Saturday, March 29, 2025
Bride Leads Wedding Procession to Groom’s Home — Uttarakhand Revives Lost ‘Jojoda’ Tradition
In a refreshing break from conventional wedding norms, a bride in Uttarkashi’s remote Kalich village arrived at her groom’s home leading her own wedding procession — reviving a nearly 50-year-old tradition known as “Jojoda.”
On Sunday night, the wedding of Manoj Singh, son of former village head Kalyan Singh Chauhan, took place in Kalich village of Mori tehsil, Uttarkashi district. The unique twist: the bride, Kavita from Jakta village, came riding in a decorated procession with traditional drums (dhols) and music, instead of the groom doing so.
Locals and visitors from nearby regions gathered to witness the revival of this rare practice. The groom’s family warmly welcomed the bride’s baraat (wedding parade) with full cultural rituals. The newlyweds will now stay in the groom’s home, while the bride’s wedding party will return on Monday.
One of the most notable aspects of this wedding was the absence of dowry or material demands from either side. Kalyan Singh, known in the region for promoting modern agricultural methods and social progress, said he wanted his son’s marriage to highlight a forgotten cultural heritage.
He added, “If we truly wish to preserve our culture, we must revive our traditional practices — not abandon them.”
The term “Jojoda” translates to “a union made by God.” In this tradition, the bride’s side brings the wedding procession, and the event is meant to ease the financial and social burden on the bride’s family. The participants of the bride’s wedding party are called “Jojodiye.”
Historically, such weddings were a celebration of equality and community spirit. However, over the last five decades, the practice had nearly disappeared from the Bangaan region, though it remained common in parts of Jaunsar-Bawar.
Historian Prayag Joshi — author of “Ravai Se Uttarakhand,” a detailed study on Jaunsar-Bawar culture — explained that the Jojoda tradition began fading after the 1970s. “With economic changes following forest reservation policies and modernization, social customs began to shift rapidly,” he said.
The Kalich village wedding marks an important cultural revival, celebrated not only for its beauty but for its message — honoring tradition while promoting equality.
