Gauna is a northern Indian hindu custom and the ceremony associated with the consummation of marriage prevalent in the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. It is associated with the custom of child marriage.[1] The ceremony takes place several years after marriage.[2][3] Before the ceremony, the bride stays at her natal home.[4] Marriage is considered only as a ritual union and conjugal life begins only after gauna; that is marriage is consummated only after the gauna ceremony.[5]

In popular culture

A 1950 Hindi movie carried the title Gauna. It was directed by Aamian Chakaravarty, produced by Jagat Pictures, and its music directed by Husanlal Bhagtram.[6] The plot of the Hindi television serials Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo, Balika Vadhu and Gauna – Ek Pratha mention the practice.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ Anil Chawla (7 March 2002). "CHILD MARRIAGES - Need for Better Understanding of Customs". Samarthbharat.com. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  2. ^ Sethi NK, Rao SS, Aggarwal OP, Abhaya Indrayan, Chuttani CS. "Age at Marriage, Gauna (effective marriage) and first child birth in rural women: changing pattern in various marriage cohorts by decades". Medind.nic.in. Retrieved 7 June 2012.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Charan D. Wadhva; B. N. Saxena; Om Prakash Sharma (2003). Population Stabilization Through District Action Plans: Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. APH Publishing. p. 237. ISBN 978-81-7648-514-2.
  4. ^ Murthy, Padmini; Clyde Lanford Smith (25 October 2010). Women's Global Health and Human Rights. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 512. ISBN 978-0-7637-5631-4. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  5. ^ Nirula (2009). Women Problems & Their Oprression in U.p. APH Publishing. p. 75. ISBN 978-81-313-0470-9. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  6. ^ "Gauna Hindi movie, movie reviews, cast, song lyrics and photos - bollywood". Whereincity.com. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  7. ^ "Zee TV Official Website: Zee TV Shows, Zee TV Serials Online, Videos". zeetv.com. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  8. ^ "Smita Bansal gets nostalgic on Sugna's Gauna". Realbollywood.com. 23 February 2009. Archived from the original on 13 July 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2012.


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