An Assamese marriage is the wedding ceremony which
takes place in the state of Assam or between Assamese people. In
Assamese language, the ceremony is known as Biya. Just like a Hindu
wedding, an Assamese wedding also has pre wedding and post wedding
rituals. It is simple and yet very elegant. One of the unique and
indispensable characteristic of the wedding is the traditional 'biya
naam' song. To know more about the wedding rituals of Assamese
marriage, read on.
Pre Wedding Rituals
The pre wedding rituals include Juran ceremony, Tel Diya custom,
Pani Tola & Nuani tradition. In Juran ceremony, the groom's mother
visits the house of the bride. The bride's mother greets her and
gives her xhorai, brass plate with a stem. In Tel Diya custom, the
groom's mother puts a ring and betel on her daughter-in-law's hair
parting.
Over this she pours oil thrice. After this, she applies her sindoor
and gives the wedding trousseau. It includes mekhla chadar, the
traditional Assamese dress for women. In Pani Tola tradition, the
mothers of the bride and the groom gather holy water for the
ceremonial bath of the bride. According to Nuani tradition, the
bride is given a bath to prepare her for the wedding.
Wedding Rituals
The wedding rituals begin with the ceremonial bath of the bride and
the groom. For this their respective mothers visit the nearby river
and collect holy water. After this the wadding reception takes
place, wherein sumptuous food is served to the guests, with fish and
meat as the highlights. This is followed by the procession of the
groom. When he finally reaches the venue, the bride's family
indulges in fun activities.
The groom's procession is given entry into the bride's home only
after they pay a heavy price. Subsequently, the bride's mother
welcomes him while the bride's sister washes his feet. Next, the
brother of the bride lifts him to take him to the wedding hall. The
groom is usually dress in dhoti, kurta and silk shawl. The bride is
given panch - amrit, before going to the hall. It is a mixture of
ghee, curd, honey, sugar and raw milk.
This is followed by a remarkable entry of the bride on the shoulders
of her maternal uncle. Here, the wedding ceremony takes place in
front of the sacred fire. The couple exchange garlands and takes
vows amidst chanting mantras. After this, conch shells are blown and
the groom puts vermillion in bride's forehead. Friends and relatives
then step forward to bless the newly wed couple. After the wedding
ceremony is over the couple moves to groom's house where they are
welcomed by the bridegroom's mother with traditional aarti.
