Everything You Need To Know About Bengali Wedding Rituals

Introduction 

When we speak about Bengali culture, rasgullas and puffy kachoris along with potato curry first come to our mind. Right? And why shouldn't it be? Bengali traditions are so sweet and elegant. However, there is something sweetest of all. Yes, the bengali wedding rituals! There are several ceremonial practices which have transformed over time. 

Pomp & Show, the bengali wedding planner in kolkata aims to highlight some important points regarding the rituals of bengali wedding. Before beginning, you can check out our pricing if you’re looking for a budget wedding planner in kolkata. We provide affordable services and our clients have verified us as the best bengali wedding planner in kolkata.

What Are Some Famous Bengali Wedding Rituals?

Following are some popular rituals of bengali marriage that witness love, purity, and sacredness.

1. Adan Pradan 

The bengali wedding rituals list starts with the ceremony of Adan Pradan. Here, the families of both bride and groom meet to finalise the wedding date. This happens when both of them have liked each other and agreed to the marriage.

The priests follow up to decide the date as per the Hindu Panjika. Some families also exchange gifts. The affair is very plain and private and very few guests are inhibited. The outfits for these rituals of bengali wedding are also simple.

2. Ashirbad

The groom’s family and relatives visit the bride to shower her with gifts and blessings. These bengali wedding rituals step by step mark the inclusion of brides in their families. The pair is blessed with rice and husk (trefoil leaves).

Most families don’t conduct this ceremony before the wedding day but before the event itself. A grand lunch is followed by acceptance of gifts like jewellery and dresses.

3. Aiburo-Bhaat 

These bengali wedding traditions refer to the last meal the couple will have as unmarried. It comprises all their favourite dishes. It takes place in the respective houses of the bride and groom. 

Both wear their best outfits and the colour involves red, pink, etc. for the bride. The groom has to wear Kurta and Pyjama. It is a big ceremony and marks the beginning of the grand rituals of bengali wedding. 

4. Nit Bor and Nitcone 

Bor and Kone refer to the groom and bride respectively. The Nit bor is a male child who will accompany the groom from the aiburo-bhat till the wedding. The same is done to the bride from her family. The female child is referred to as Nit Kone.

There is no religious significance behind these bengali wedding traditions. However, it brings a lot of joy to both children. Moreover, they’re showered with gifts.

5. Shankha Pola 

Apart from the sindur daan in bengali wedding, the bride wears conch shell bangles on both wrists. These are red corals and are known as Shankha Pola. The bride wears these from the wedding eve and only her close family is there.

6. Ganga Nimantran

In this traditional wedding ceremony, River Ganga is invited. Some family members march towards the river blowing Shankh, or conch shells. They carry betel leaves and nuts, turmeric, and a lit-up diya. You can do it at a nearby pond or lake if you don’t live near Ganga.

7. Dodhi Mangal

The bengali wedding rituals start before the daybreak. The bride and groom are given flattened rice (chuda) mixed with sweet yoghurt or Mishti Doi. This is the only meal both of them will consume till marriage. They are not allowed to eat anything except sweets and water.

8. Nandi Mukh

These ceremonial wedding traditions include paying homage to the ancestors of forefathers. The bride and groom have to sit with the eldest member of their respective families to perform the ritual. This vedic ceremony also involves a priest. The bride has to wear a new cotton saree for this occasion. 

9. Gaye Holud 

These bengali wedding rituals for groom and bride are similar to a Haldi ceremony. However, there are some differences. It is first performed at the groom’s residence at an auspicious time. 

Some of the turmeric that had been smeared on the groom’s face are brought to the bride’s house by his family. Along with that, a new saree, generally a cotton one in yellow and red is also brought for the bride. 

All these start only after the bengali wedding ashirwad ceremony. After wearing the saree, the holud function starts getting performed at her residence. All the family members start smearing each other too, just like Holi! 

After that, the groom takes a bath in the water brought from a nearby waterbody or river early in the morning. This water is brought by a newlywed couple from their respective families.

10. Tatta

This bengali wedding fish ceremony includes different kinds of ethnic outfits, cosmetics, and accessories for the couple. The gifts are also presented to their family members. These come in decorated trays which are decorated by the family and friends days before the wedding. 

The groom’s family also sends turmeric along with these to the bride. Hence, this ceremony is also called gaye holud er tatta. The gifts are sent on the day of the bou bhat.

11. Bor Boron

These bengali wedding rituals include welcoming the groom. He comes along with his friends and family, also known as the bor jatri. This ritual is performed by the bride’s mother. She lights a lamp on a kula or a bamboo winnow. She conducts an aarti and offers him sweets and water.

12. Patt Bastra

These main bengali rituals marriage take place under the chhadnatola or the wedding mandap. The groom has to change his attire into what is called patta bastra before the wedding begins. 

Conclusion

In this article, we came across some specific rituals of bengali marriage. These are not only auspicious but also remind us of our culture. Each one has its significance in the married couple’s life. Want to know more about these before planning your matrimony? Talk to pompnshow, which is the best bengali wedding planner in kolkata.