Rung tribal community decide to shun foreign liquor, outside influences from its’ marriage ceremonies

Rung tribal community decide to shun foreign liquor, outside influences from its’ marriage ceremonies

B.D.Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, Jan 18

‘Panjukhu’ cultural committee, a cultural committee of five villages belonging to Rung tribal community living in the higher Himalayan valleys in India as well as neighbouring Nepal, has decided to shun foreign liquor used during their marriage celebrations in a bid to preserve it’s ancient culture from outside influences particularly western influence to save it’s original form.

“The committee has decided to boycott the use of western liquor in marriage celebrations of the community members and to reform the traditional 16 steps of marriage ceremonies of the community. The move to reform was felt in order to  minimise expenditure so that there is parity in marriage ceremonies of rich as well as poor families of the community,” said Mahiraj Garbiyal, chairperson of the ‘Panjukhu’ committee of the Rung tribal community.

According to Garbiyal, the new ceremonies like, ‘Mahila Sangeet’, ‘Haldi’ and ‘Mehndi’ are  borrowed from outside or under the influence of Hindi films have no place in the marriage ceremonies of tribal Rung community. He said that these outside influences on the ceremonies have been added and the use of foreign liquor has been encouraged by some people in the community just to show off. “ But these evils are causing depletion of original marriage solemnisations. We also do not have dowry tradition in our culture, in place of it we offer to our daughters something as ‘Shagun’ and  the community elders have now decided to offer these as cash.” said Mahiraj Garbiyal.

The committee has also decide to reform all 16 existing rules of marriage ceremony in order make these rules less expensive. The meeting was attended by Rung community members from Vyans, Darma and Chaudans valleys of Rung community in Pithoragarh district of India and representatives of community from adjoining Nepalese villages.