After the matrimonial
ritual is over, ‘Kanyadan’ is performed. The Bengali
community calls it the ‘Sampradaan’. ‘Sampradaan’,
unlike in other Indian matrimonials, is not conducted by the father,
but instead by the paternal uncle. Then the ‘Saat Pheras’
take place around the agni (sacred fire). The couple then stays
at the bride’s house while rest of the groom’s family
leaves. The bride and groom are made comfortable and much gaiety
and festivity follows.
In the Bengali wedding, the groom adorns the forehead of his wife
with Sindhur (vermilion) the next day. The Bengali couple then
worships the Sun God. After the luncheon, the elders bless the
couple and gifts are showered upon them. Like in all Indian matrimonial
the ritual of ‘Bidai’ takes place. The couple then
leaves for the groom’s house. It is here that the bride
is formally invited into the family and the groom promises responsibility
for her.
The Bengali
wedding also has the ‘Bou Baran’, which is a post
- matrimonial ceremony to welcome the bride. The groom's elder
brother's wife holds a plate containing lac dye and milk under
the bride's feet. The bride dips her feet in this and is lead
into the house. The bride then has her first meal at her in-laws
and this is known as ‘Basar Ghar’.
The Bengali wedding ceremony is followed by a true Bengali reception
in the evening, which is hosted by the groom's father. The last
of the post - matrimonial ceremonies is known as the ‘Phool
Saja’ and this occasion sees the bride in a new sari and
the groom in a new dhoti and kurta. The couple’s bedroom,
to which they will retire, is beautifully adorned with flowers.
Bengali matrimonial definitely does not include any of the loud
celebrations associated with weddings in North Indian wedding,
neither is it a quiet or colourless affair. It is in fact the
mingling of two minds in perfect harmony, reflecting the sensuousness
of the Bengali community.
