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Sisters-in-law exchanged wedding vows at a village in Chhota Udepur on Tuesday as tribals kept date with an unusual and strange custom. At Surkheda, the tribal village, a baraat which came from the adjoining village, Ghelwat, was led by the groom’s sister.
According to the custom, the bridegroom must stay at home on his wedding day while his unmarried sister stands-in to perform the wedding rituals conducted at the home of the bride. At the Surkheda wedding on Tuesday, as Bharat, the groom, stayed home, his sister, Vechali Rathwa, played groom to the bride, Rajni Rathwa. The sisters-in-law-to-be exchanged coconuts and garlands, took the wedding vows and seven rounds around the fire.
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Folklore has it that the male deities of the three villages – Surkheda, Sanada and Ambal which follow the custom – were bachelors and the villagers believe that keeping the groom home will protect him from harm.
The groom’s brother-in-law, Naresh Rathwa, a primary school teacher, said, “The custom has been going on since ages as our local gods were bachelors and it is believed that men should not perform wedding rituals. So, the unmarried sisters – even cousins – lead the procession and marry the bride to bring her home.” The three villages have never seen a wedding procession, led by a groom.
Naresh added, “The custom forbids the groom from even stepping into the village of the bride on the wedding day. He can only meet his bride after the sister escorts her home.”
The sister’s role concludes as soon as she reaches her home and hands over the bride to her brother. According to relatives, the unmarried sister acts as a shield for the brother who would be cursed by the evil spirits. “The sister is like a protector of the brother, who is helping him step into the new phase of his life. She carries a pot on her head filled with rice to ward off the evil eyes that could be cast on her brother during his wedding,” Naresh said.
As per custom, Rajni’s mother carried her on her shoulders till the wedding venue. Then, Rajni and Vechali exchanged the auspicious coconut, garlanded each other and performed the saat pheras. Vechali also accepted Rajni’s hand in the kanyadaan ceremony performed by the elders of the family.
Sunita Rathwa, a relative of the bride, said that although Rajni had never stood-in at a wedding since her brother is younger, the custom is to ensure the good health of her husband. “For generations, we have been told that anyone who breaks the custom is cursed with ill health or cannot beget children. The sisters-in-law marry to ensure that the blessing of the sacred fire is upon both families.” Interestingly, the groom also pays the dowry to bring the wife home. Bharat’s family paid an undisclosed amount to Rajni.
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