weddings

 

Kumaoni weddings are very simple but are solemnized with a number of rituals and traditions. In the villages and in interiors traditionally, a white flag called 'Nishan' leads the marriage procession representing the bridegroom, followed by drummers, pipers and a white palanquin carrying the groom. The last man of the procession carries another flag, of red colour, representing the bride. When the marriage party returns from the girl's home after completing all ceremonies, the red flag takes the lead followed by a red palanquin of the bride, succeeded by the white palanquin of the groom, and the white flag at the tail end of the procession.

The main rituals carried out in Kumaoni weddings are as given below:

Before the Wedding day :

Engagement:

 

Just like all across the globe, engagement or Tika is a formal ring ceremony organised for the bride-to-be and the groom-to-be. It isn’t very common toorganize engagement in Kumaoni Culture and surprisingly enough instead of the girl-boy exchanging rings it’s the boys brother ( normally brother) who gives the ring to his would be sister in law and the grooms ring is given to the younger brother normally on the wedding day itself;

Mehendi (Henna Tattoo): Applying mehendi to hands and feet (at times) as iscustomary in Hindus on all major festivals and celebrations. It is an important part of a Kumaoni weddings as well.

On the Wedding day :

As per Hindu mythology the bride and the groom take the positions of Goddess Laxmi & Lord Vishnu during their wedding and are treated likewise.

 

Ganesh Puja :

As in the rest of India,in Kumaon too, Lord Ganesha isworshipedas Lord of beginnings and remover of obstaclestherefore, any and every auspicious work starts after offering prayers to Lord Ganesha and requesting him toaccomplish the task without any obstacles.

Suwal Pathai:

This ritual is very specific to Kumaoni traditions wherein wheat flour is kneaded into dough and rolled into rotis but a little thinner and dried in the sun after dipping in dry flour. Once dry, these are fried in oil and form a part of the offering to gods and all guests.

 

Duliargh(Offering prayers to the groom) :

Bride’s father along with his priest worships the groom (Lord Vishnu) & his priest. The groom’s feet are washed by his would be father-in-law, he’s offered ‘pithya” & sweets (and other things as per one’s ability & constraints).

 

Varmaala(Garland exchange) :

AfterDuliargh, the groom proceeds to the center stage (with all eyes looking for & waiting for him, specially relatives from the bride’s side). Once he reaches there, the bride joins him in next few minutes. Friends and close relatives of the bride & the groom may accompany them on the stage at this time. Flower garlands are exchanged between the bride and the groom.

Kanya Daan:

The last but the most event is the Kanya Daan. Several holy rituals and ceremonies are done as per ‘lagna‘. This ritual takes lasts very long normally the entire night untill morning.

Bidai:

Once the marriage has been solomanized, the bride is sent with the groom. This tradition is called Bidai and is carried out in the morning after sun rise.