Bageshwar. Traditional beliefs are still followed in many hilly areas of Uttarakhand including Bageshwar. One of these is Dhara Puja. Dhara Puja is a special ritual performed after marriage in Uttarakhand. In this, mainly the stream of water passing through the temple of the family deity is worshipped. The new couple is a part of this ritual. According to beliefs, the new bride is made to worship a natural stream in her in-laws’ house on the morning of the second day of marriage. Then the bride brings fresh water from the stream home and makes the elders of her in-laws drink the water. This custom is followed well even today in the mountains.
Acharya Pandit Kailash Upadhyay, resident of Bageshwar, while talking to Local 18, said that in Dhara Puja, a feeling of respect and gratitude towards nature is expressed. This is one of the special mythological traditions of the mountain. In Kumaon, the bride and groom complete this ritual on the second day of the wedding. The bride has a special role in the ritual. After waking up in the morning, the new couple retires from their daily routines and gets ready like on the wedding day. Then go to the nearest natural stream from home. There, water and water are worshiped as gods. After the puja, the copper vessel is filled with stream water. Sweets and Prasad from the bride’s maternal home are distributed among the people present in the stream. The bride brings the pitcher filled with water home, placing it on her head. After coming home, Gagar water is given to the elders and other members of the house to drink. People who drink water bless the bride to always be blessed and also give some money to the bride as a gift.
Why is Dhara Puja done?
In Kumaon Mandal, after marriage, every new bride, when she comes to her in-laws’ house for the first time, is taken to the stream and water is worshiped there because water is also worshiped as a deity in the mountains. The human body is made up of five elements. These five elements are- sky, air, fire, water and earth. Rituals have been created in the mountain to honor the five elements, one of them is Dhara Pujan. Many such customs are followed well in the mountains even today. These are directly related to religion, traditional customs and worship. For this reason, before auspicious works, Bhoomi Pujan, Agni Pujan, Jal Pujan etc. are done. They have special significance in the mountains even today.
Tags: Bageshwar News, Local18, Marriage news, Uttarakhand news, Wedding Ceremony
FIRST PUBLISHED : December 13, 2024, 10:28 IST
