Indian weddings, especially Bengali weddings, are well-known for their rich customs and traditions! If you have been a part of a Bengali wedding, you must be aware of the long string of rituals that the couple has to go through before their wedding day.
Basically, the pre-wedding rituals are long-standing traditions to pamper the bride and the groom before their D-day! Let’s take a tour and learn about the various pre-wedding rituals of a Bengali wedding and the importance of having a couple pre-wedding photoshoot to capture the memories of a lifetime!
Bengali Pre-Wedding Customs & Rituals
1. Aashirbaad
The wedding festivity in a Bengali family begins with the Aasirbaad. It takes place a couple of days before the wedding, and is quite similar to that of an engagement ceremony! The ritual encompasses both the bride and groom being blessed by their family members and their in-laws, and marks the advent of a wedding in a Bengali family.
2. Aiburobhaat
You know about a bachelorette party, right? Well, the Aiburobhaat ceremony is just a traditional Bengali ritual that celebrates the bachelorhood of the bride and the groom before they finally tie the knot.
Both the bride and the groom are offered a plate full of authentic and traditional Bengali cuisines by their families. It’s a joyous occasion filled with laughter and blessings that symbolises the last meal as bachelors for both the bride and the groom.
3. Ganga Nimontron
The Ganga Niomontron is surely one of the most unique pre-wedding rituals in Bengali weddings. Since rivers are worshipped as deities in India, a long-standing tradition of Bengali families is to invite Maa Ganga during a wedding occasion.
The Ganga Nimontron tradition involves a limited procession of female family members who visit the river to honor the deity and extend the invitation. This ritual usually happens at the wake of dawn and is perhaps one of the best times to conduct a pre-wedding shoot in Kolkata, as the morning sun casts a magical glow over the sacred river, and helps create a mesmerizing backdrop that is perfect for any photographer.
4. Wedding Piris
Wedding piris are wooden seats that are reserved for the bride and groom to sit during the wedding ceremony. These piris are first painted and decorated by relatives or friends, and are brought to the bride’s home, a day before or on the day of the wedding itself.
When the wedding piri is handed over to the groom’s family, the ritual is characterised by blowing conch shells, and exchange of gifts between the two families.
5. Dodhi Mangal
Dodhi Mongol also referred to as “morning meal for the would-be couple,” is an early morning ritual conducted on the day of the wedding. Both the bride and the groom are given soaked chire (flattened rice), mixed in doi (youghurt).
Although traditions say that the couple has to keep fast for the entire day till their marriage is completed, it’s not that much of a staunch rule that couples like to follow nowadays!
6. Gaye Holud
Gaye Holud, or what is commonly known as “Haldi” is surely one of the most vibrant rituals that takes place in a bengali family on the day of the wedding! A turmeric paste is prepared, which is applied to the groom at first. After that, the same paste is sent to the bride’s home, and the same rituals are followed.
For any wedding event photography services, the Gaye Holud ceremony is one of the best rituals to show off their skillset! It’s a lot like playing Holi, where the turmeric paste plays the role of the colours effectively!
The Role of Professional Photographers
Professional photographers play one of the most vital roles in the entire event of a Bengali wedding. From covering the whole pre-wedding rituals to capturing the precious moments during the wedding event, they are the real heroes behind the lens who help us create memories through their snaps!
If you want to cover your whole wedding event, along with the best pre-wedding photoshoot ideas, we at Couple Story are here to serve you with the best wedding photographers in Kolkata. We have a talented team who can effectively cover your entire wedding events from head to toe, and serve you with the best candid wedding photography services that you can cherish for a lifetime.