Bengali wedding in India

• By thegreenbunk
• July 9, 2015
• With 0 comments

Weddings in India are not just occasions to celebrate the coming together of two individuals; they are occasions that celebrate the coming together of two families amidst great fanfare.

India is a country where one can find a multitude of cultures and rituals. All 29 states and 7 union territories of India have their own distinct traditions and rituals when it comes to weddings. West Bengal is one such state situated in the eastern part of India. Today we take a look at a traditional Bengali wedding.

Weddings in Bengal are an elaborate affair. Bengali Hindu weddings can be divided into two different segments of rituals – Ghoti and Bangal. The wedding comprises of both pre-wedding and post-wedding rituals. Each ritual has its own significance and meaning.

The wedding starts with the ritual of ‘Ashirbad’ or the ceremony of blessings. The bride’s family visits the groom’s home and vice versa with gifts like clothes, cosmetics and special food items like sweets, fruits and the ever-present fish – which has a special place of its own in traditional Bengali cuisine. Parents and relatives of the bride and the groom wish them a happy married life. Both the families exchange gifts, which are called “totto” in Bengali. Family members and friends celebrate this occasion by dancing and dining with each other.

The next ritual is the Narayan puja. This ceremonial worship of lord Narayana or Vishnu is held the day before the wedding. The bride and groom seek the blessings of lord Vishnu before proceeding towards their marital life.

The night before the wedding, the ritual of “Gaye holud” or the ceremony of turmeric application is carried out. Married women from both, the groom and bride’s family go to the closest water body to collect water for this ritual. The women carry water in a traditional vessel known as “Kolshi” to a nearby temple where the priest blesses the water. Turmeric is considered holy by Hindus and it is also extremely good for the skin. Hence, a paste of ‘Holud’ or turmeric mixed with sandalwood paste is applied on the bride’s and the groom’s face and body on this day. After the paste has been applied, the bride and groom are bathed with the water, which has been fetched and blessed earlier.

The night of wedding finally arrives… before the groom leaves his house to marry his bride and bring her back with him, he sits on the lap of his mother to seek her blessings and permission to go ahead. The groom has to wear the traditional decorative headgear known as ‘Topur’ which is brought by the relatives of the bride.

The groom leaves for the bride’s house along with his relatives. On reaching the bride’s place the mother of the bride welcomes the groom by performing an aarti known as ‘boron’. The groom is then offered sweets and welcomed inside.

He then sits for the wedding rituals before the holy havan fire. The Bride takes seven rounds around the groom before sitting beside him. The next ritual is that of the ‘Shubho dristi’. Here the bride and the groom see each other for the first time in the entire night. The ritual of ‘mala bodol’ follows this and the bride and groom exchange ‘bor mala’ or flower garlands. The Bride and the Groom take seven rounds of the fire, promising to spend their entire lives together. The bride is given away to the groom in a ritual performed by the father of the bride. This is the ritual of ‘Sampradan’.


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