An annual event—marriage between a pair of lacquer  dolls (Jau Kandhei), which has been conducted in the district for the last 13 years with pomp and gaiety by a civil society group— would be held on May 15.

The doll construction work began on the Ram Navami and the Lagna for the marriage was fixed in a temple. 

“As per a decision of our committee, each year the construction works begin on the Ram Navami, the Lagna Dhara is made on Budhha Purnima and the marriage held on Jestha Ekadashi. The sacred soil was brought from the river as a part of the ritual in the run up to the marriage. Every year the nuptial knot is tied between the groom and bride bearing different names associated with mythological, historical and folk tale characters,” said the Jau Kandhei Festival Committee.

“This year their names would be Labanyamati and Chandrabhanu respectively for the bride and groom, which are characters of a poem written by Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja,” the committee members said.

“The dolls’ marriage was initiated in the district in 2009 to promote the lacquer works and protect the artisans. Now the event has grown immensely popular. This year between May 14 and 18 there would be different cultural programmes at the ITI Ground. And the marriage would be solemnised on May 15,” said committee president and social worker Subasini Jena.

 “The objective is not only to revive our age-old tradition but also to commemorate the prominent characters of mythology, history and folklore, apart from promoting the lacquer culture,” she said, adding that another objective is to make more and more people aware about  the uses of lacquer and its works and draw the Government’s attention towards the lacquer producers and artisans.