Lifelong Journey

Marriage is a divine institution and a sacred union of 2 people. It binds them into a strong bond of trust, loyalty, compatibility, respect, love and togetherness. This bond is lifelong and exclusive. 

Like in all other states in India, in Assam also the people follow certain rules and rituals while conducting marriage. These are unique and different and is the torchbearer of the rich cultural heritage of the Assamese( the people of Assam) community. In Assam, the marriage is known as 'biya'. Though the basic rituals remains the same, some rituals may vary depending on different areas, ethnicities and people.The bride is known as ' koina' and the bridegroom as 'dora'. The traditional wedding song is known as ' biya naam'. Here the ladies sing different songs during different times of the wedding ceremony. There is also the chanting of ' uruli' a distinct sound which the ladies make using their tongue. Some of the important rituals of an Assamese wedding are-

Juroon - This ritual is held before the wedding ceremony takes place. This ritual is performed by the beautiful Assamese ladies of the 2 families- the bride's and the groom's. The groom's family visits the bride's home with gifts. However the groom does not participate in this ritual. The bride's mother welcomes the groom's family at the gate with a ' horai' ( a brass plate) in which betel nuts and betel leaves are covered by a 'gamusha'( a traditional hand woven cloth). The groom's mother applies 'tel' and ' sindoor ' in the bride's forehead.

Pani tula - on the morning of the wedding ceremony, the bride and the groom's mother respectively go to collect sacred water from a river, a pond or any other water body. After this both of them in their respective homes are bathed in the ceremonial bath ceremony by the sacred water collected. ' Ma halodhi' is applied and is considered to be very pure. they are thus being made ready for the wedding.

Wedding reception - in an Assamese wedding, the reception is held before the wedding takes place in the respective homes of the bride and the groom. Family, relatives, friends, well wishers all come to bless and wish them on the auspicious occasion. The bride and the groom are dressed in their best traditional outfits. Their homes are beautifully decorated. Traditional Assamese cuisine along with other dishes are also being served to the guests. All in all it's a beautiful and grand affair.

Arrival of the groom - After the reception, both the families excitedly get ready for the main and important wedding ritual. The groom along with his family, relatives and friends come to the bride's home. He is dressed in traditional dhoti, kurta, and a silk shawl over his shoulder. One of his friend carries an umbrella over the groom's head and is dressed similarly. The arrival of the groom calls for a lot of merriment and fun activities in the bride's home. The groom is reprimanded at the gate and asked questions, only than he is allowed to go inside after paying a price. This are all done in fun and humour.

The wedding ceremony - the groom is welcomed by the bride's family. The bride's younger sister washes his feet and for that she is rewarded by the groom himself. The groom is than lifted by a male member of the bride's family and taken to the wedding hall. The bride who is by the time ready in her room, is dressed in traditional 'mekhela sador'. She is also lifted and carried in the wedding hall. Both of them now sit facing the sacred fire in the Mandap. There the priest chant mantras and vows are taken. There is a ritual known as 'akhoi tula' where the bride's brother hands her akhoi and she emerges it into the sacred fire. The bride's father performs the kanyadaan. After this rituals are over, the bride touches her husband's feet and they enter into holy matrimony.

Post marriage activities - after the wedding ceremony is over, it is time for some fun activities. There are certain games being played like a ring would be immersed in a bowl of rice and whoever between the bride and groom is able to find it will have a greater say in the marriage!! Such other games are played.

After all this it is time for the bride to leave her parents home. Meanwhile the groom's mother eagerly waits to welcome her daughter-in-law.

6 Things You Need To Keep In Mind While Arranging For Wedding Decoration

Weddings are grand affairs with many rituals to follow before, during, and after the actual ceremony. To make your wedding grand and memorable for you and the guests, you must carefully plan and execute it. Wedding Decoration plays a major role on making this ceremony a grand. Gone are the days, when you had to make calls and ask people about the wedding decorations and decorators. If you are getting married soon or planning your near and dear ones wedding, then let Hitchu.com take care of your decoration woes. From flowers to curtains, check out Hitchu.com for best of decorators and services. In wedding decoration, here are the six things you must carefully consider. 1) What You Want and in How Much?

Your wedding is the most important day of your life. So, you must be having your own desires and ideas about the decoration, like what colors background you want, or how you want the entry gate to look like. So, prepare your checklist of decoration for your big day first. Then, there should be an estimated cost also which should be assigned against each item, which you think appropriate for that item at that time. Then one by one keep completing each task keeping track of the budget against each of the items. This way you can supervise your expenditure as well as make adjustments. 2) Decide Your Primary Color scheme:

Decide the primary color or set of colors for the wedding decoration. All the decoration are centered against that color or set of colors. Different colors can be matched with the primary colors to create a vibrant look and feel. Or, even contrasting colors create a lively atmosphere as wedding decoration. Red and gold by far remains the most favored color pairing when it comes to Hindu Indian wedding. This represent a rare mixture of tradition and opulence. Other popular colors are pink, Lavender, Royal blue and green. People are also opting for different color combination to match the season. Like, green if its monsoon, orange if its summer and pink if its spring. 3) Flowers to Add Aroma and Colors

Flowers are one of the most important aspect of any decoration, including wedding. Think about a wedding and we instantly picture flowers radiating their charm from every corner of the venue. Flowers never fail to lift up the spirit on the special day. As an old favorite the strings of marigold of orange and yellow color are used everywhere to decorate the wedding venue. Roses and white flowers like jasmine or tuberose are used to decorate the central stage. You may have also seen entrance gate at wedding venues made of flowers holding a sign mentioning names of the bride and bridegroom. Flowers are essential part while doing any decoration on that day. From the central stage to groom’s car, all are decorated with different designs and with flowers. Wedding in Assam has evolved over the years and so is the wedding decoration. For finding the latest trends, websites like Hitchu.com (hitchu) can be very useful. 4) Lights and Drapes:

Proper lighting is the one aspect of decoration that can change everything. Good lighting can improve the decoration immensely. You can create your favorite ambience on your big day with the help of good lighting. In lights, chandeliers always add a touch of grandeur to the venue. Also, rows and rows of light strings may be hung along the entrance to form a twinkling backdrop of the entrance. Traditional Diyas and scented candles on the dining tables can give a more romantic touch to the whole event. Drapes and canopies give the wedding venues the special spruced up, ready for a wedding look. If there is a specific color scheme then match the drapes’ color with that to complete the ambience. Drapes can turn the mood of guests instantly. Red and yellow are always a good choice of color for drapes and coverings. 5) The Stage:

The stage is the centerpiece of the entire venue. This is the space where bride and groom will be seeking blessings from the guests and pose for photos. Usually, the stage is decorated with flowers and drapes. While decorating this space, the color scheme should be kept in mind since this will be the photographer’s favorite frame. The color of the background drapes and coverings should also be complement the attires of the bride and the bridegroom. The couch on which the bride and bridegroom are seated is often reminiscent of the throne, with lush velvet fabric and gilded trims. 6) Bridegroom’s Car

The car in which the bridegroom arrives at the bride’s place on the wedding night is also decorated with flowers and ribbons. The decoration can be kept minimal or over the top depending on the overall theme of the wedding. Minimal decoration often includes ribbons and red roses fetched to the whole car. The over the top decoration can be with flowers, garlands and even large boutiques put on the car’s front, back and even the doors. To find more about the decoration essentials of a wedding, click here.