Beena marriage, also known as beena patra vivaha, is a form of marriage practiced within certain tribal communities in India, particularly among the Gond and Kondh tribes. This unique and ancient custom involves the exchange of wooden plaques or tablets, known as "beena" or "beena patra," as a symbol of marriage.
The beena marriage ceremony takes place in the presence of a village elder or a tribal elder who acts as the witness and officiator. During the ceremony, the groom's family presents a beena to the bride's family. The beena is made from a sacred wood, usually mango or tamarind, and is intricately carved with tribal motifs and symbols. It is considered a symbol of fertility and prosperity.
The exchange of beena between the families signifies the formal recognition of a marital bond. It represents the union of two families and is considered a sacred pact between them. The beena is not merely an object but carries immense cultural, social, and religious significance.
In the beena marriage, the bride does not leave her paternal home to settle with the husband's family. Instead, the husband visits his wife's home periodically or stays there temporarily. This unique arrangement allows the bride to maintain closer ties with her natal family and ensures that her lineage and inheritance remain intact.
Beena marriages are deeply rooted in tradition and are valued for preserving cultural and social customs within tribal communities. They are seen as a way of maintaining equilibrium and harmony between different clans and strengthening the bond between families. The practice of beena marriage is slowly diminishing due to modernization and changing societal norms, but it continues to hold significance for those tribes that still practice it.
