Watch: Not Aunts Or Sisters, JCB Performs The Matkor Ritual In West Champaran

In a bid to create a unique and memorable wedding experience, a family in West Champaran, Bihar, made headlines as they incorporated a JCB backhoe loader into an important wedding ritual. The incident occurred during the Matkor Puja, a significant pre-wedding ritual commonly observed in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Typically conducted on the day of haldi, Matkor Puja involves the narration of Satyanarayan Katha followed by the digging of soil in front of the bride and groom’s house, traditionally performed by an aunt. However, in this instance, the Matkor ritual took an unconventional turn as the family opted to use a JCB machine instead of a human participant.

The event unfolded in Ward No. 9 of Gurchurwa in Majhaulia Subdivision, where Mahavir Prasad Kushwaha and his family orchestrated the Matkor ritual for his son Alok Kumar’s wedding. Instead of relying on a relative to perform the customary digging, they enlisted the assistance of a JCB machine, an unexpected sight that quickly garnered attention and went viral online.

In an interview with Local18, Mahavir Prasad Kushwaha shed light on the motivation behind the unconventional approach. With three sons and two daughters, Mahavir’s family holds a special place in the village. Despite not seeking dowry from his daughter-in-law’s family, Mahavir sought to make his son’s wedding a memorable affair. Thus, the decision to incorporate the JCB into the Matkor Puja ritual was born.

While the gesture may have been intended to add a unique touch to the festivities, it sparked mixed reactions among villagers. Some expressed surprise and shock, noting that traditional Hindu customs dictate the involvement of sisters or aunts in performing the ritual with a spade, typically before the wedding.

The incident prompts reflection on the evolving nature of wedding customs and the lengths to which individuals go to make their celebrations stand out in today’s social media-driven landscape. As videos of the unconventional Matkor Puja continue to circulate online, it serves as a testament to the creativity and willingness of individuals to break from tradition in pursuit of creating lasting memories for special occasions.