Goan Wedding Traditions
Goan Catholic wedding & its
Traditions!!
The Catholic wedding in Goa
involves many customs and traditions that captures the happiest times of the
Goan people.
Culture and tradition run deep in Goan blood. Goan weddings aren’t just a day’s celebration; but are spread over 4-5 days. We Goans definitely take every celebration especially weddings very seriously ! The Wedding Season’s have evolved with even Monsoon Weddings becoming Popular in Goa .Months of April, May and December witness a huge number of weddings with almost all elite wedding businesses booked a year in advance.
The first tradition that is a must for a Goan
wedding is ‘Chuddo’
In the Goan wedding
culture, bangles are an important bridal accessory. It is a custom where
the Goan bride has to wear the best bangles possible. These bangles of a
particular colour and design are called ‘chuddo’. They are usually purchased
from the regular/local bangle-seller.
This ceremony is usually performed at the house of the maternal
uncle of the bride. These bangles represent the married life and hence if her
husband passes away or dies then the woman is made to break her bangles over
the coffin and the pieces thrown in. The number and colour of the bangles
differ from village to village.For the ceremony, the bangles are fitted onto
the wrists of the bride-to-be by the volar. Relatives
take the opportunity and get some bangles for themselves as well.The family
offers money as a token of blessing and is kept in a tray placed near the
bangle-seller. The chuddo ceremony is common among the Hindus and
Christians of Goa.Also, the bride receives gifts from relatives and wears the
ceremonial bangles, eight to nine in number on her right wrist and seven to
eight on her left.
Doce ceremony
Doce has a special place at Goan weddings
too. There is a special day at the bride and groom's place a couple of days
prior to the wedding to make doce. Doce is a popular
sweet prepared for various ceremonies in Goa. It is a part of a line of
sweets which are made for Christmas, traditionally know as Kuswar.
The second traditional is a ritual called
‘Ros’
This is the anointing ceremony where both the bride and the
groom are anointed with coconut milk by their parents, relatives, neighbours
and friends in their respective houses. This is usually done 2 to 3 days prior
to the wedding. This ceremony symbolizes the beginning of new life. The coconut
milk is used and is said to cleanse or purify the couple before the
wedding, which also signifies the end of their single lives. The ones
anointing the couple have a lot of fun as they get to break eggs on the couple’s
heads and throw coins or cash into the bowls which are later given to the
maids that helped in the preparations.
This is a meal in honour of the family’s ancestors known
as ‘bikaraimche jevon’ or" family jevon". This meal is for the beggars and poor people in
and around the village. There are many such traditions like this which are
not carried out today.
Style & Attire
A lot of the contemporary brides in Goa
prefer to wear the traditional
white wedding gown that is made out of luxurious and rich fabrics like satin
and silk with delicate embellishments, along with the veil. The groom also
dresses in a suit that could also be a tuxedo to compliment the bride.
The overall look is very classic, with a touch of contemporary desi
Both
bride and groom take the seventh sacrament
Giving each other
vow in front of alter saying “I promise to be true to you in good times
and in bad, in sickness and in health. ... "I, ______, take you, ______,
for my lawful wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for
better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death
do us part."
And at last exchanging finger rings to each other and
becomes “husband and wife” .
Reception
The
wedding is then followed by the reception which is full of fun and frolic with
a live band, ball dance, food and drinks. Also the tradition of cutting the
wedding cake takes place and a toast is raised to the new couple.
After the wedding ceremony comes the ‘Appoune’ or ‘Porthopon’.
In this tradition, the bride’s family invites
the groom’s family over to their house usually the next day of the wedding. The
bride wears a bright red saree or dress called ‘Saddo’.
All these traditions are carried out with the whole family from
both the bride’s side as well as the groom’s side. Making it a family affair
and strengthening the familial ties. Enjoying every bit of the wedding from
beginning to end. That is how amazing our big fat Goan weddings are!
source: Wikipedia (09th march 2019)
