Gunko (first from right) and Naoki (second from right) discuss arrangements for their wedding with president of the India Japan Friendship Center Srimanta Kumar Dash (centre) and two of their Japanese friends. Picture by Sarat Patra

Puri, Feb. 5: When 21-year-old Gunko met 24-year-old Naoki, Cupid struck immediately. The Japanese couple met four years ago in Puri during rath yatra and now are back here to tie the knot in traditional Odia style. Their Odia wedding will be attended by around 80 of their friends and relatives from Japan and many more local friends.

“I was here with my friends to witness rath yatra, which is a very special occasion for us since we are Buddhists. But, that year, some Japanese were caught in a chaotic situation because of the huge rush of devotees for the festival. When I reached the spot to help them, I saw among other visitors from Japan, Naoki coming to the aid of the hurt. I was impressed in the first sight itself,” reminisces Gunko. Both Gunko and Naoki were actively involved in helping their Japanese friends, who got injured in the stampede. Working together brought them closer and they kept coming back to Puri to take Lord Jagannath’s blessings and understand Odia culture.

“We love the festivals and traditions of Odisha. The use of music, flowers, colourful costumes and lovely rituals during different ceremonies makes Odia culture attractive,” feels Naoki, now 28.

The groom, a musician, hails from Aichi in Japan while his bride-to-be works as a government official in Kanagawa. With the help of the India Japan Friendship Center here, the couple are all set to marry in the typical Odia fashion on February 8.

“We are here from Japan to be a part of the barajatri (the groom’s procession) and excited to attend the marriage of this lovely couple the Odia way,” said Niyazaki Kajuya, a relative of Naoki. The barajatri will begin at 10am from Youth Hostel in the city and reach the venue by noon.

The kanyadaan (the ritual done by the bride’s father) will be done by Pramod Kumar Panda, a local resident, while Nageswar Patnaik will perform the rituals meant for the groom’s father. “Gunko is a very sweet girl and both of them love Odia lifestyle. I’m lucky to have got a chance to be the bride’s father for the wedding,” said Panda.

Srimanta Kumar Dash, president of the India Japan Friendship Center, said the couple had approached them a couple of years ago for the Odia marriage. “They are so deeply in love with the local culture that they insisted the marriage be in Odia style. We were glad to help them in the arrangements,” he said. The marriage will be held at a private hotel on City Road.