Bengali marriage traditions

Bengali marriage is an event of huge pomp and excitement and is an elaborate venture with so many traditions as well as rituals that almost extend for a week leaving behind a lot of fun and enjoyment.  Each and every Bengali ritual is associated with an important theme and is quite meaningful for the Bengali grooms and the Bengali brides.

The first and the foremost ritual is to fix a perfect and an auspicious day for the wedding and is known as Patri- Patro. In this, both the groom’s as well as bride’s parents meet up and fix a wedding day. As blessings of the elders are one of the most significant customs in all the communities and matrimony like Teli matrimony, Bengali matrimony etc so is the case in Bengali marriages too. Hence, a Vridhi Puja is kept to remember the ancestors of both the bride’ s and groom’s families.

Then comes the great ceremony of Dodhi Mongal . Quite exceptional to the Bengali community this ceremony observes the bathing of the bride through the holy water poured by the ten married women on the bride’s body.

Gaye Holud: One of the lively Bengali marriage custom which happens few days prior to the wedding in which the Bengali brides are provided gifts and blessings from the groom's family. Haldi and Henna that the bride needs to apply before the wedding too is offered to the bride during the occasion.

It’s always a very emotional atmosphere at the ride’s home as she has to leave her parents home and go to the groom’s home. There is a ceremony known as Ai Buddho Bhaat, which is supposed to be a day prior to the wedding in which all the close relatives and friends are invited. It is supposed to be last meal that the bride will have at her parents residence.

All the Bengali cuisines and delicacies are prepared for this  event like fish, mutton, rasgullas, Sandesh , puri, Bengali vegetables, rice etc. During this, the bride receives good wishes as well as blessings from everyone around.

Finally on the morning of the wedding day the ritual of Dodhi Mongol takes place during which both the groom and bride takes bath and then the beautiful bride is ornamented with the red and white bangles and adorned with jewellery. The seven married women of the home will feed the bride and with the help of two banana leaves the bride is taken to the mandap.

As soon as the groom arrives he is welcomed by the bride’s mother through sprinkling husk rice and groom is taken to the mandap. Finally, the bride is carried on a wooden stool with her face hidden behind the betel leaves and only see the groom once the sacred seventh phera is over. Then the garlands as well as Sampraddan events take place.

After the Bengali brides reach the home then the ritual of Kaal Ratri starts where the bride and groom are asked to sleep separately. The next day the bride cooks the food for the whole family