| ssa, which speaks the Oriya language, is mainly | | | | invitation cards for the marriage are distributed. The |
| popular for its odissi traditional dances and classical | | | | first wedding card is presented to the lord of the |
| music, all over the country. Hinduism, Buddhism and | | | | family, to seek his blessings, after which the invitation |
| Jainism are few of the main religions followed in | | | | is sent at the places of both the maternal uncles, |
| Orissa, majority of the people present, follow the | | | | followed by which, it is disseminated among the other |
| Hindu culture. Marriage is an occasion, which is | | | | relatives and friends. Be it any state of India, personal |
| celebrated with all pop and gaiety all over India, with | | | | invitation for marriage is prevalent. |
| different rituals and cultures of its respective states | | | | Mangan tradition: this is the tradition, where the bride |
| and their corresponding regions. Marriages in Orissa, | | | | is applied with turmeric paste, mainly on the hands, |
| are mainly celebrated according to the Hindu culture, | | | | feet and face, to make her skin glow on the D- day |
| with some difference as per their state and regional | | | | of her life. Elder people of the family bless the bride, |
| influence. | | | | after which she takes a sacred bath. |
| The costumes of the odissi bride and groom are all | | | | Diya Mnagula Puja: In this ceremony. Prayers are |
| traditional, with some changes made according to the | | | | offered to the goddess of the family and the female |
| time and family of the couple. The odissi bride is | | | | barber is made to offer bangles, sindur, saree and |
| made to wear lehanga or saree in the traditional | | | | toe ring to the goddess. |
| bright colours like red, maroon, or orange. A lot of | | | | Barajatri and Badhua Pani Ghadua: Barajatri is the |
| significance is given by the odissi people towards the | | | | baraat as in other marriages of hindu religion. This |
| clothing of the bride and the groom at the time of | | | | accompanies a large number of people, usually friends |
| wedding. The bride is loaded with a lot of jewellery, | | | | and relatives of the groom, who come along with the |
| to mark the rituality of the wedding procedure. The | | | | groom with great pop and gaiety. The Badhua Pani |
| saree of the bride is usually made of the chiffon, silk | | | | Ghadua is a holy bath taken by the bride, after the |
| or some other type of cloth and even the wearing | | | | groom arrives at the wedding venue with his baraat. |
| style of the saree by an orrian bride is different from | | | | Wedding ceremonies: |
| the others. | | | | Kanyadan: this is the ceremony, where the father of |
| The groom is made to wear dhoti and kurta, which is | | | | the bride gives away the responsibility of her |
| said to be the most elegant form of dressing in the | | | | daughter to the groom, for the next seven lives. |
| Indian tradition. The total attire of the Odissi would | | | | Haatha Ghanti Ceremony: After the kanyadan, the |
| constitute, Punjabi, dhoti, and Uttariya. At the time of | | | | Odissi bride and groom takes seven circles around |
| the wedding, during the wedding rituals, the groom is | | | | the sacred fire, marking their togetherness for the |
| made to wear a silk thread across his bare body, | | | | next seven lives. Lajja or ahuti of puffed rice offered |
| which is said to signify purity. The marriages in orissa, | | | | to the sacred fire, by both the bride and groom, with |
| do not witness the mother of the groom, in the | | | | the brother of the bride accompanying them. |
| marriage ceremonies, as according to the odissi | | | | Post wedding rituals: |
| culture, she is not allowed to attend the wedding of | | | | Grehpravesh ceremony: this is the ceremony, when |
| his son. | | | | the couple after getting married, enters the house of |
| Following are a short desceiption of the odissi | | | | the groom. They are given a very warm welcome by |
| marriages, according to pre, during and post wedding | | | | the family members of the groom. |
| rituals: | | | | A lot of blessings is given by the elders of the odissi |
| Pre- wedding Rituals: | | | | groom’s family members and then the married |
| Jayee Anukolo: this is the ceremony, which marks | | | | couple, leads a happy married life. |
| the starting of the wedding rituals. In this, the | | | | |