Lawa Boonjhana

The Importance of Unhusked Rice

The bride’s party brings a bundle of unhusked rice, durba grass and turmeric roots, after the performance of the Tilak ceremony. They are sorted out during the Lagan Kholana ceremony. The turmeric roots are crushed into paste during the Haldi ceremony. The unhusked rice is kept at the Maroh or at a clean and pure place in his neighbor’s house. It is sometimes also kept at Vir Hanuman or Mahabir Sami shrines.

The unhusked rice is parched at early morning, on the marriage day by ladies from the bride’s and bridegroom’s family. This occasion is also known as Lawa Bhoonjana. After the parching of the rice, these ladies get a gift of token money or a Sari. The parched rice or Lawa is used during the performance of the main wedding rites known as Lawa Homa. The Lawa Bhoonjana is exclusively performed at the bride’s place.