Migration and marriage rituals of Bharseli Magar of Kathmandu valley

Abstract

This study related to migration and marriage rituals of the Bharseli Magar of Kathmandu valley consists of 92 households of Bharseli Magar of Kathmandu Valley. This study is completed by using an interview schedule and the Key Informant Interview (KII) method. The objective of this paper is to study the impacts of migration on the marriage ritual of the Magar community and this study explains about present practice of the marriage ritual of the Bharseli Magar. The traditional ritual of Magar community of Bharse, Gulmi is cross-cousin marriage. Especially in Bharse of Gulmi three sub-clans of Magars have practiced the marriage system clockwise. However due to the excessive migration process, the migrated Bharseli Magars rarely follow the cross-cousin marriage system and three sub-clan marriage systems in the present context. In this paper how migration contributes to change in marriage rituals of the Magar community has been explained. Due to migration, especially, food items of Sagun of Magani, Sodhani, Theki, Dhogbhet, Dulhan Farkaune, etc. have been changing. The place of traditional marriage of Bharseli Magar of Kathamandu valley was houses. Due to modernization, globalization, and urbanization marriage /wedding parties are mostly organized in party palaces. In addition, there is change in items of ornaments, clothes and other aspects. Traditionally, there was no ritual of providing ornaments to the bridegroom side by bride side. However the providing of ornaments to the bridegroom side is mostly practiced in Bharseli Magar of Kathmandu. There are changing in the marriage rituals of the Magar society. The love marriage has been increasing, the decision of marriage has been performed by boys and girls (self) , cross-cousin marriage has been decreasing , the love marriage has been practiced in schools/colleges/ universities , by means of social media and in work places. The some of the boys and girls of Bharseli Magars., new gewneraton also practiced to marry with foreign citizens. These are the impacts of the migration of Bharseli Magar of Kathmandu valley, Kathmandu. The major causes of change in marriage rituals of Bharseli Magar of Kathmandu Valley are development of educational/academic status, development of science and technology, foreign employment, influence of religion and culture of other community, modernization, and westernization including migration.