The exquisitely crafted and designed Wooden Marriage Litter is a ceremonial structure meant for the Santhal traditional forms of marriage, which is one of the biggest indigenous communities of India that has the population concentrated in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar. The marriage litter is the image of a horse-shaped head, signifying strength, riches, and piousness during marriage.

Like many other artifacts, the decline of marriage litter has been seen with modernization, although lethal attempts are being made toward preserving such cultural heritage. Many artisans continue making wooden artifacts in the modern trend with influences from traditional designs to add a touch of their rich artistic legacy. These litters remain vital to the representations of Santhal tribal identity and artistic expression.

Crafted in carving, the litter is shaped by the skilled Santhal artisans from hard, durable wood that is best suited for both functional and artistic elegance. The horse head end of the litter forms one of the most significant parts, signifying the close association of the Santhals with nature and their belief in horsepower, protection, and auspiciousness. To the beauty of the form, they add other decorative items like floral or geometrical patterns.
The marriage litter was used to carry the bride to her in-laws, signifying the consummation of nuptial life. This very loud transfer was with the accompaniment of music and dance and rituals, all of which reminded Santhal society about the importance of marriage. This beautifully and intricately carved wooden litter thus served the dual purpose of transportation, as well as a symbol of community pride and craftsmanship.