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Satya Narayan Katha
Every Hindu wedding in Bihar and Jharkhand has traditional rituals and a series of age-old practices to follow, from announcing the marriage to the culmination of the marriage ceremony. The very first in the series of ceremonies is the Satyanarayan Katha. Previously, this ceremony used to take place a month before the marriage since the wedding festivities lasted an entire month. But nowadays, most families perform the Katha five to six days before the wedding. A Hindu wedding in Bihar and Jharkhand is divided into three main phases - pre-wedding, wedding, and post-wedding. The Satyanarayan Katha, being the first of the pre-wedding celebrations, is a prayer meeting held in the bride’s house. Only family members of the bride and groom and select friends are invited to this religious ceremony. In Bihar and Jharkhand, the Satyanarayan Katha or Narayan Katha is traditionally organised by the bride's parents. The prayer service or puja is elaborate and performed by a Hindu priest. The priest narrates the Katha, which takes between two to three hours. During this recital, a Havan Kund (sacred fire) is lit and kept burning for the whole duration of the marriage. Everyone sits through the entire ceremony with faith, sincerity, and devotion. Before holding the Satyanarayan Katha, the bride’s parents ensure the home is cleaned thoroughly. The house is decorated with Ashoka leaves, banana leaves, and fresh flowers. An area in the East-North direction is prepared for the puja with a photo frame or idol of Lord Satyanarayan placed on a betel leaf. There are fresh flowers and a beautiful lit diya (oil lamp) in front of the image or idol. Also, puja samagri or offerings like milk, yoghurt, pure ghee, honey, sugar, fruits, sweets, betel leaves, tulsi leaves, flower petals, coconut, and suji ka halwa, are put in front of the kalash, a pot filled with water, mango leaves, and a coconut placed atop. The priest begins the ceremony with a Sankalp, resolution or purpose, invoking blessings of Lord Satyanarayan for the to-be-wed couple. He then lights the havan and starts to read the katha or story of five chapters based on Lord Narayan and his devotees. During this recital, flowers, fruits, and sweets are offered to the deity. He then performs a Ganesh Puja to remove obstacles and ensure the smooth flow of the marriage festivities. Next, the priest initiates an Aarti where everyone present joins to sing praises for the Lord. Lastly, Prasad, made during the katha, is distributed among the participants. Once the puja is over, family, friends, and neighbours sit to enjoy a meal together. Sometimes, instead of a priest, the head of the family may do the Satyanarayan Katha puja.
Cultural Significance
In Bihar and Jharkhand weddings, the Satyanarayan Katha, a part of the pre-wedding ceremonies, has deep cultural significance. It is carried out to invoke the blessings of Lord Vishnu, bring prosperity, and remove obstacles for the soon-to-wed couple. Many believe performing this puja right at the start will ensure that all wedding events proceed smoothly. This ritual also purifies the environment for the big moment.
As the ritual is primarily a small family affair, few close family members may choose to fast on that day. It is also a time for both families to bond, preserve rituals, and pass their cultural and religious knowledge to the younger generations. The pre-wedding Satyanarayan Katha in Bihar and Jharkhand embodies cultural, spiritual, moral, and social values.
Fashioning Tradition
In the Satyanarayan Katha ceremony, the bride, the groom, and their families wear traditional outfits. The bride-to-be usually wears a silk or cotton saree in bright and beautiful colours like red, yellow, or green. These colours are considered auspicious as they are associated with marriage and fertility. Today, a modern-day bride may even wear a traditional salwar kameez or lightly embellished lehenga in an auspicious colour. As for footwear, brides prefer slip-on sandals, wedges, or stilettos, as it is easy to remove them when entering the puja area during the Katha.
Likewise, the groom's attire for a Satyanarayan Katha ceremony is traditional, simple, and understated. The groom-to-be usually dresses in a kurta-pajama or a dhoti-kurta in white or light pastel colours, symbolising purity.
Some of the more traditional grooms may even wear a dhoti kurta for the Katha. The groom completes the traditional look with slippers, sandals, mojaris, or loafers.
Finally, be it the bride or groom or other family members and close friends, everyone dresses in traditional wear. Tussar silk sarees are a big favourite at the Satyanarayan Katha puja. Women also wear colourful salwar kurtas and sometimes a lehenga to the puja. Accessories are simple and mostly include a dupatta or shawl with less embroidery and embellishments. Similarly, men too dress simply in Indian ethnic wear to reflect the solemnity of the occasion.
Jewellery & Accessories
Jewellery and accessories are essential when dressing for any wedding function. Whether pre-wedding, wedding, or post-wedding ceremonies, jewellery has to be suitable for the occasion. At the pre-wedding Satyanarayan Katha in Bihar and Jharkhand, the bride and groom typically opt for lighter jewellery designs.
The bride may either wear traditional gold jewellery belonging to her mother or purchase a light gold set to go with her outfit. It is typically simpler compared to what she will be wearing on her wedding day. The bride-to-be usually wears a gold necklace, bangles, and earrings. Modern brides may even opt for a delicate gold or platinum chain and Om diamond pendant for the Katha ceremony. Small to medium-sized gold, platinum, or diamond earrings can match the necklace or pendant.
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