Marriage

The Jarawa are endogamous people who practice monogamy. There is no fixed age for marriage; girls marry after puberty and boys after their coming of age ceremony. The marriage is usually fixed at the age of 2-3 years by parents or elder relatives.

At the age of 8-9 years the betrothed bride who has started living in the girls dormitory is free to move settlements with her in-laws local group and share food with them. However she still stays in the dormitory. After their respective coming of age ceremonies the marriage date is finalized by their elders. Before the marriage the groom builds a new hut on one side of the settlement.

 

On the day of the wedding the bride’s party brings the bride to the grooms chadda and they are formally welcomed to the grooms chadda. All the female members adorn themselves with flowers and leaves. The bride is decorated with ood on her face, arms and chest as well as fresh flowers leaves and shell ornaments. The groom is also adorned with ood on his body. The men of both sides go hunting for the feast.  The marriage is solemnized at dusk after the hunters return. The groom sits on a bed of leaves keeping his legs straight and the brides relatives bring her and make her sit on the lap of the groom. Then a senior member of the tribe with the permission of the audience declares them wagi-wangab (man and wife).

 

After much cheering there is songs, dances and display of athletic skills. The celebrations continue for 2-3 days. There is a communal feats in the evening hosted by the grooms party.

 

WAGI-WANGAB