Odisha Bride Arrives With Baraat, Takes Groom Home After Reverse Wedding

The unusual wedding, held in Chhamunda village under Telkoi block, has sparked widespread discussion in the region for challenging long-standing social traditions while retaining the sanctity of customary rituals.

The marriage was solemnised between Basant Pradhan, son of Panchu Pradhan of Chhamunda village, and Lakshmi Dehuri, daughter of Raya Dehuri from Banspal block.

According to family members, Lakshmi’s family has no son and had earlier proposed that Basant stay at his in-laws’ home after marriage. While both families had initially agreed to the arrangement, Basant’s father was reportedly uncomfortable with the idea of leaving his son at the bride’s house immediately after the wedding ceremony.

To resolve the issue, the families mutually decided on a symbolic reversal of wedding customs. Under the arrangement, the bride would arrive at the groom’s house in a ceremonial procession, marry him there, and later take him to her parental home.

On the wedding day, Lakshmi arrived in a decorated vehicle accompanied by relatives, music, lights and dancing guests, much like a traditional groom’s procession.

Basant waited at a specially decorated wedding altar at his residence while priests conducted the marriage according to Vedic rituals.

In another departure from convention, the groom was bid farewell in the same manner brides are traditionally sent off after marriage. Household items, furniture, kitchen utensils and other gifts usually given to brides were instead handed over to the groom before he left for his in-laws’ home.

The officiating priest said it was the first time he had witnessed or conducted such a ceremony, describing it as one of the most unusual yet culturally respectful weddings he had seen.

The wedding has since become a major talking point across Telkoi block, with many locals praising the families for adapting traditions to suit social realities without compromising cultural values.

“I told them I would get my son married. But my son’s in-laws said that after the wedding I would have to leave him there and return home alone. That made me emotional initially,” the groom’s father told reporters.

“When they remained firm on their proposal, I eventually agreed. I am old now, so naturally it feels a little sad. But what else could I do?” he added.