Lacquer Dolls’ Marriage Gains Fame In Balasore

BALASORE: Marriage between a pair of lacquer dolls, which was initiated seven years ago, is gaining popularity in Odisha’s Balasore district.

The dolls’ marriage which was initiated in 2009 in the district to promote the lacquer works and protect the artisans, has gained immense popularity among the locals.

The Bakleswari Kala Kendra (BKK), a socio-cultural organisation, is organising the symbolic marriage of two dolls aiming to revive the tradition of making lacquer dolls.

This year the nuptial knot would be tied on May 31 while the Lagna Sthira (auspicious period) was held on Saturday in a Krishna temple in Barabati. The wedding ceremony would be a grand affair while it will adhere to all customs and traditions.

Vimal Ash and his wife Sindhumati while shouldering the responsibilities as father and mother of symbolic girl doll , Vimal Jena and his wife Rannjita would be playing the role of father and mother of the symbolic bride this year.

The reception after marriage would be held on June 3 at Gandhi Smruti Bhawan.

“We feel fortunate to be the father and mother of the groom and host a reception dinner,” said Jena couple.

Sources said a committee comprising people from several sections of the society had been formed to organise the marriage ceremony.

The doll construction work began on Ram Navami.

“As per the decision of our committee each year, the construction work begins on Ram Navami and the Lagna Sthira on Buddha Purnima and the marriage on Jestha Ekadashi. The sacred soil is brought from the river Baitarani,” said a committee member.

Each year the nuptial knot is tied between the groom and bride in different names associated with the mythological, historical and folk tell characters, he added.

 This year their names would be  Padmamala and Parikshit for bride and groom respectively. The characters are derived from a novel written by Umesh Chandra in 1888 basing on a folk tell event of 1835.

Besides in district headquarter, the event will be organised at least in 7 other places within the district. It is also scheduled to be observed in Bhubaneswar.