Weird Traditions: How dead people get married in Karnataka, India (Videos)
Post-death wedding is a thriving tradition in Dakshina Kannada, a district of Karnataka state, India, a viral Twitter thread has revealed.
‘Pretha Kalyanam’, or marriage of the dead, is a peculiar tradition still kept very much alive in parts of the communities hoping for a happily ever after for their deceased loved ones.
The tradition was born from the belief that a person’s “life is incomplete without marriage” and the soul of an unmarried departed family member may wander on forever without ‘Moksha’. And in some cases, the family might reject the bride if it doesn’t match their criteria.
Two infants were posthumously united in marriage on Thursday as their parents hoped for a happily ever after for their spirits.
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A Twitter user AnnyArun @anny_arun shared the union between the infants, Chandappa and Shobha, 30 years after their deaths.
He wrote: “I’m attending a marriage today. You might ask why it deserves a tweet. Well, the groom is dead actually. And the bride is dead too. Like about 30 years ago. And their marriage is today. For those who are not accustomed to the traditions of Dakshina Kannada, this might sound funny. But it’s a serious tradition here.
“For those who died in childbirth, they are usually married off to another child who is deceased during the childbirth. All the customs happen just like any marriage. Two families will go to each other’s house for the engagement.
“There will be marriage procession and finally tying of the knots. If you are wondering if it’s easy to fix this marriage, hear me out. Recently the groom’s family rejected a bride because the bride was a few years older than the groom! (Sinc).
“Anyway, I find these customs beautiful.
“I reached a bit late and missed the procession. The marriage function already started. First groom brings the ‘Dhare Saree‘ which should be worn by the bride. They also give enough time for the bride to get dressed!
I reached a bit late and missed the procession. Marriage function already started. First groom brings the 'Dhare Saree' which should be worn by the bride. They also give enough time for the bride to get dressed! pic.twitter.com/KqHuKhmqnj
— AnnyArun (@anny_arun) July 28, 2022
“While the bride is getting ready, the groom is already waiting. Isn’t that always a thing?
“Bride and groom do the ‘Saptapadhi’ 7 rounds before sitting for the marriage. And finally, bride and groom take their place.
AnnyArun revealed that the ceremony is usually lively, like every other marriage ceremony and not even like a funeral but children and unmarried people are usually not allowed to witness it.
He wrote, “Though they are dead, don’t think that the atmosphere will be like the funeral!! It’s not. It’s as jovial as any other marriage. Everyone cracks jokes and keeps the mood high. It’s a celebration of marriage.
And finally bride and groom take their place. Though they are dead, dont think that atmosphere will be like the funeral!! Its not. Its as jovial as any other marriage. Everyone cracking jokes and keep the mood high. Its a celebration of marriage. pic.twitter.com/MoUYIv2gnl
— AnnyArun (@anny_arun) July 28, 2022
“Kids and unmarried people are not allowed to witness the marriage. The funny thing is after all the engagement nobody thought they should ask the name of the bride and groom. They were just asking now. 5 minutes before the muhurtam (guess still better than asking the name after one night stand eh). Btw its Chandappa weds Shobha!
“Time to muhurtam. Grooms shirt hand holding the bride’s pallu. They were lifted by their relatives. Do notice these are the way marriages were done back in the day and even now. You probably won’t notice the customs when it happens in big halls.
AnnyArun went further to say that before the marriage ceremony, the bride sits on the right-hand side of the groom but after the marriage, she switches to the left side permanently for the rest of their marriage wherever they go.
ಮಾಲಾಧಾರಣೆ pic.twitter.com/bdK6FU9ajb
— AnnyArun (@anny_arun) July 28, 2022
He continued saying “This is how they used to do back in the days. After the marriage, one guy would be shouting how much money you put in front of the couple while wishing them. It might be a bit awkward back in the days I guess. Now it’s usually ‘gift in blessings only’.
“Everyone in the family comes and blesses the newlyweds. The newlyweds go outside and seek blessings from the gods from all directions.
Everyone in the family come and bless the newlyweds. pic.twitter.com/ZoIYe2DAHI
— AnnyArun (@anny_arun) July 28, 2022
Newlyweds entering the grooms house as couple for the first time. pic.twitter.com/23lnj4cpfh
— AnnyArun (@anny_arun) July 28, 2022
AnnyArun said that the most emotional part of the marriage ceremony is usually when the bride’s family passes the responsibility of their daughter to the groom’s family before they finally eat yummy foods like fish fry, chicken sukka, kadle balyar, mutton gravy with idly and the couple ‘lives happily ever after! Probably in the afterlife!’
Finally yummy food. Fish fry, Chicken Sukka, Kadle Balyar, Mutton gravy with idly ?
And the couple 'lives' happily ever after! Probably in the afterlife! pic.twitter.com/rDUfW8foer
— AnnyArun (@anny_arun) July 28, 2022
Time to muhurtam. Grooms shirt hand holding the bride's pallu. They were lifted by the relatives. Time for the wedding. pic.twitter.com/qXoPdq9zwf
— AnnyArun (@anny_arun) July 28, 2022
Kanyadana – Do notice these are the way marriages were done back in the day and even now. You probably wont notice the customs when it happens in big halls. pic.twitter.com/LPWSLLG0Zl
— AnnyArun (@anny_arun) July 28, 2022
“We believe here that even the dead walk among us in spirits. The way parents take care of their living children, they do the same for the dead ones. So that they will have a great life in the spirit world. Personally, I feel it also gives some kind of comfort for the parents,” he wrote.
