Odisha: 40 Family Members Forced to Tonsure Heads After Inter-Caste Marriage; Probe Initiated

By The Sampadak Express

A controversial “cleansing ritual” involving the tonsuring of around 40 tribal family members has triggered official scrutiny in Odisha’s Rayagada district after a video of the event went viral on social media.

The incident took place on Thursday in Baiganaguda village under the Gorakhpur gram panchayat of Kashipur block, where male relatives from the bride’s extended family shaved their heads following her inter-caste marriage. The woman, belonging to a Scheduled Tribe, reportedly tied the knot with a Scheduled Caste man without the approval of her family, leading to strong objections from villagers.

As per local sources, a village council decided that the family must undergo ritual purification to remain within the social fold. The imposed rituals included tonsuring of male family members and animal sacrifices goats, chickens, and pigs offered to the local deity.

Such inter-caste unions are traditionally frowned upon in the tribal communities of Rayagada, with families often facing the threat of social ostracism if customary norms are not followed.

After the footage surfaced online and stirred public outcry, district officials ordered a probe. Kashipur Block Development Officer (BDO) Bijay Soe visited the village and held discussions with both families involved. According to BDO Soe, the family members stated they had performed the rituals of their own volition and did not lodge any formal complaints.

An official report of the incident is being compiled and will be submitted to the district collector for further action. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of further intervention depending on the investigation’s findings.