Popular Bengali Wedding Rituals & traditions You Should Know

Bengali weddings are a reflection of their rich culture and colorful traditions. The age-old rituals practiced in Bengali weddings are a visual treat for the eyes. The auspicious sounds of conch shells, eye-pleasing rituals, the fragrance of tube rose flowers and scrumptious Bengali dishes are what make a Bengali wedding lively and joyful. From the couple’s blessing ceremony to the welcoming of the bride to her new home, you will never have a dull moment in a Bengali wedding. To see these mesmerizing wedding rituals, you can check a portfolio of famous Kolkata wedding photographer. But if you want to know the details of every ritual celebrated at the Bengali wedding then keep reading this blog. Scroll down and enjoy learning about the fun-filled and picturesque Bengali wedding.

1. Ashirbaad

2. Aiburobhaat

3. Sankha Pola

4. Ganga Nimantran

5. Dodhi Mongal

6. Vridhi Pujo

7. Gae Holud

8. Bor Boron

9. Saat Paak

10. Shuubho Drishti

11. Mala Bodol

12. Sampradaan

13. Yagna

14. Saptapadi

15. Anjali

16. Sindur Daan

17. Bashor Ghor

18. Bidai

19. Bodhu Boron

20. Bhat Kapor

21. Bou Bhat

To make it easy to understand, we have further divided the rituals of bengali wedding into three parts – Pre wedding, wedding, and post-wedding rituals.

Pre-Wedding Rituals –

1. Ashirbaad

The ashirbaad ceremony is a wedding commitment ceremony of the bride and groom. This traditional ritual marks the union of the couple. The family of the bride and groom plans a small get-together to bless the couple with husked rice, dubyo, sweets, and gifts.

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2. Aiburobhaat

After the ashirbaad ceremony both the bride and groom are invited by their friends and family to serve them a plate full of Bengali delicacies. In simple words, this delicious ritual is a celebration of bachelorhood in life before tying the knot.

3. Sankha Pola

Sankha Pola and noa is a set of traditional jewelry that symbolizes the married status of Bengali women. A Bengali bride needs to wear these beautiful bangles one day before her wedding. Look at this beautiful wedding ritual image clicked by one of the best wedding photographer in kolkata. These coral bangles are worn by the Bengali brides till the end of their married life.

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4. Ganga Nimantran

The Ganga Nimantran is an age-old bengali marriage traditions. This ritual involves the bride’s and groom’s families visiting the nearest pond or river to fill a pitcher with holy water. They also worship the river Ganga and invite her to make her holy presence on the auspicious eve of the wedding.

Wedding Day Rituals –

5. Dodhi Mongal

On the morning of the Bengali wedding, the bride and groom are offered to eat a morning meal made with flattened rice and yogurt. After consuming this meal both the bride and groom need to keep fast till their wedding completes.

6. Vridhi Pujo

Vridhi puja is a traditional bengali wedding rituals that takes place on the morning of the wedding. A family priest is invited to the bride’s and groom’s homes to perform a Vedic ritual. While the priest recites the Vedic mantras both the bride and groom pay homage to their ancestors. They seek blessings from their forefathers for a happy married life.

7. Gae Holud

Bengali haldi ceremony is an auspicious wedding ritual. On the morning of the wedding, the groom is applied with turmeric and sandalwood paste. This Haldi paste is then sent across to the bride’s family with wedding gifts. The adorable bride is then applied the same haldi on her entire body. After the Haldi ritual, both the bride and groom take bath using the water brought from the nearby water body.

8. Bor Boron

As soon as the groom arrives at the wedding venue along with his friends and family the whole wedding environment fills with joy and wedding vibes. The groom is welcomed by the bride’s mother by doing his aarti and feeding him sweets and water.

9. Saat Paak

Saat Paak is one of the beautiful rituals of bengali wedding where the bride is brought to the wedding mandap on a wooden stool. She is uplifted by her brothers on the four sides of the stool. The bride moves around the groom in seven circles to complete this wedding ritual.

10. Shubho Drishti

Both the bride and groom dress in traditional wedding dresses of Bengali culture and look like adorable dolls. After taking seven rounds around the groom the Bengali bride moves the betel leaves away from her face and looks at her charming groom. They exchange the first glance of love by looking at each other known as Shubho Drishti.

11. Mala Bodol

Here comes the most fun-filled custom of a Bengali marriage known as Mala Bodol. The bride and groom exchange floral garlands with each other three times. To add a little humor to this traditional ritual the bride’s brother uplifts her higher to make the garland exchanging a tough task for the groom.

12. Sampradaan

Both the bride and groom sit together in front of a priest. The bride’s father performs the rituals by handing over her daughter’s hand to the groom which is then tied with a sacred thread. The priest recites the wedding mantras as a part of this holy ritual.

13. Yagna

The Yagna involves worshiping the sacred fair or the Agni Dev. The priest chants the Vedic mantra and requests the god of fire to witness the sacred union of the bride and groom.

14. Saptapadi

It may sound like the saat phere ritual of a Hindu wedding but it differs a lot. This wedding ritual involves the couple taking seven steps on seven betel leaves placed on the ground. This wedding ritual solemnizes the couple’s marriage.

15. Anjali

Now the bride and groom both need to offer a tray of puffed rice into the holy fire. This puffed rice is offered to the bride by her brother. The groom holds the bride’s hand from behind and for the offering into the holy fire.

16. Sindur Daan

This is one of the most mesmerizing moments of a Bengali wedding. In a sindoor daan ceremony the Bengali groom smears sindoor on the middle hair parting of the bride’s forehead. After applying the sindoor to the bride her face is covered with a new saree gifted by the groom’s family.

Post-Wedding Rituals

17. Bashor Ghor

Followed by the sindoor ceremony Bashor Ghor takes place. As the couple enters the room called Bashor Ghor, the sister of the bride stops them at the door and demands money from the groom to enter the room.

18. Bidai

Bidai is an emotional tradition performed for centuries in Indian weddings. In this ritual, the bride throws puffed rice over her head to say an emotional goodbye to her beloved. The bride and groom then sit in a flower-decorated wedding car and say goodbye to everyone.

19. Bodhu Boron

After a painful farewell, the bride is welcomed by the groom’s family with love and warmth. Both the bride and groom seek blessing from their elders. The bride needs to step on a vessel filled with milk and Alta to step inside the groom’s house.

20. Bhat Kapor

On the next morning, the groom offers the bride a plate of home-cooked meals and a saree. He promises the bride to take her responsibility till the end of his life.

21. Bou Bhat

Bou Bhat is the last wedding ritual of a Bengali wedding. In Bou Bhat, the groom’s family throws a grand party and invites their friends and family to meet and bless the newlywed couple. After this grand wedding feast both the bride and groom spend their first night in a beautifully decorated room.

Hopefully, you get to know everything about a Bengali marriage from this Bengali wedding ritual list.