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Ceremonies and Rituals
Those of you who have had the good fortune of witnessing a Bengali wedding from the start to the end would surely agree that it is a visual delight. Bengali Hindu weddings like most other Indian weddings are a blend of traditional customs and rituals with a touch of modernity.
These weddings are full of colour and vivacity. Also, marriage leads to the reunion of family members and old friends. New relations are made and old ones get further strengthened. In a way, marriage signifies the beginning of a new journey not just for the couple but for the entire clan.
Pre Wedding Rituals
Let us now turn our attention to the ceremonies
Bengali wedding rituals start a few months prior to the actual wedding. Some of them might have become obsolete with passage of time while others are still meticulously followed.
Groom Ashirbad
February 26, 2021 10:00 AM
On this auspicious day the elders of the bride's side go to bless the groom, by sprinkling husked rice and gifts. Also in this day the bride's father put the ring on groom's finger as a formal acceptance by the family.
Aiburobhat
March 4, 2021 10:30 AM
In Bengal, we traditionally do not have a Bachelor party or bridal shower, but our families help us spend the last few days of Bachelor life. In this ceremonies, the bride and groom are offered with the traditionally Bengali meals in there respective homes.
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Dadhimangal
March 5, 2021 3:30 AM
The wedding day commemorates with Dadhimangal, a ritual where the bride and the groom are fed before sun rises. Generally they get up at 3 to 3.30 am to start the ritual. According to the ritual both of them fast during the day (cannot take any food after Dadhi Mangal). Curd, sweets, chidwa (flattened rice) is usually fed.
Groom - Gaye Holud
March 5, 2021 5:30 AM
Firstly, five or seven married women in the house grind turmeric with mortar and pestle and apply it on the groom’s body. And the same turmeric past is taken to bride's place.
Bride Gaye Holud
March 5, 2021 5:30 AM
The bride is supposed to were a yellow sari and gamchha during Gaye Holud, given by groom's family. Also the entire Gaye Holud is done with turmeric paste brought from groom's side. Then the bride is taken for bath in the holy water from the river/pound.
Bride Ashirbad
March 5, 2021 2:00 PM
The elders of the groom's side go to bless the bride, by sprinkling husked rice. Groom families gift a new saris, a big rohu/carp fish, some other gifts including jewelry, makeup kit, sweets and other edibles.
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Ganga Nimantran (Jalsaz)
March 5, 2021 4:30 PM
After this ceremony usually seven or nine married women (in odd numbers) visits Ma Ganga and she is invited for the wedding. Most conventionally ‘Mami’ (wife of maternal uncle) stay in this group and she leads the team. This is known as Ganga Nimantran.
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Borjatri
March 5, 2021 4:00 AM
Bor Jatri is basically the baarat, where the groom, his family and friends dress up for the wedding and start their journey to the bride’s house or the wedding venue.
Bor Boron
March 5, 2021 6:00 PM
After baarat reaches the bride’s place. Normally the bride’s mother along with other family members welcome the groom and his side of the family by doing aarti with the holy lamp and serving the sweets and drinks.
Wedding Rituals
Marriage Lagan
March 5, 2021 6:19Â PM - 8:17 PM
Saat Paak: This is the ceremony where the brothers of the bride will take her in their hands and complete seven circles. Following this, the bride will sit in the altar next to the groom.
Subho Drishti: After saat paak Bengali marriage ritual, the bride and the groom look at each other in front of guests. The bride removes the betel leaves from the front of her face and looks at the groom. This exchange of loving glance marks the beginning of the couple to be together in witness of their family and friends.
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Mala Badal: Sitting high on the pidi after the shubho drishiti, the bride and the groom exchange garlands of flowers three times. This Bengali wedding ritual marks as the first step of accepting each other as husband and wife.
