Rituals At A Bengali Wedding Traditions Fun
If you have ever been lucky enough to witness a Bengali wedding right from the beginning to an end, you might be knowing what we are talking about. A Bengali wedding is an interesting amalgamation of traditions and fun. There are many rituals at a Bengali wedding with some of them even taking place a few months before the wedding. So, if you are a newbie in this and have to get an idea of what exactly happens in a Bengali wedding, then you are at the right place! Let’s have a look at the host of rituals that are followed in a Bengali wedding. Pre-wedding rituals · Adan Pradan– This is the first step in a Bengali wedding where the horoscopes of the brideto-be and the groom are matched, the date for the marriage is fixed and exchange of gifts take place between the two families. Usually, a customary arrangement of a large platter of sweetmeats and dry fruits is exchanged to mark the forging of a new relationship. · Ashirbaad– this ritual can take place a few months before the wedding or even one or two days. This is the day when the bride and the groom are accepted by their in-laws in a formal manner. Here too, exchange of gifts take place with an occasional token of a gold ornament gifted to the bride and the groom. · Ai Budo Bhaat– this is the Indian version of the Christian concept of Bachelor party to celebrate the last meal of the bride-to-be in her own home before she gets married and moves away. A typical assortment of Bengali delicacies such as fish, luchis, vegetables and sweets, are arranged on a platter for the occasion from where close relatives and friends feed her. To suit the occasion, choose a gorgeous silk saree from your mother’s wardrobe and team it up with contemporary jewellery. · Dodhi Mangal –in this ritual, the mother of the bride accompanied by the close relatives of the family, together in a procession, bring a pitcher filled with water from a nearby river or waterbody which is later used for bathing the bride after her gaaye holud. Nowadays the bride’s family execute this ritual with as much pomposity as a bor jatra.
· Gaaye Holud –this is a fun time before the wedding. A ‘twatto’ comprising of sarees for the bride and other family members, grooming products for the bride, essential items, sweets, fruits, a Rohu fish are the items among others which are exchanged between the two families on the morning of the wedding. Some members of the groom’s family apply haldi over the bride-to-be and a new saree is presented to her. Since, this time of the day is all about haldi, you could don a nice yellow cotton saree and requests family and friends to do the same! The wedding · Bor Jatri and Bor Baran– as soon as the groom’s family arrives for the wedding with the groom in a decked-up car, the mother of the bride along with other relatives receives the groom with sweets and occasionally, a gold ring is gifted to the groom. · Potto Bastra– this is when the seat at the mandap is occupied by the groom and an elderly male member of the family who would later perform the ritual of ‘sampradaan’, gifts the groom new clothes which are to be worn during the wedding. · Shubho drishti and saat paak– this is when the bride enters the mandap, seated on a low wooden stool carried by her brothers seven times round the groom, her face hidden by betel leaves. She removes the leaves only when she sees the groom. · Mala badal– the bride and the groom exchange garlands thrice to signify each other’s acceptance. Fun element to the ritual is added when both the sides try to host the bride and the groom as high as possible to make it difficult for the garland to reach the other’s neck. · Sampradaan– the elderly male member of the family hands over the bride’s hands to the groom and binds them with a sacred thread. · Yagna and Saat paak– bound by the thread, the couple performs some rites before the fire and take seven rounds which ends in the solemnization of their marriage. · Anjali– the bride’s brother places some puffed rice in her hands and she, then assisted by the groom pours the rice into the fire. · Sindoor daan and Ghomta– the wedding culminates with the groom applying vermilion on the bride’s forehead and a new saree, preferably a Banarasi saree is kept as a veil over the bride’s head. So, if you are all set to get married this wedding season, don’t worry because Indian Silk House Agencies has got you covered with its beautiful collection of wedding sarees so as to make your wedding all the more worthwhile! For more, log on to www.indiansilkhouseagencies.com. - See more at: http://silkhouseindiaelb-239007537.ap-south-1.elb.amazonaws.com/blogdetails/rituals-at-a-bengali-wedding-traditions-fun-and-more#sthash.cJVWnicl.dpuf