Swayamvar In Bihar: Groom Breaks Dhanush Before Getting Married

The incident took place in Bihar's Saran district

Very few things in the world can match up to the grandeur and opulence that an Indian wedding ceremony brings with it. With grooms arriving on horses, brides decked in jewellery befitting a queen, and a guest list that often runs into hundreds, there is a lot to take in at a traditional marriage ceremony. Many of these customs are deep-rooted in India's ancient traditional and religious beliefs. And taking this connection a step ahead is a groom in Bihar, who chose to break a bow, referred to as a dhanush, ahead of his wedding ceremony. The act was clearly inspired by the Ramayana, where Lord Rama lifted and broke a bow blessed by Lord Shiva at the swayamvar of Sita. A swayamvar, in ancient India, was a practice in which a woman of marriageable age chose a husband from a group of suitors.  Videos and photos of the incident have gone viral on social media. According to India.com, the "Dhanush Swayamvar" was organised in Sabalpur East area under Sonpur block of Saran district. However, unlike Lord Rama in the epic, the man in the video was the sole contender for the bride's hand in the wedding.