No Audi, no Mercedes, Odisha bride arrives in decorated bullock cart

In an age of luxury cars, destination venues, and extravagant wedding processions, a small village in the Ganjam district witnessed a heartwarming return to tradition. In the Polsara block, Kalamb village, a bride chose culture over convention, simplicity over show, and heritage over high-end glamour.

Seated gracefully inside a beautifully decorated bullock cart, the bride made her journey along the uneven village road, the wooden wheels creaking rhythmically as they rolled forward. It was a scene reminiscent of a bygone era. While it may not have been the iconic ‘Rupa Sagadi’ from iconic Odia cinema, for the villagers, it was nothing less than a golden bridal moment. At a time when Audi and Mercedes cars have become symbols of status in wedding processions, this bride chose a traditional sagadi (bullock cart) instead.

Keeping Traditions Alive

Barsharani Pradhan, daughter of Debaraj Pradhan from Kalamb village, was married to Shanishchar Pradhan of Samantarapalli village under Kabisuryanagar block. What made the wedding special was the 20-kilometre journey the decorated bullock cart undertook to bring the newlywed bride to her husband’s home.

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As the cart entered Samantarapalli, villagers gathered in large numbers, their faces lit with curiosity and joy. The bride was welcomed warmly and escorted in a celebratory procession. For many elders, the sight stirred fond memories of weddings from decades past, when such traditions were common.

Memorable Wedding

In a time marked by competitive extravagance, this simple yet meaningful gesture stood out. The unique celebration has drawn widespread appreciation, with many believing it could inspire the younger generation to reconnect with their cultural roots while redefining what truly makes a wedding memorable.

“Everyone is renting cars, buses, and playing loud music and a DJ. But, we wanted our tradition to come alive and our elders to be happy and reminiscence their good old days. It took us a whole night to decorate the bullock carts. It took us two hours to reach the groom’s village,” a bride’s relative said.

“It’s been ages, say 25-30 years, we had hardly seen something like this. We were excited and came running to see it. This is so proud moment. We should thank everyone who came up with this idea of a bullock cart and keeping our traditions alive,” another local woman said.