Maithil Brahmin Wedding Rituals

These ceremonies are the most traditional ones that are still followed by the respective community. Similar to other traditions in India, they are being celebrated well before the auspicious day and goes after it gets completed.

There are six customs totally which constitute the entire ceremony. These are namely, Siddhant Custom, arrival of the Bridegroom, Kul Devi Shrine, Gauri Puja, Otangar and Nana Yogin custom. In the Siddhant ceremony, the date of the marriage is fixed according to the religious calendar. When the groom arrives on the main day, the women from the bride's side welcome him. Then the groom takes the holy bath by applying sandal paste. In Kul Devi Shrine custom, the couple goes to the bride's family Goddess. Then the bride carries out the Gauri Puja. In the Otangar Custom, some rice is crushed by eight Brahmin men in whom the groom also takes part. In Nana Yogi Ceremony, the ladies perform the Arti of the groom with flowers and betel leaves.

On the main day three sub rites are carried out. The bride and groom sit in front of the holy fire and the priests chant the Vedic Mantras. In Kanyadaan ceremony, the bride's father gives her hand to the groom. Then the couple undergoes the Saptapadi. Here, the couple takes seven rounds around the sacred fire.

After these customs, the couple undergoes three more rites. First, the "Sinduram" in which the groom applies the vermilion or the Sindur on the bride's forehead. Next, the Durbakshat ceremony is carried out. Here, the Brahmin men sprinkle some rice on the newly weds. Thereafter, the couple stays at the bride's home for four days. During those days, the women wave the tray over the newly married couple which contains ethnic objects. It is known as Chumaon tradition.

The nuptial ceremonies in this tradition are quite different from the other ones in some places. On the day when the groom arrives, the bride takes blessings from the wife of the washer man. It is believed that the washer man's wife never becomes widow as she always dies before her husband.