1. Our celebration
This project is based on ISA. The students working under this project are hoped to perform actively. This project encourages the students to find out the rituals practiced in different religions. It helps the students to work out with their own ideas and effort. It helps them in shaping their minds and learn in a joyful way.

2. Here, I am representing the rituals practiced in my religion i. e
Here, I am representing the rituals practiced in my religion i.e. Gurungs. Let’s learn the rituals of marriage ceremony in Gurungs. Gurungs of Nepal celebrate marriage ceremony with their own culture and tradition. Firstly, the groom and his family and relatives go to Gumba to ask Guru a suitable day for marriage. From ancient time to present day, most of the marriages in Gurung community are done arranged. But, it can be found that some are involved in love marriages too.

3. In a suitable day, groom and his family come to the bride’s house with dishes like selroti, wine, etc. and take bride to the groom’s house. There, gurus read the holy book and guide groom to put holy tika (sindur) on the head of the bride. It is put through a white shawl 3 times. Soon after putting sindur, gurus guide the groom to put mangalsutra(a holy mala) to the bride. They also give blessings to them.
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4. By putting sindur and mangalsutra, the marriage is almost done
By putting sindur and mangalsutra, the marriage is almost done. Engagement is mostly done during the same day. If bride is taken by groom before marriage, engagement is held only during the time of calling all the relatives and putting tika. Before putting tika, all the relatives are invited through the invitation card with the picture of Lord Buddha on the card. On the other hand, bride put mehendi with her family and relatives just before the day the bride and groom will be together forever.
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5. On the day of marriage, bride wears red sari, red shawl, bangles and other ornaments whereas the groom wears a coat, a pant, a pair of shoes, a dhakatopi and other ornaments too. Most of their relatives wear Gurung dress on this occasion.
Bride and groom

6. On the fixed day and time, groom and his relatives (janti) come to the bride’s house. When all the jantis arrive, the bride’s father put all of them the khadas (a type of mala) and welcome them to his house. They also bring curd and wine mostly in a pot and hand over to the bride’s family. In the past, Gurungs in hilly region of Nepal used to play various musical instruments.
Groom’s relatives

7. After all the relatives have arrived, the bride and groom put ring on the ring finger to each other. Later they put mala of dubo (a type of grass) to each other. This ritual is called Swayambar in Nepali language. Now, the bride and groom are husband and wife. They often don’t make any promises. As sindur and mangalsutra has been already put, it is not done in this occasion. But, in some case, they also put sindur and mangalsutra at the time of engagement.
Engagement

8. After engagement
For tika, the bride’s mother mixes up the curd with the rice and esp. yellow colour. After a while , the bride’s father puts tika to the groom’s father and vice-versa. They give new dhakatopi to each other and touch each other’s chin. It is said that they are exchanging their beards. After a while, all the relatives put tika to bride and groom and bless them.

9. After bride and groom have got blessings from their relatives, they are taken inside the bride’s house and put tika by bride’s family to bride and groom. It is done before the bride is sent with her husband. Everyone bless the bride and groom. They wish them for their happy life.

10. After all the relatives have put tika, they march towards the meal
After all the relatives have put tika, they march towards the meal. Gurungs esp. sacrifice goats and hens and serve to guests, jantis, neighbors, etc. Gurungs respect their guests as gods. So, they try to make them satisfy by serving. During marriage ceremony, the guests are served with delicious items such as meat, pickle, rice, curry, fresh salad, soft drinks and sometimes wine and rum too.
Meal time

11. For bidai, the brothers of bride carry bride and groom from bride’s house to the van or car where bride and groom will be going from. They make 3 rounds by carrying bride and groom on their backs. Then, they send bride and groom to groom’s house through the vehicle.
Bidai

12. After bride and groom as well as groom’s family have reached the groom’s house, the sisters of groom get ready with required materials outside the house. The sisters feed them curd and welcome them esp. to the bride.

13. Soon after the bride and groom are fed, they march towards groom’s house. First, the bride enters the main door of the house where pots are put with flowers. The bride bows her head while entering whereas the groom follows her. Then, they get blessings from groom’s parents and stay there together.

14. Thanks a lot for watching.
That’s all about marriage rituals in Gurungs. I hope you all liked it.
-Ritika Gurung.
Thanks a lot for watching.