|
Home - Travel Information - Nepal FAQ Legal age for Marriage in Nepal
Legal age for marriage in Nepal is 18 for both men and women.
However, most women in city areas pick 25 as the most favorable
age for marriage while in some parts of Nepal under-age marriage
(as early as 5 year's of age) still exists.
What is Bibaha or What's marriage like in Nepal ?
Bibaha is a Nepali word meaning Marriage in English. Just like most marriages, Nepali marriage also has engagement which is called Swamamber. See following which shows these two words in Nepali language
A few notes on Nepali marriage
- Often seen as a bride is given to the groom and his family and hence is taken highly sentimental in bride's family which results in much crying of the entire family and those who have gathered such as friends and relatives. One event is highly sentimental - just before the bride leaves with groom, she is carried by her brother on his back circling puja area for 3 times. This scene is watched by all and some-how reflects that she is leaving her motherhood land. This event makes everyone cry.
- A puja (ceremony) is performed for both Engagement and marriage which often lasts many hours. Fruits, sweets and flowers are used in abundant.
- Dowry is optional in many developed areas such as city but it is still mandatory even if it means less amount. Gift substitutes the word Dowry in many family. Girl is given gadgets such as TV, Music Player, Bed items for the couple, and gifts from those who join the marriage ceremony and/or party called by the bridge's family.
- Parents usually allocate the same amount of goods for the next daughter's marriage although the amount would be higher due to extreme inflation in Nepal. This is done to show that parents bear equality in responsibility.
- To reduce cost such as marriage-party and or expedite time it takes to marry someone, engagement is often done on the same day of the marriage.
- A word spelled as RATAULI in English accompanies most marriage. RATAULI is a tradition carried out by groom's family. During this time, his mother and her friends celebrate with great cuisine, dance and sing using words that aren't spoken in daily lives. Although in history, RATAULI consisted of using bad-words, these days, words are not too harsh. Ratauli songs usually includes words describing the marriage night or a bit naughty.
- Marriage puja calls for extensive Tika on forehead. It's compulsory that Bride's father give Tika and money to everyone who has come from Groom's family. This is generally done at the last stage of marriage ceremony
- Engagement is an opportunity for marriages done in arrangement. It allows both the family to know each-other including the couples.
- Sindhur is a specially made Tika worn by married women in her hair-line part in center of forehead. Only married women wear this kind of Tika. Groom gives this Tika during marriage at the last phase of the ceremony. This is a symbol of love and togetherness as well and hence brings down a few tears to the bride and those around her. Right after Sindhur is placed by the groom, it is hidden using a white-cloth which is opened in that day's night only by the groom.
- A red-colored Designer Saree - a traditional Nepalese dress with extensive hand embroidery or some, make-ups, Tika and jewelry make the bride look like a movie star and similar seriousness shows off from groom who wears traditional nepali cloth known as Daura Surwal along with a Cap (Topi) and a great mala (Garland) made of fine blades of grass
A few Words Of Nepali in Nepali Script :
Bibaha = बिबाह (Nepali script) = marriage in English
Swayamber or also often written Swayambar [a in between b and r] = सोयमबर (Nepali Script) = Engagement in English
Mala माला (Nepali script) = Garland in English
Tika = टिका = Mark on one's forehead signifying commitment to faith, love and or a spiritual act.
Need more info on this? Ask at the forum.
back to FAQ Main Page >>
|
|
