Bengali Marriage - An Exuberant Affair

By Author: Ankush Singhal
Total Articles: 173
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Indian culture includes a number of religions and communities, which involve different kind of customs and traditions. Sentiments, emotions, and commitment are the essential elements of a wedding in India, be a Bengali marriage, a Kashmiri marriage, or a south Indian marriage. Marriage in India is considered one of the vital priorities of life and brings a great sense of responsibility for the families as well as newlyweds. The sacred bond of marriage binds two souls and their families. Wedding is the beginning of two individuals, towards a new journey called married life, which is to be spent happily ever after. The purity of the wedding and the relationship of the bride and groom are signified by the virtue of various rituals that are performed during the wedding.

The wedding rituals followed in India are very traditional. Every family follows the same customs that have been followed since the time of their ancestors. However, some contemporary elements are being incorporated nowadays, along with the traditional customs of the past. As marriage is a very important event for a family, Indians give importance to many ...
... the customs included in it. Marriages in India are famous around the world due to colourful traditions, adding charm to the total affair. Due to their faith in the institution of marriage, and the customs involved in it, Hindus regard the marriage as traditional and religious affair.

The culture of the Bengalis is very rich, and similar is the rituals involved in a Bengali Marriage. Every wedding is special, and includes a number of fun filled and interesting customs that charm the people associated with the Bengali marriage. The unique customs make the wedding ceremony special. The traditional customs followed appropriately and strictly, be it a simple wedding or a lavish one.

A Bengali marriage is mainly divided in three phases, which are pre-wedding customs, wedding customs and post wedding customs. Worshipping of god is started during the pre-wedding rituals and various celebrations and customs are marked before wedding. The families of the bride and groom exchange gifts and assortments like sweets, fish, saris, signs of wedding etc. Gaye Halud is an important ritual, where the bride is adorned with turmeric paste. Turmeric paste is believed to bring glow to the bride's skin, and correct all the skin blemishes.

During the wedding rituals, the families of bride and groom meet together at the wedding venue, mainly bride’s home. The couple ties knots amidst the recital of vedic mantras, blowing of conch shells and ululation. The bride’s hair is parted from front and then the groom puts vermilion in it. In the post wedding rituals, the bride bid adieu to her family and joins her new family, which is her in-laws’ family. The bride is welcomed with Bou Bhaat, and the couple is showered with gifts and blessings.

However, some of the traditions followed in a Bengali marriage have changed with the passage of time, and the convenience of the family members. In previous times, the groom arrived at bride's home or the wedding venue, riding a horse. Beautifully decorated cars have taken over the place of horses. The traditional attire of the bride and groom is replaced by beautiful and embellished designer dresses. The traditional wedding venues have converted to well decorated wedding banquet halls, and the jobs being done by the wedding planners. In Bengali community, there is a tradition of applying red alta on hands and feet of bride. These days, the brides hire henna artists to apply mehendi on their hands and feet, and dress in contemporary manner. Modernization in Indian weddings can be clearly identified in the current generation of Bengali community. Still, the rituals and customs have not lost their basic essence, and weddings remain a family affair.

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