Tribal Family in Odisha Undertakes Purification Ritual After Inter-Caste Marriage

Purification Ritual Sparks Controversy in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: In a striking incident from Odisha's Rayagada district, approximately 40 members of a tribal family underwent a head-shaving ritual as a form of purification. This act was prompted by a girl from their 'kutumb' (extended family) who married a man from a different caste and community, according to local officials.

The event unfolded on Thursday in Baiganaguda village, located within the Gorakhpur gram panchayat of the Kashipur block.

The situation gained attention after a video depicting the ritual, featuring men with shaved heads, circulated widely on social media platforms.

However, the authenticity of the video has not been independently verified.

Sources indicate that the girl, who belongs to a Scheduled Tribe, entered into marriage with a man from a Scheduled Caste family without her family's consent, leading to discontent within the village.

During a village assembly, it was proposed that the male relatives of the bride should shave their heads and make offerings of goats, chickens, and pigs to appease the local deity.

In the Rayagada tribal community, inter-caste marriages are traditionally frowned upon, and such unions are often viewed as taboo.

The woman's family reportedly faced threats of social exclusion if they did not adhere to community expectations.

In response to the incident, the district administration dispatched Bijay Soe, the Block Development Officer of Kashipur, to investigate and report back to the collector.

Soe stated that the investigation included discussions with both the bride's and groom's families, who expressed no grievances and confirmed that the rituals were performed willingly.