Bride Goes To In-Law’s House In Bullock-Cart To Revive Dying Traditions In Odisha’s Ganjam

Berhampur: In an attempt to infuse life into dying customs and traditions, a young couple practically took the help of bullock-cart during their marriage.

The incident took place during the marriage of Sarita Behera and Mahendra Nayak in Odisha’s Ganjam district. Both Sarita and Mahendra are well educated and work in a private company in Bhubaneswar. After taking the decision to get married, they wanted to follow the old traditions that are rarely followed in present day.

They told their families that no vehicles would be used during their marriage. Mahendra would come riding a horse in a procession to the bride’s place, while Sarita would go in a decorated bullock-cart to her in-law’s place after the marriage.

Honouring their wishes, their family members and friends started working on it. While the horse was arranged easily, getting a bullock-cart, which has become a rare thing now, was a tough task. However, Prasant Nayak, the son-in-law of the family, managed to get a bullock cart after a tedious search. He also took the responsibility of decorating the cart with colourful clothes, roses and marigold. It was also printed with traditional drawings.

As planned, Mahendra came riding the horse from Bankatara village under Jagannathprasad block in the district to Sarita’s place at Patrapalli on marriage day. After the marriage was solemnised as per the traditional practices, Sarita went in the bullock cart to Bankatara.

Sarita said she had heard her grandmother telling a story on how a prince comes riding a horse and takes the bride home after marrying her. “When Mahendra came riding a horse as groom and went through the thoroughfares of the village and I sat inside the bullock-cart to go to my in-law’s house, it was a dream come true,” Sarita added.