Jurun...an assamese beautiful pre-wedding ceremony

Indian weddings encompass many beautiful ceremonies or traditions. In Assamese culture, Jurun is a pre-wedding ceremony. It usually occurs a day or two before the wedding day, sometimes even on the same day of the wedding. A tradition where the groom’s family, especially women visit the bride's family to present with wedding trousseau (Mekhela chadar), jewelry, some makeup, and accessories. In my belief, a tradition that welcomes the bride to her new family with gifts, love, and blessings. 

On the day of Jurun, Aam Dali godha (A stringed mango leave) is a tradition and is tied over the door and is believed that it will take away all the bad energy and brings good luck to the newlywed. Usually, jurun happens in the morning or before noon. The goom does not accompany the group. Before going to the bride's home the groom and his family take blessings from the people who gather for the jurun. Another tradition associated with Jurun is filling two small bell metal vases (called luta in the assamese language) with water and tying them with string and also a Xarai (Assamese traditional tray) and carrying them to the bride’s place and keep there until the wedding ceremony happens. Along with the wedding trousseau, jewelry, make-up accessories, the groom’s family carries dessert and snacks for the bride's family. 

Once the groom’s family reached the bride's home the bride’s mother along with the family especially ladies greet the groom’s family with love and respect. They exchange Xarai (Assamese tray) and hug each other and lead them to the venue and have them seated. After that bride is brought, usually everybody sits on the ground and the bride sits in the middle. The ceremony starts with (murot tel Diya) putting oil in the hair, where the groom's mother/sister puts oil, and then sindoor (Vermillion) in the middle part of the bride's hair. It is a tradition that while putting oil, a ring is placed on the head, and oil is poured through the ring. Then one by one the torsos are stacked on top of the Sarai. While stacking them it is made sure that the bride touches every outfit or jewelry. Usually, the bride wears all the jewelry that the groom's family gifted. Also, another tradition is that the main trousseau (Sadar) is put on the bride's (usually white and gold color) head.  While putting jewelry and chadar, ladies sing Biya Naam (weeding folk song), a quintessential tradition associated with Jurun.

Once everything took place, the groom's mother and bride take blessing from the guest and everyone present. This is one way the bride gets introduced to the groom’s extended friends and family. After that groom's family have lunch at the bride's place and bid adieu from the bride's family. 

In the Jurun ceremony, there is an unspoken tradition where most ladies wear white and gold Mekhela chadar, especially close family members like mothers, sisters, co-sisters, or aunts.

In today's, time and period for some  Jurun might be irrelevant but those are the rituals and traditions that make one culture unique and rich. 

Disclaimer: This is just my observation from my recent visit to India and my brother's Jurun ceremony. I might miss a few things here and there.