Jau Kandhei Bahaghara in Odisha capital Bhubaneswar video

First time Odisha capital Bhubaneswar witnessed the traditional Jau Kandhei bahaghara (Lac dolls wedding) organized by Ekatra Balasore (newly formed social and cultural organisation) at Ekamra Haat on 7th June.

It was the most unique marriage procession which started from Sriya square in Bhubaneswar, accompanied by band, baaja , barati, fireworks and a lot of dancing. Parikshit – the handsome bridegroom was carried on a palanquin or sabari surrounded by friends and his father (bara karta) Raghunath Mohanty. The procession was taken out with much fanfare to Ekamra Haat where his beautiful bride Padmamali coyly waited with her father (kanya karta) Premanjan Parida and other family members to welcome the barati. The spectacular bagha nacha, sahinata, ghoda nacha, kandhei nacha, jodi mahuri delighted the watching crowd and was filled with rich colours and hues.

“The beautiful evening was studded with renowned guests, eminent singers, artists and intellectual people who enjoyed the event and the main reason was to revive the forgotten Lac craft,” said one of the organizers. This celebration also brought the Balasorians together to celebrate the traditional customs and to showcase a dying art to people.

Intellectuals discussed and enlightened the audience about the dying art form and enraptured the crowd with the interesting history of the Lac craft. Odia tradition is rich in its culture and nit is believed that newlyweds are always gifted with a pair of Lac dolls (Jau Kandhei) which is symbolic for leading a happy married life.

CHECK: Recruitment of 1300 Odisha youths in Indian Army this year