Bengal has been the land of art, poetry, and music. When it comes to weddings, Bengalis have their unique style, customs, and rituals that make them different from other communities. If you are a Bengali, you should know certain Bengali marriage rituals followed and performed at wedding venues in Kolkata.
Bengali marriage customs followed at wedding venues
Here are a few Bengali marriage traditions performed in marriage halls in South Kolkata:
Aashirbaad (Engagement ceremony)
The engagement ceremony or aashirbaad signifies the blessings for a happy married life. It is usually performed at banquet halls in Kolkata on a day convenient to both families. The bride and groom are blessed by exchanging rings and gifts.
Aiburo Bhaat (Bachelor ceremony)
Aiburo bhaat, or bachelor ceremony, is one of the most awaited programs where the bride and groom are offered the last official meal of the bachelor’s life. It is usually celebrated on the day before the marriage date. Nowadays, it has also been celebrated with the mehandi ceremony.
Gaaye holud (Haldi ceremony)
This ritual is performed on the morning of the wedding day, where the groom is first smeared with turmeric paste by seven married women of his family, followed by bathing the groom. After that, the turmeric paste used by the groom is sent to the bride along with oil, fragments, cosmetic products, saree, sweets, and a big artfully decorated fish. Then the bride is smeared with the same turmeric paste used on the groom. To bathe the bride, the water procured from a pond or river by her female family members is used.
Wearing Sankha & Pola (Bangle ceremony)
On the day of marriage, a pair of sankha (white conch shell bangle) and pola (red bangle) are worn by a Bengali bride. It is performed after completing the Haldi ceremony.
Bor jatri (Arrival of the groom and his family members)
It is a ritual when the groom's group arrives together at the bride’s place and is welcomed by the bride’s family.
Subho Drishti (First glance)
It is an occasion during the Bengali wedding when the Bride and Groom meet face to face and make their first glance at each other.
Mala bodol (Exchanging garlands)
It is another significant ritual when the bride and groom exchange each other’s garlands.
Somprodan (Giving away ritual)
It is one of the most auspicious during a Bengali wedding when the bride’s father or any senior male member of the bride’s family officially gives her away to the groom and ties their hands with a holy thread with Vedic chants and mantras.
Soptopodi (7 rounds)
In this ritual, the bride and groom take seven rounds around the holy fire of yagna, followed by offering puffed rice on the holy fire as a tribute.
Sindoor daan (Putting vermillion)
It is the last ritual of a Bengali wedding, where the groom puts vermillion on the hair parting of the bride’s forehead.
These are the rituals followed by Bengalis during marriages at wedding venues in Kolkata.
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