From the archive record
Kumaoni women gathered for the mehendi ceremony of a groom and dancing to the devotional songs as a ritual of Kumaoni wedding in Uttarakhand. Women dancing in their traditional attire as they wear 'rangwali pichaura' before they start to dance. 'Rangwali pichaura' is worn by the groom's mother and his female relatives. It is also considered as a good omen for all the rituals. Kumaoni weddings are very simple but are solemnized with a number of rituals and traditions. In the villages and in interiors traditionally, a white flag called 'Nishan' leads the marriage procession representing the bridegroom, followed by drummers, pipers and a white palanquin carrying the groom. The last man of the procession carries another flag, of red colour, representing the bride. When the marriage party retur