Inter Caste Wedding in India

The Hindu religion in India has various castes and sub-castes. There is social stratification and the communities are divided into higher castes and lower castes. To a person from another country, especially from the Europe or American continent, this demarcation will be a very strange one. The entire concept of high and low creates a superiority complex in certain communities. The Brahmin matrimony occupies the highest position in the social ladder. This is what I learnt being a non-Indian.

There are also low castes communities in India belonging to the Shudras. This community is further divided in various sub-groups and one such group commonly found in India is the Chamar caste. The Chamar caste is engaged in the profession of leather manufacturing and exports. When I attended the Jatav Matrimonial function to document the different forms of marriage taking place in India, I came to know some more of the Chamar community and the Jatav population in particular.

The Jatav people are one of the largest tribal populations in India. They are known by various names like Jatia or Jatba in the state of Jammu. The community members are settled in various parts of India, and have large concentration of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, Eastern Rajasthan and North-West Madhya Pradesh. The community members also reside in the neighboring country of Nepal. Since they belong to the lowest strata in the Hindu social order, they are part of the Scheduled Castes in India. They are also known as Dalits.

Jatav Matrimonial functions and rituals vary from state to state. They mostly follow the Hindu matrimonial customs. The members of this community speak mostly Hindi and the dialect of the place. The wedding alliances earlier were within the community as there was social stigmatization and restriction. This trend is slowly changing as I found after attending this wedding. The groom is from the Jatav community whereas the bride belongs to higher caste Hindu. This is a heartening trend, which I hope catches with other Indians as well

Author: Shipra Sinha

Gaye Holud and Its Importance in the Bengali Matrimony

In traditional Bangla, holud stands for turmeric. The turmeric paste is applied on the body of the bride-to-be before their wedding day. As per the general belief, turmeric has medicinal qualities, which purifies the skin and adds a glow to it. Turmeric also helps in reducing the dark spots and pigmentation, and also reduces body hair growth. The turmeric also leaves the skin soft and supple, giving it a fairer appearance. All these benefits are combined with the essential oils to make it more effective for the skin.

In the Bengali matrimony, there is a ritual named as Gaye Holud, in which the bride and groom are applied with the turmeric paste. The turmeric used during Gaye Holud is not the turmeric which is used in the cooking, but the fresh ones. The bride wears a yellow saree during the ritual, and the exposed arms, legs and face are massaged with turmeric paste, which is believed to enhance the beauty of the bride. The term 'Gaye Holud' literally means 'Body Turmeric', referring to application of turmeric on the body before the wedding.

The tradition of Gaye Holud is generally performed by the ladies of the family, who massage the turmeric paste over the bride’s body, tease her and crack jokes to create a light and fun-filled atmosphere. The bride is also offered traditional sweets to make her new life full of sweet taste. With time, the custom of Gaye Holud has changed, and the groom’s family is also invited to the function. However, as per the customs of Bengali matrimonial, the groom is not allowed to join the function and see the bride, unless they are married. Similarly, the groom is also applied with the paste of turmeric, and the bride is not allowed to see him.

Author: Rashmi Karan