The Roce Ceremony

The Roce Ceremony 


Roce ceremony is where, Bride and the groom each at their respective houses are anointed with coconut milk by their parents, relatives, neighbors and friends. It is done two days prior to the wedding. This ceremony symbolises the purification beginning of new life. The coconut milk is used and is said to cleanse or purify the couple before wedding which also signifies the end of their spinsterhood and bachelorhood.

The ceremony commences with a prayer followed by a hymn. Bride enters with her parents and also the bridesmaids and bestmen. The coconut milk is poured even on the bridesmaids and bestmen. The bride and groom at their respective houses are made to sit in the  ‘matov’ (pandal) . Relatives and neighbors are invited over to apply the Roce . When the people apply Roce to the bride have a lot of fun as they break eggs on the couple heads. Lastly the entourage pour the remaining Roce over the head of the groom and bride . Some come with beer and mix of turmeric. An image of saint is kept on a table and a bowl placed infront of it. So when the people come to apply Roce , keep some coins or cash into the bowl. Which are later given to the lady who prepared the Roce. After the Roce ceremony the couple can’t go out of the house till the wedding day. A buffet is kept for all the people present. One-man-show is called to sing Konkani songs. The Roce ceremony is fun-filled tradition and entertaining with lots of food, drinks and dancing. 






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