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Sampradan: Sampradan is basically the equivalent of Kanyadaan in a Hindu wedding ceremony. In the Bengali wedding ritual of Sampradan an elderly male member (almost always, her father) of the bride’s family gives her hand to the groom, when both their hands are tied by a sacred thread while reciting Vedic chants.
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Yagna: In this Bengali marriage ritual, the bride and groom sit in front of the yagna or the sacred fire and chant mantras after the priest.
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Saptapadi: In this Bengali wedding ritual, the couple takes seven rounds around the fire or the yagna, thereby solemnising their marriage.
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Anjali: In this Bengali wedding ritual, an offering of puffed rice is made into the yagna by the bride and the groom. The bride’s brother gives puffed rice in the bride’s hands while the groom holds her hand to pour the offering into the yagna together.
Sindoor Daan: Lastly, the couple will sit on their respective places in Chadna tholla and the groom will apply sindoor on the bride’s head where the hair parts. Then, the bride will cover her head with a new Saree offered by the groom as a veil.
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After these ceremonies the married couples will be taken to the room where they will be offered with the food and will be kept awaken through out the night by bridesmaids.
Post Wedding Rituals
Bidai
March 6, 2021 4:00 PM
Bidaai is the ritual which spells out as ‘goodbye’. It is unarguably the most sentimental part of any wedding. Well, of course. How can the thought of being separated from their child not swell up the parents’ eyes. Everybody loses control during the bidaai because it is the moment of truth. Traditionally, it marks the beginning of the bride’s life as a wife. It also signifies the end of her role as a daughter. Women are equated to Goddess Lakshmi in India – no secrets there. Before leaving for her in laws’ house, the bride performs a ritual which involves throwing rice and coins backwards over her head into her maternal home before crossing the doorstep. It ensures that her home always remains prosperous. The ritual also depicts that she is repaying her parents for bringing her up with so much love. It is a symbol of the bride wishing for her parents home to always remain healthy, wealthy and prosperous.
Bodhu Boron
March 6, 2021 6:00 PM
The bride and the groom enter their new life. The bride goes to the groom's family where again a Bodhu Boronis done. (Bodhu boron is a ritual done after the newly wedded daughter in law enters her in laws home. It is a welcome gesture for the bride by in her in laws.) This time the groom’s mother receives her Chele and Cheler bou – groom and the bride.
Bhaat Kapor
March 6, 2021 6:00 PM
Married couples will arrive by evening at Groom place with the following rituals:-
Bhaat kapor: The husband presents his wife with clothes and sweets on a platters and promises to take care of her for the rest of their lives.
Kaal Ratri: The night the bride comes into her husband’s house, the couple are not allowed to meet each other and are put up in separate rooms.
Mehndi
March 7, 2021 10:30 AM
It's generally happens before the wedding but will commence on this date at grooms place. Mehndi Ceremony is about applying Henna to the bride's hand and feet. This beautiful event takes place usually in the evening amidst a lot of dancing and music by the family members and friends. While the bride has to sit for hours to get the Mehndi art done, many of the female guests also get the Mehndi art done on at least on one hand. This joyous celebration is often sees its complement with singing of traditional songs as well as playing of traditional music instruments like dholak.
Reception
March 7, 2021 5:00 PM
That evening the groom’s family invites their relatives for a reception where they get to meet the new bride and offer their best wishes to the couple. Guests from the side of the groom come and join the gala dinner reception in an attempt to know the new member of the family.
Weeding Night -Â Phool Shojja
March 7, 2021 11:00 PM
The ceremony comes to an end with Full Sojjya where the bed of the newly married couple is decorated with flowers to mark the beginning of a happy married life.
Dwiragaman
March 10, 2021 10:00 AM
8 days after the marriage, the bride returns to his father's home, accompanied by her husband. This is also known as "Ashtomongola". On this day the 'Gat chara' is unknotted. The newly wed couple spends the night at the home of the bride. The Ashtomongola marks the end of the Bengali marriage ceremony.
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Return to Home
March 21, 2021 10:00 AM
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