A Manipuri wedding is characterized by colors and grandeur. The people in the north eastern part of the country indeed are very pleasant and cheerful people. They believe in making every occasion a grand ceremony in life. This is reflected in their weddings. The wedding comprises of huge celebrations, based in a colorful ambiance. The Manipuri wedding paints a beautiful picture of their culture and represents the light-hearted nature of the people in the east. A Manipuri marriage consists of a number of rituals and ceremonies.

Costumes in a Manipuri wedding

Manipuri marriages have a lot of customs and rituals. Like every other Indian wedding, these must be followed for successful completion of the wedding processes. The costumes form a very important part of the wedding rituals. These are specific to Manipuri weddings. The bride wears a traditional skirt, typical of a Manipuri celebration, known as the poloi. This is a blend of various colors together. The groom, on the other hand, wears a dhoti, a kurta and a turban on his head.

Attire for a Manipuri bride

The costume for a Manipuri bride is typical of a Manipuri wedding. It is a splash of colors. It is said that the raslila skirt, or the poloi skirt, is sewn on the body. The dress is made from a heavy fabric. It has beautiful intricate designs on it. The bride is expected to wear the blouse which if available in different colors. The blouse reaches her waist with longish sleeves.

It is the lower half of the wedding attire that is most fascinating. The poloi skirt forms a hard circular border around the lower half of the bride. It is shaped in the form of a basket around her. This is made from traditional heavy fabric that keeps it hard and tight. The skirt from the waist smoothly joins the basket like structure and gives it a different outlook.

This raslila skirt is composed by intricate designs, beautiful stones, and typical Manipuri designs. Besides, the bride wears a dupatta or a long piece of cloth, usually made from a material of net. This covers her blouse and reaches up to the poloi skirt. The bride moves around in her skirt during the wedding ceremonies. The bride and the groom complete seven rounds and the bride moves according to the rhythm of the shahnai, which is a musical instrument popular in India, especially during weddings. Manipuri celebrations, along with the unique attire of the bride are a treat to the eye. The raslila skirt is a platter of different colors mixed together.

What adds to this color and grandeur is the ornaments that the bride wears. Long necklaces are a characteristic of Manipuri weddings. Gold ornaments highlight the unique wedding attire of the Manipuri bride. There are bangles and long earrings that are worn along with the others. The best accessory for the bride is her bridal makeup. This makes her look beautiful and truly defines the beauty and charm of the occasion.

Attire for the Manipuri groom

The costumes of the Manipuri groom are relatively simple. He is expected to wear a dhoti and a kurta. A dhoti is one of the traditional attires for men in India. Most Indian weddings have the groom wearing a dhoti. It is nothing but a piece of unstitched cloth. It is about 4-5 meters long and is rectangular in shape. There is also a strange way of wrapping the dhoti around the waist of the groom. There are different ways of doing so. However, the one most popular in India, consists of folding the cloth into half. Thereafter the left side of the dhoti is taken, pleated vertically, and it is passed through the legs and tucked in at the waist at the back. The right side, on the other hand, is tucked in front at the waist after it is pleated in the same manner. This is one of the oldest customs in India and is still prevalent in the country.

The Manipuri groom wears a kurta over the dhoti. It is in the form of a long coat that reaches up to the knee. It is usually made from a light fabric that is suited to South Asian climate and it has long sleeves. The cut is simple and it fits loosely on the groom’s body. In modern times, there are a lot of designs and decorations seen on the kurta.

Along with the dhoti and the kurta, the groom adorns a turban on his head. This is a typical Indian customs. It is also common in many Indian weddings. It is nothing but a kind of headwear based on winding cloth.  Wearing a headgear during wedding ceremonies is often considered sacred. This is worn in various parts of India now.

The groom accessorizes with a wrist watch, and footwear. Manipuri grooms usually prefer the Kolhapuri or Jodhpuri footwear that gives him a traditional look. Sometimes, the groom has a shawl draped around his body, according to Manipuri customs. This is also made from very light fabric.

Manipuri weddings have a lot of unusual customs. Like every other Indian wedding, there are huge feasts organized that reflect the culture of the Manipuri people. Colors define the wedding celebrations. Starting from the costumes to the rituals and the decorations, everything is colorful and vibrant. The wedding arrangements are made around a tulsi plant, which is considered to be holy according to Indian traditions. The bride also makes a garland of flowers before the wedding which she carries to the wedding alter in her rasleela dress. She enacts the role of Gopi, Krishna’s beloved. The bride moves in rhythmic tunes to the sound of the different musical instruments at the wedding.

The bride and the groom’s clothing brighten up the wedding. Amidst colorful celebrations, they take their vows to be with each other forever. Based upon traditional customs, and attires, the Manipuri wedding is a treat to the eye!

Raja Kumar