A bride in Uttarakhand’s Chakrata block walked 18km in her wedding attire to reach her in-laws’ village after the procession’s vehicles could go only as far as Lohkhandi. The difficult journey has drawn attention to the lack of road access to Udawa village.

Sharmila, from Bulhad village in Dehradun district, married Anil Chauhan, a resident of Udawa. After the wedding on Tuesday, she travelled with the procession by vehicle up to Lohkhandi. The remaining route to Udawa had to be covered on foot because there is no road connecting the village to that point.

Wearing a heavy bridal lehenga, Sharmila crossed steep mountain paths and rocky stretches. She walked continuously for 4 hours and covered about 18km before reaching her new home.

A traditional procession with a difficult journey

In the Jaunsar-Bawar region, including Chakrata block, a traditional custom known as ‘Jojhode’ or ‘Jajda’ involves the bride travelling with the wedding procession to the groom’s home. Unlike the more familiar wedding arrangement, the groom does not lead the procession to the bride’s house under this tradition.

The custom is associated with the Jaunsari community. The community regards itself as descended from the Pandavas, and several practices linked to the Mahabharata era are said to remain in the area. Sharmila’s journey followed this local tradition, but the absence of a road turned the customary procession into a demanding trek.

Bride runs to save the house-entry muhurat

During the walk, Sharmila became concerned that she might miss the auspicious time for entering her marital home. She was seen running along sections of the difficult mountain trail while still wearing her wedding lehenga.

Villagers recorded a video of her running, and the footage later circulated on social media. The video showed the practical difficulty faced by the wedding party on the route between Lohkhandi and Udawa.

After walking for 18km and becoming extremely tired, Sharmila recorded an appeal from the trail to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. She said the wedding procession had to travel on foot from Lohkhandi to Udawa because the route was not paved.

“Chief Minister, please ensure that a road is built to our village Udawa soon, so that no other daughter or villager has to face this hardship in the future,” she said in her appeal.

The journey has highlighted the access problem for residents and visitors travelling to Udawa. The immediate request made by the bride is for a road connecting the village, so future wedding parties and other villagers do not have to rely on the same long mountain footpath.

Conclusion

Sharmila reached Udawa after a 4-hour, 18km walk in her wedding attire. Her appeal to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has put the village’s lack of road access at the centre of attention.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where did Sharmila’s journey take place?

Sharmila travelled from Lohkhandi to Udawa village in Chakrata block, Dehradun district.

Q. How far did she walk?

She walked about 18km along mountain paths and rocky stretches.

Q. How long did the journey take on foot?

The walk took 4 hours.

Q. Why did the wedding procession leave its vehicles?

Vehicles could travel only up to Lohkhandi because there is no road onward to Udawa.

Q. What wedding tradition was followed?

The procession followed the Jaunsari ‘Jojhode’, also called ‘Jajda’, tradition in which the bride travels to the groom’s home.

Q. What did Sharmila request from the chief minister?

She asked Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to arrange construction of a road to Udawa village.