Prayagraj: It’s 7pm and an elaborate wedding procession involving the groom, his family and friends passes through various lanes and by-lanes of the old city area, with baratis dancing to the tunes of popular Bollywood numbers. However, this is one of the most bizarre wedding processions as here the groom is not a man but a huge wooden ‘hothoda’ (hammer).
Taken out few hours before Holika Dahan, another strange anecdote associated with this wedding is that it’s without a bride. This traditional ‘hatoda barat’ is organized every year by Prayag Nagrik Seva Sansthan (PNSS) in Chowk area. This year too, the procession was taken out from Kesar Vidya Peeth after the Mahamandeleshwar of Kinnar Akahara Kaushalaya Nand Giri performed the aarti of the hammer. “For the entire year, this special wooden ‘hathoda’ is kept partially decorated in the office of PNSS on a specially designed platform from where it is taken for a holy dip in river Ganga and adorned with silk cloths and garlands like a groom,” said Sanjay Singh, convener of the special baraat.
“On Wednesday night, the procession passed thorough Zero Road, Ghanta Ghar, Loknath and other areas only to arrive again at Vidya Peeth without the bride ‘hathodi’. After returning to the starting point, the chief guest of the barat broke an effigy of the demon with the hammer after which the traditional ‘kaddhu’ (pumpkin) is broken, kickstarting the festivities of Holi,” said Singh.