Occassions at the bengali marriage

Ashirbaad – The beauty of ashirbad has been time and again incorporated into the occasion of Bengali marriage.On an auspicious day the elders of the groom’s side go to bless the bride and vice versa, by sprinkling husked rice (not muri!)and trefoil on their heads and giving them gold ornaments or imitations as be the nature of the marriage ceremony. It is a kind of acceptance of the boy and the girl on both sides.

Aai Budo Bhaat – A bachelorette party for the bride before the D-day thrown by relatives or friends. It signifies their approval as well, and also encourages community feeling.”Community” means eating at the buffet asking deliberately what is at the plate: since all are not vegetarians, and for no fault of the bride or groom the guests may eat mistakenly what they never eat.Eating in good spirit is utmost important to make the marriage ceremony a successful one.Some delicacies may be made in a solely creative simplicity and look absolutely complex to digest keeping in mind the health concerns and the companionship at the buffet.

Holud Kota – A ceremony in which five or seven married women of the household grind turmeric with mortar and pestle (or even the mixer grinder incase elders are not present at the occassion on time )and anoint the bride with turmeric paste.This brightens up the bride’s complexion and makes her skin glow to a yellowish tint the next day.

Dodhi Mongol - At dawn on the day of marriage seven married ladies adorn the bride’s hands with the traditional bangles Shakha and Paula – one pair of red and one pair of white bangles, and feed her a meal of curd (dahi) and rice, the single meal for the entire day.There is no milk required at the occasion, since the occassion of the rose petals in a broad “patila” comes straight afterwards in which the bride and groom search for the immersed item.