If you have ever witnessed a Bengali wedding, you will agree that it is a visual delight from start to finish. Just like most Hindu weddings, they are blended with rituals and traditional custom with a certain touch of modernity. They are full of vivacity and color. New relations are made and those which were already there are strengthened. In a way, a Bengali wedding ritual signifies the beginning of a journey that is new not just for the couple, but the entire clan.
Here are some of the things you need to remember when planning Bengali wedding after successful matrimony:
The Ceremony Planning
You will need to decide who is going to perform the main rituals at the ceremony. You are at liberty to hire a priest from a common source or a trusted agency. Remember that, there is a need for an old granny from the paternal side who will be required to know the details of the rituals. As per your budget, the priest will give you the list of things which you will require for the success of the ritual. You will have to show all these to the Dosho-korma Bhandar so that you get all the requirements.
Planning the Celebrations
At this stage, you will have to decide on the lighting, venue, catering, fountains, flower arrangements, topiary,and other things. The BorJatri occurs at the home of the bride but if the home cannot accommodate many people, you are at liberty to book a hall. The decoration of the canopy and alter (chandnatolla) can be done by the event manager. This is mostly done by someone in the family who has a good experience in decorations. When doing so, you will need to remember that, the best photos of the wedding will be at this stage and thus, it needs to be well decorated.
Preparation of the Bride
A Bengali bride wears Banarasi Saree which is usually in red color with a border that is golden. There will be a need to buy some few sarees which will be required at the various ceremonies. For the bride’s makeup on the D-day, you can hire a beautician. During the ceremony, you will also require good quality turmeric powder and Chandan
Preparation of the Groom
During Bengali wedding, the groom puts on Punjabi and dhoti which is made from silk or cotton. It needs to be stitched in advance to make the fitting perfect. For the big day, he will require a topor.
Gifts planning
The groom and his family are normally gifted Tatwo by the bride’s family which includes items which will be used in daily life. There is also normally a copper plate which is meant for the oil and turmeric. A big raw fish, big earthen pot for pantua or rosogolla and a variety of sweets made of Khowa or Kheer are also included. Other than this, the elders of the family also need to be gifted. The whole ceremony of gifting is known as Aashrbadi and it includes a kurta and a saree.
