Top 7 Sacred Traditions Of Bengali Brahmin Wedding

The traditional Indian marriage is well-full of traditions-and meaningful rituals that the adherents hold dear to their hearts. How can it be differently? Among the many communities residing in West Bengal, Bengali Brahmins have some of the most complex yet interesting marriage rituals.

Any Bengali Brahmin Matrimony is complete without these gamuts of traditions and it is considered inauspicious to avoid even one of them. Hence, on that note, let’s look at the different traditions associated with the Bengali Brahmin marriage.

Sacred traditions of Bengali Brahmin matrimony

Love them or hate them, traditions are passed down from our ancestors and form a crucial aspect of the wedding ceremony. Not without reason tho! These traditions and rituals are a way of blessing the newly married pair, helping them feel comfortable with each other, and introducing the families on both sides that will now become related.

So let’s look at top of the most sacred and inevitable traditions surrounding Bengali Brahmin marriages

1. Adhibas

This is the first event that kicks off the celebrations. In this ceremony women from the bride and groom’s houses visit each other’s homes carrying 7 betel leaves and nuts. Furthermore, the bride’s female relatives also carry small coconuts from the bride’s house to the groom’s place. Ultimately, elders from both families bless the couple and sanctify them for the remaining rituals that proceed with this first one.

2. Adan Pradan

This is the very first ritual performed as part of Bengali marriages. During this ritual, both the households give consent for the marriage in the presence of the priest. The marriage date is also fixed during this time. As times goes by, such rituals bear no importance as people started doing all these over the phone.

3. Gaye Holud And Aaye Buro Bhaath

During this ceremony, Bengali Brahmins give up eating fish. They hold or apply a turmeric paste to the bodies of the groom and bride to purify them for the upcoming marriage. In modern times, friends and family of the bride and groom participate in this ceremony intended to cleanse, purify and make ready.

4. Ashirabad

On the afternoon of the day before the marriage, this interesting and fun ceremony takes place. The bride and groom are fed their favorite dishes in their respective houses. This is their last meal as an unmarried person and can be compared with the stagnation party of western culture.

5. Puja or Vridhi

For Bengali Brahmins, prayer or worship is an important aspect of their daily lives. Hence on the auspicious occasion of marriage, they choose to perform Vridhi or Puja to their gods. Families of both the bride and groom go to their respective ancient temples and offer prayers to their family deities. The bride and groom’s paternal uncles have to perform the rituals associated with the Vridhi.

6. Gaye Holud

Bengali brides celebrate this ritual with much gaminess. Turmeric(Holud in Bengal) plays a key role in this ritual. The bride touches the paste prepared with turmeric and later sends it to the bride to be applied on her face and body. The women folks in the bride’s place helps the bride to get smeared with turmeric paste and they enjoy this ritual with lots of laughter and fun. The bride then will have a bath, concluding this ritual.

7. Ganga bathing or churakaran

This ritual takes place to please Goddess Ganga. At the beginning of the wedding day, early in the morning, female relatives of the couple, take water from the River Ganges and perform a ritual bath. It is only after this bath that the rituals of the day are permitted to begin.

8. Wearing Of The Shaka Paula

Wearing the Shaka Paula is another holy rite, where the to-be bride has to wear red and white bangles, made traditionally of coral and shell. These are gifts from the husband of the bride. As she dons the sacred churis, she remembers that they are the mark of a married woman and gracefully accepts them.

9. Sampradan

It is a sacred ritual where the bride’s father hand over their daughter to the groom. This ritual is performed inside the mandap.

10. Adhibas Tatva

During this ritual, the bride’s family carry gifts to the groom, especially in a copper vessel decorated with color papers. The gifts included clothes, sweets, and other exclusive items.

11. Feeding Brahmin Kids

This ceremony is well known across the different sects and castes of the Bengali cloth. It involves feeding Brahmin children in a large group. This ritual is a method of sharing the happiness of the married couple with others. Additionally, there is a feast for the priests and the food for them is prepared in a different quarter of the house.

12. Kubi Patta

This ritual is performed by both the groom and the bride. The ritual happens at their residences where the God of Gold ‘Kubera’ is worshiped. The ritual mostly happens on the marriage day.

13. Saat Paak

In this Bengali wedding ritual, the bride will be seated in a wooden table which her brothers lift to take her around the groom in seven circles.

14. Anjali

During this Bengali wedding ritual, the couple offer puffed rice into the yagna (sacred fire). It is the bride’s brother who will be giving the rice to the bride. Simultaneously, the groom holds the bride’s hand to pour the offering.

15. Bou Boron

This is the ritual where the couple is welcomed at the groom’s place. The bride places her feet on a platter full of dye and milk. She then walks into the house indicating she is all set to begin her new life.

Conclusion:-

Bengali Brahmin marriage is full of holy rites and meaningful traditions. These traditions are a beautiful way of solemnifying the sacred union between two souls, and two families.

They hold special significance to the adherents and consequently are carried out with devotion and love. Therefore, usher in the blessedness of married life with these sacred rites.

Thank you!😊