Dowry, a mark of honour in the divine wedding

barat 

The practice of giving gifts and presentations to their daughter by the parents during marriage has earned a bad name of ‘dowry’ down the ages. But the divine wedding of god Shiva with Parvati brings back the affection gesture to the fore front which becomes a tradition in the sital Sasthi festival that concluded on Wednesday in Sambalpur district town of Orissa. Though giving or taking dowry during the time of marriage has become a criminal offence under dowry prohibition act, the couple  posing the parent of Maa Parvati do not hesitate to display the  range of household items and jewelry that they bestow as ‘divine dowry’ at the time of  kanya Bidayi soon after the wedding is over.  They think it’s an honour to the divine spirits.  

balibanda

“We do not consider it as dowry. This is love and affection of the parents who hold the divine marriage. They provide as per their ability and capacity. No one forces them for any special items”, senior member of Nandapara Yatra committee Prafulla kumar Hota said.

 Sources said, the 300-year old ‘Sital Sasthi festival’ is being organized in Sambalpur by the various Yatra committees. While Jharuapara, Nandapara, Balibandha are considered oldest, Modipara, Badbazar, Thakurpara and few others Yatra committees have also made their presence in the festival. A couple has been selected by each committee to hold the marriage posing the parent of Maa Parvati.

modipara

As per the prevailing tradition, lord Shiva is being taken to the bride’s house where the selected kanyapita makes all arrangement to welcome the Barat and treats them with nuptial feast. People consider it pious opportunity to host the marriage and there are people who wait for years to get this opportunity. “Though I spent a huge amount for the divine marriage, I feel honour for getting this opportunity as I was trying it over the past few years”, Byamokesh Panda, the kanyapita of Balibandha Yatra committee said.  

 Every one, on the other hand, believes that unless the wishes of god one can not become a divine’ parents.  “I am trying to get this over the past 8 years. It was my mother who wanted me to do it, but this time god gives me this opportunity”, the bride’s father of Jharuapara Yatra committee Motilal Dash said.