The Roce Ceremony In Goan Weddings

You will find a number of rituals in a typical Goan wedding. There are some important ceremonies that are held on the previous day of the wedding. One such important ceremony is the Roce ceremony. Let us just check the important things that are involved in this ceremony.

The timing of the Roce ceremony

In Goan weddings, the Roce ceremony is held one day before the wedding. It is held in the evening. The ceremony is held separately at the bride and the groom’s home. It basically signifies the end of bachelorhood and the love that a mother has for her son or for her daughter.

A few things about the ceremony

This is the anointing ceremony by the parents of the bride and the groom. In this ceremony, a mixture of coconut oil and coconut juice is applied by the parents to the bride and the groom. Basically, on the day of the roce ceremony, the guests are welcomed by the bride and the groom’s parents in their respective homes. The guests are given betel pan and nut and are welcomed for one of the most important rituals of Goan weddings.

The bride and the groom are made to sit in a specific place in the house which has been specially prepared for the ceremony. The bride is made to sit in the altar and her mother will arrive with the coconut oil and the coconut juice. She will apply a cross on the forehead of the bride with the oil. Then she will dab some oil in the ears and hands. The ritual is then followed by other female relatives of the bride like her grandmother, aunt, sisters etc. A similar ceremony is held at the groom’s place as well.

At the time of the ceremony, the guests are treated with a typical Goan meal or feast which consists of a number of the Goan delicacies. The delicacies are rice with mutton, dried shrimp, cashew nuts and a number of other foods which are typical of the Goan cuisine. This ceremony should be ideally be held by the parents of the bride and the groom, but in case the parents are not able to carry out the function then any other senior couple of the bride and the groom can carry out this function and the other functions that are important in the Goan weddings.

In some Goan weddings, it is found that the Roce ceremony is held on the morning of the wedding day. In this way, you will find that a number of important ceremonies are a part of the pre-wedding rituals and wedding rituals of the Goan wedding. During the rituals, all the relatives and friends will adorn the typical Goan dresses. Even the bride will be all decked up in typical Goan style. The Goan wedding is a colorful affair. The ceremonies are simple and traditional but they have deep meaning and are carried out with full enthusiasm by the bride and the groom’s family.