Lavish ‘lagna dhara’ ceremony marks doll wedding festival

Balasore: The sacred occasion of Chandan Purnima witnessed the grand celebration of the traditional ‘jau kandhei bahaghara' (doll marriage) in Balasore town, with the auspicious ‘lagna dhara' ritual conducted in a vibrant and festive atmosphere at the historic Lokanath Temple in Anand Bazar on Monday.The ceremonial worship commenced at the Siddhi Vinayak Temple near Cinema Square, where the groom's symbolic parents, Pitambar Das and Sukanti Lata Das, along with members of the Jau Kandhei Utsav Samiti, performedtraditional rituals. A grand procession followed, as the groom's entourage made its way from Sahadevkhunta to Lokanath Temple, accompanied by traditional music, dance, and vibrant community participation.In keeping with tradition, this year's symbolic bride and groom were chosen from the characters of the renowned Odia short story "Sua Muhara Patara" by noted author Pranabandu Kar. The characters ‘aparthi' (groom) and ‘gurei' (bride) were symbolically represented in the ceremony.At the Lokanath Temple, the bride's symbolic parents, Nilamani Mandal and Umamani Mahana, warmly welcomed the groom's side.The ‘lagna dhara' ritual was formally conducted by priests under the guidance of the Siddhi Vinayak Temple's head priest. The marriage rituals were later solemnised at Lokanath Temple, maintaining the sanctity and spirit of the tradition.Brahmanath Ratha, a committee member said, "Beyond its ritualistic significance, this festival carries a powerful social message. The bride's side has pledged to plant 100 palm trees and organise a blood donation camp, while the groom's side has committed to cleaning the seashore and promoting dowry-free marriages for underprivileged girls. It truly reinforces the festival's role in encouraging environmental awareness and social responsibility." Further festivities include Mangalan on May 22 and the grand ‘bahaghara' (wedding celebration) on May 23. From May 22 to May 26, a series of cultural programmes will be organised at the Mission School premises. Keshu Das, a lacquer artiste, said "This festival is not just about preserving a cultural tradition. It's a way to teach the younger generation about the values of community, equality, and social responsibility through symbolic rituals and collective celebration."