Bengali weddings (West Bengal and Bangladesh) are traditional events that are both fun and dramatic.
Many multi-day rituals are designed to connect families, ancestors, and cultures. Some pre-wedding rituals include:
Vridhi Puja: A ceremony performed separately by the bride and groom’s families to seek blessings from ancestors and deities for a successful wedding and marriage.
Dodhi Mangal: A ritual where the couple’s respective families feed them a special meal of sweetened rice and yogurt, symbolizing blessings for their marital life.
Gayeholud: This is a tradition similar to the Haldi in other Indian cultures where the bride and groom are cleansed with a turmeric paste.
The wedding day is a colorful and rich experience with several unique cultural traditions. They include:
Adhibas Tattva: Like the Milni in other Indian traditions, the groom and his family are welcomed to the ceremony by the bride’s family and the groom is offered a seat on a special mat (Asan).
Aalta Ador: This is where the bride’s hands and feet are adorned with red dye (red alta) to show her marital status.
Saankha Porano: Here, the groom presents the bride with a conch shell (saankha), filled with betel leaves and sindoor (vermilion powder), symbolizing his acceptance of her as his wife.
Mala Bodol: During this part of the ceremony the bride and groom exchange floral garlands representing the mutual respect they hold for each other.
Saptapadi: Like in Hindu wedding ceremonies, the bride and groom take seven steps together around the sacred fire (Agni) while reciting vows.
Sampradan: This is where the bride’s father formally gives the bride away, symbolizing the transition from parental to marital home.