Pooja at wedding, Orissa

This is a marriage ceremony shot in the Orissa state of India and this video features the pooja, a ritual performed before the marriage begins.

This pooja is mainly conducted by the bride’s father in the presence of a priest. It is done primarily to invite all the gods and goddesses to come and bless the family on the auspicious day.

The gods that are mainly worshipped on this day are Shiva, Surya (Bhaskara or sun), Durga, Vishnu and Ganesha along with the Kuldevi or the Family Goddess. All these rituals mark the traditions of Orissa.