Puffed Rice Ritual: The Unsung Hero of Indian Weddings to Ward Off Evil

• Indian weddings, especially in Bihar, feature unique rituals involving puffed rice (dhan ke lava) to ward off 'dosh' (flaws/evil).
• Puffed rice is used from the Tilak ceremony through the wedding, sprinkled on the groom before his procession and on the bride during the ceremony.
• Acharya Rajesh Kumar Mishra explains that a girl is considered a 'Nagkanya' before marriage, with a serpent residing with Brahma Indra.
• Sprinkling puffed rice during Saptapadi is believed to attract the serpent deity from Brahma Indra to eat it, thus warding off the girl's 'dosh'.
• Paddy is also exchanged between families during the Tilak ceremony, with this paddy later used to make the puffed rice for the Sindoor Daan ritual.

Why It Matters: Puffed rice rituals in Indian weddings, particularly in Bihar, are crucial for warding off evil and ensuring marital bliss.