Marriage of Kharia Tribe is considered to be sacred ritual associated with a series of interesting customs and performances. Several forms of marriage are associated with the Kharias but the major sacred performances are associated with Mangni Biah or Asali Biah (regular marriage).

Gojhung Sagodna or Gojhung dechho (Omen reading) and jungjungdae (Betrothal)
After the selection of a suitable bride, the family members of the groom visit the bride`s house for betrothal (jung jung dae). During their journey they mark any omen that might cross their path, the good omen being; a bear, a leopard, a corpse, a deer, a tiger, a pot full of water, a cow or a bullock while bad omen are sheep, empty pot, Nilgai (portex, pictus), a Jakal, a snake running across the path in front of the party, an animal being killed or quartered, sweepings of the house being thrown away and a dry branch falling from a tree. The Kharia reject or postpone the negotiation if they come across a bad omen as it is believed that it may result into unsuccessful marriage.

Cham Chhori Ceremony
This ceremony is celebrated for those who have undergone the Chambandhi ceremony during their childhood. Members representing at least three clans are required to be present during the ceremony. According to prevailing custom, the child during his childhood days is sold to the Lohar and during Cham Chhori ceremony he is obtained back before he is married.

For the performance of Cham Chhori, the services of the same Lohra or a member of his family is obligatory. A mora (bundle) of paddy is established in the courtyard for the bride or the groom to sit on it. The appointed Lohra chants a mantra while tying and untying the Cham (leather cord) around the neck of the boy or girl for seven times. As per the ritual he bathes the boy or girl and offers a new cloth. The Cham is then discarded and the Lohra receives his remuneration in kind.

The boy/girl seated in the courtyard facing the eastern side is surrounded by the Kutumbhs (relatives) who places a Lota (pot) of water with turmeric, a copper coin, a few leaves of Tuhi (Basil plant) and mango twig. For the occasion a small heap of arwa rice is placed in front of them while a white hen is sacrificed.

A Khrtaha i.e. the senior most relative offers worship to the Sun, Moon and Earth Gods. The white hen is allowed to pick some grains of arwa rice from the heap and is then sacrificed in the name of Ponomosor. Its blood is then dropped in the Lota. The meat of the sacrificed hen is cooked; its head along with Tapan-golang are offered to Ponomosor while the left part is distributed among the members present during the rituals. At boy or the girl at the end distributes rice beer among all the relatives assembled there

. The family members of the bride welcome the relatives of the groom upon their arrival. The hair of the groom is oiled and combed by the groom`s mother. In one hand she holds his hair and in the other carries a cupped mango leaf containing sesame oil which is poured down the tuft of hair to notify its direction of flow. It the oil flows downward in a straight line it is believed that the couple will lead a happy and prosperous life. However, it is thought to be an omen if the flow get scattered. This performance is repeated thrice till it flows in a straight line.

The following day Paisari puja is performed by the Kalo at the dera of the bride`s party. The puja is observed for the welfare of the bride`s party. The bride and groom, well dressed and decked for the puja, are carried on arms to the Marwa. Following a brief dance the bride and the groom arrive at the chhamra khunto where they sit side by side on a mat facing the eastern side. They are accompanied by five Kharia males who remain inside the Marwa screened with clothes. This group includes the two married couples representing both the parties. The members outside the screen perform certain magical practices round the Marwa with axes and swords to ward off evil spirits.

The oil test is again performed by the members parting the bride`s hair by a mango leaf. The members present pour sesame oil from a cup over the parted hair and examine the direction in which the oil flows. It is desirable that the oil flows down towards the middle of the chest otherwise it is believed that the marriage may become unsuccessful. The procedure is repeated until oil flows in the correct direction. Unmarried young men and maidens extract the oil from sesame seeds to be used for the ceremony.

In another ceremony celebrated during the marriage, a Silaut i.e. a curry stone with turmeric, arwa rice and a bundle of thatching grass placed on it is used. The bride facing the rising sun stands over the curry stone with her heels touching the grass bundle while the groom stands over the plough behind her facing east and touching the bride`s heels with his toes. The officiant on the side of the bride`s party holds the left little finger of the groom and dips it in vermilion. A red mark is put on the forehead of the bride, parting of her hair. Similarly the officiant on the groom`s side holds the bride`s left little finger and makes a red mark on the bridegroom`s chest. The ritual is known as Sindur dan (giving of vermilion). Water is sprinkled by a Panch with mango twigs from the two pitchers, first on the couple and then all around shouting mantras and names of the Lord. All the members present also accompany him in reciting the mantras.

The groom then returns home with the bride where the later prepares rice in a new earthen pot, fetching water from a nearby tank. The food cooked for the first time by the bride is offered to the ancestral spirits by the groom along with rice beer. The couple together pray to the ancestral spirits for their happy and prosperous wedded life. They also pray to them to accept the cooked food prepared by his wife.

A widow marriage is however, performed in the bride`s house. The married couple upon returning to the grooms place undergoes a ceremonial purification by drinking a sanctifying mixture made of a few drops of blood of a white cock sacrificed in the name of the Sun God, mixed with pounded turmeric and water.