‘Marriage of spirits’: Indian family seeks groom for daughter who died 30 yrs ago; get many calls of interest
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Around the world, weddings are happy times, but in India, they're extra special because they're all about traditions and culture. Sometimes, these traditions can be so different that they make the news!
In Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district, a family from Puttur made an unconventional move by placing an advertisement in a local newspaper. The advertisement sought a suitable 'spiritual' groom for their daughter, who passed away three decades ago.
The family is in search of a groom to uphold a tradition called 'Kule Madime' or 'Pretha Maduve'. This age-old custom, which entails the marriage of spirits of the dead, is practiced in the coastal regions of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. Specifically, the family is seeking a boy from the Kulal caste and Bangera Gotra, who passed away three decades ago, to partake in the Pretha Maduve ritual.
The advertisement reads: "Seeking groom who passed 30 years ago for a bride (sic) who passed 30 years ago. Please call the number to arrange a Pretha Maduve (marriage of spirits)."
The family, speaking to the Times of India, disclosed that they have received around 50 inquiries from interested individuals and may soon decide on a date to conduct the ceremony. They further stated that they have been searching for a groom for their daughter for the last five years, with the intention of upholding the 'Kule Madime' tradition.
“When placing the advertisement, we were worried that we would be trolled, but surprisingly, this has also led to a lot of awareness about the ritual. Interestingly, many people from different casteshave reached out, some even to know more about the practice," TOI quoted the family member as saying.
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What's the age-old tradition?
As per experts in Tuluva folklore, departed loved ones maintain a connection with their families, participating in their moments of happiness and sadness. Consequently, customs such as 'Vaikunta Samaradhane' and 'Pinda Pradana' are replaced with practices involving offering food and arranging marriages for the souls of the deceased.
(With inputs from agencies)