Marriage Custom in Nepal-WPS Office

Marriage custom in Nepal
Wedding customs in Nepal vary

according to ethnic groups and
castes. Traditionally Nepalese
marriages are arranged, a deal
between two sets of parent. In some
cases the boy and his family will
come to visit the girl and her family
where they strike a deal. If they
cannot agree then the boy's family
will seek another girl for him to marry.
However, in the modern age, this
particular custom seems to be
practiced less often. Wedding
celebrations in Nepal mean great
festivity with feasting and music.
Nepalese wedding customs are very
elaborate and the wedding may take
up to 3 days.
Many marriage customs in Nepal are
strongly based upon Buddhist and
Hindu traditions. In the past child
marriage along with polygamy was
widely accepted and preferred. This
attitude has changed especially with
the instituting of governmental laws
which state that girls have to be 18
before marriage is permissible.
Divorce rates are low in Nepal as
marriage is considered as a sacred
and divine institution.
Marriage is the social, spiritual,
cultural and legal union between a
man and a woman as husband and
wife. In Nepal, marriage is not just the
union of bride and groom but
establishment of relationship
between the families. The marriage
rituals differ among different ethnic
groups in Nepal. In this package we
perform the wedding ritual of the
couple by traditional Nepali culture.
There is equal involvement of the
parents of the couple for the
marriage ritual in Nepal. There is
involvement of many people other
than the family members like music
band, Pundit (priest) and relatives.
The traditional wedding ritual in
Nepal is explained below.
On the wedding day, the groom and

his family along with neighbors,
relatives and music band leave for
bride’s house. The group of people
along with the groom and music
band is called ‘Janti’. The janti is
leaded by the group of women
carrying trays with foods and gift
(called ‘Saipata’) for the bride’s family.
There is traditional music band that
play traditional musical instruments
called ‘Panche Baja’. Behind them are
groom and the group of people
performing dance. The wedding
ceremony is performed at bride’s
house. On the arrival of janti at
bride’s house they are welcomed by
the parents and relatives of Bride.
The saipata is handed to the bride’s
family and Janti is welcomed with the
feast called ‘Janti Bhoj’ (marriage
party). Groom is taken to ‘Jaggey’ or
‘Mandap’ (the place to perform the
wedding ritual).
The most important person of the

wedding ceremony is ‘Pundit’ (priest).
The Pundit performs the marriage
ceremony by chanting the ‘mantras’
through the holy book. The marriage
ceremony is interesting due to
different rituals performed in front of
the sacred fire. There are numerous
instructions for the couples while
performing the ceremony guided by
the Pundit. The ritual is performed by
revolving around the sacred fire for
seven time with the knot tied
between the couples indicating the
seven lives of togetherness. The
marriage ritual is completed when
the groom puts ‘Sindur’ (red
vermillion powder) on bride’s head
and ‘Potey’ or ‘Tilari’ (a holy Necklace)
around the neck. Sindur and Potey
have great significance for married
women in Nepal. After this the bride’s
father washes the feet of the wedded
couple and all the relatives and family
members will bless them with ‘Tika’
(on forehead) and gifts. Finally the
married couple along with the janti
departs from the bride’s house
dancing and celebrating with Panche
baja.
The wedded couples are welcomed in

the groom’s house by groom’s family.
Lot of entertainment activities and
celebration is carried out at Groom’s
house called “Ratyauli”. Ratyauli is
celebration at groom’s house which
includes singing, dancing and starts a
day before the wedding. The
marriage ritual is thus the most
important as well as entertaining
ritual since whole family members
and relatives are involved. The
wedded couple starts their new life
by sharing their feeling, body, culture,
and love for eternity.
Kinds of Marriages ( under vedic

tradition)
Brahma Marriage:
The bride is given as a gift to the
groom by the father generally known
as the arranged marriage that is
mostly followed in India. The act
called marriage which is performed
according to the Shastric rites and
ceremony or customary ceremonies
prevalent in the community.
Gandharva marriage:
There is the mutual consent of the
bride and groom and is generally
known as love marriage. These
marriages are prevalent in the
present modern world. where the
bride and groom select each other
and perform marriage . There is no
consent of the family in this marriage.
No rituals are followed.
Asura marriage: Asura marriage is
aggressive and forced marriage
where the bride is sold by the father,
it is still prevalent and performed very
commonly even by high-class Hindu.
Prajapatya marriage:
In such a marriage, permission is not
taken from the bride. The parents
marry the bride after seeing the
worthy groom. Especially in such a
marriage, the parents marry a rich
and distinguished person without the
consent of the bride.
Arsh Marriage:
In this marriage, it is customary for
the bridegroom to give a cow or a
pair of oxen as a price to the bride,
especially to the bride’s parents.
Rakshasa Marriage:
In such a marriage, the bride is
accepted by the groom for a fee.
Virgo is obtained voluntarily by
showing wealth or temptation to the
girl’s relatives. In such a marriage, the
bride does not consent. She is
abducted and forced into marriage.
Paisacha Marriage:
The abduction of a bride while she is
asleep and in intoxication.
Daiva Marriage:
The giving in marriage of a maiden to
an officiating priest in a sacrifice is
called Daiva marriage.
Marriage Custom in Nepal
In Kirat caste: marriage between

brother in-law and sister in-law ( वधवा
भाउजु +दे वर)
In Tamang and Gurung community:
(मामा, फु पुको छोराछो र) marriage
between daughter and son of
maternal uncle and aunt
Newar Community: belbibaha, ihee
In Himalayan Region= polyandry
(ब प त)

Marriage Custom in Nepal-WPS Office

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Marriage Custom in Nepal-WPS Office

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Marriage custom in Nepal

Wedding customs in Nepal vary

On the wedding day, the groom and

The most important person of the

The wedded couples are welcomed in

Kinds of Marriages ( under vedic

Marriage Custom in Nepal

In Kirat caste: marriage between

You might also like