Bengali Wedding Rituals & Program
Bor Jatri (Baraat)
‘Bor Jatri,’ or baraat, is the groom’s joyous procession to the wedding, where his beautifully dressed friends and families sing and dance till they reach the entrance of the wedding venue. There they are received warmly by the bride’s family, led by her mother who welcomes them with an aarti, sweets, and drinks.
Potto Bostro (Groom’s arrival)
Once the groom arrives at the mandap and is seated, an elder male member of the bride’s family, (her father or maternal uncle who will give away the bride), presents the groom with the auspicious attire that needs to be worn during the nuptials.
Saat Paak (Bride’s arrival)
Now comes the ritual most popularly known and loved in a Bengali wedding – the ‘Saat Paak.’ In this ceremony, the bride has to sit on a low stool which is carried by her brothers seven times in a circle around the groom. She has to coyly cover her face with betel leaves during the process.
Subho Drishti (First Glance)
After the completion of the ‘Saat Paak’ circles, the bride and groom are brought face to face at the ‘Subho Dhristi’ ritual where she slowly lowers the betel leaves and gazes at her groom’s face for the first time. This tender moment of love is celebrated with a grand cheer from their family amidst the blowing of conch shells and ululations.
Maala Bodol (Garland Exchange)
The quintessential ‘varmala’ (garland) ceremony is where the bride and groom put beautiful floral garlands on each other. In Bengali weddings, the garlands are exchanged three times, whereas in other cultures, it is exchanged only once.
Somprodan (Giving Away ritual)
One of the most auspicious rituals of the ceremony, the ‘Somprodan’ marks the moment where the bride’s father, or a senior male member of the family, officially gives her away to the groom. He ties their hands with a holy thread to the symphony of the vedic chants, and this thread is not untied for the rest of the wedding.
Soptopodi (Phere)
As the priest chants vedic verses in front of the holy fire, the bride and groom take seven circles around it on foot, thereby solemnizing their union.
Onjoli (Offering Tribute)
The bride and groom offer their thanks in tribute to the holy fire with puffed rice. The groom stands behind the bride and holds her hands, while she tips the rice on a chaff into the fire.
Sindoor Daan and Ghomta
To mark the end of the wedding rituals and the beginning of their new life as man and wife, the groom smears the bride’s hair parting with ‘sindoor’ (vermillion), and covers her head with a red veil, generally a saree.