Suwon

This video is a crash course about Suwon.

[I will extend this post sometime soon]

Mauri

In almost all the parts of the world there is a custom followed by men and womean at the time of their marriage. Each one of the two is expected to cover his/her head by something, mean usually cover their heads by one of their traditional caps and women cover their head either by hats or some traditional clothes (like in India, Hindu girls often cover their head by their saari or the chunni).

What is amazing to note in the above regard is that almost all the traditions of this world make this head covering as beautiful and ornamental as possible. Almost making the person look like a kings of the old times.

Here in this post I am bringing up the traditional head-gear worn by the grooms in Bihar and adjoining areas during their marriage. This head gear is known as Mauri in the local language, and its a must in all the marriages irrespective of the budget or the social status. I would not be out of place if I say that Mauri and the Bride are equally important to a Groom in any Bihari shaadi, you can't marry unless both are available.

The Mauri is always connected to the pride of the groom and his family, and this relation becomes absolutely visible when you see so many sparkling colours dazzling out of it. Social status and financial constraints are always overcome when it comes to decorating the mauri for the groom. Mauri looks more like a x-mas tree over the head of the person, more because of the reflecting bulbs used and the tree like decoration done, making the person taller by at least by a foot (and in some cases ever more taller).

Making a mauri is an art and a tradition in itself. And it would be amazing to note that all the mauri used in Bihar and the adjoining areas are made in a single galli of Patna known as Mauri Galli. It has nothing less than 100 - 150 shops in a very small area and almost double to triple the number of mauri makers. And generation after generation these craftsmen are perfecting the art of making you look special on your marriage :)

A mauri costs as less as Rs 30/- to as high as few thousand rupees. Depending on the choice of complex decoration and the technology used in creating the same. 

With the changing times Mauri has also seen the threat of being replaced by other possible headgears, but thankfully all the mothers in Bihar have their faith intact in this traditional piece of art and culture. And eventhough grooms have easy and comfortable options like Gujrati or Rajasthani headgears, Mauri remains to be the sole headgear for all the Biharis during the actual shaadi ka feraa (feraa is the moment when the bride and the groom circle around the sacred fire and promise to abide by the rules of happy married life made by our forefathers).

Long-Live this tradition of Mauri!

PS: I have posted a distant picture of a Mauri, and I will post a close-up picture of the Mauri I wear in my Shaadi! (although it might take a few more years).