The distinct influence of various religious people living in the country, age-old customs, and modern trends make Bangladeshi wedding traditions look like a synthesis of many cultures. A normal wedding in Bangladesh spreads over three days, and rituals, including pre-nuptial rituals, marriage ceremonies, and related customs are typically Bangladeshi in nature. The wedding attire, food, jewelry, and decoration reflect a blend of both modern ideas and traditional ethos. Ethnic Muslim and Hindu Bangladeshi marriage ceremonies are interspersed with customs from each other that are very much the part and parcel of the distinct Bengali culture.
Distinctive Cultural Trait of Bangladeshi Wedding
I have personally experienced a wedding in Bangladesh. Whether it is Hindu or Muslim marriage ceremony, a Bangladeshi marriage is distinct in its character. In villages of interior Bangladesh, traditional matchmakers, Ghotoks, act as the middleman in matchmaking. According to customs, a match is sought on the basis of equal social and economic status. Unlike many traditional Muslim societies where women have the right to choice, Bangladeshi women are allowed to select one out of six matches chosen by the family elders. However, with online matchmaking gaining popularity, people living in urban areas have greater freedom, especially working women.
Ring ceremony is the stepping stone to wedding. Traditionally, families of both the bride and the groom visit each other’s house on separate days and the eldest members from both families present rings and clothes to the bride and the groom. It is followed by ceremonies, such as gift giving, blessing by elders, and sweet rice ritual. The customary turmeric ceremony, popularly known as Gaye Holud, takes place two days before the marriage both at the residencies of the bride and the groom. These rituals are common to both Hindu and Muslim weddings in Bangladesh. I have also seen these customs as part of Hindu Bengali marriage ceremonies in Bangladesh, India, and abroad.
Dining in a Bangladeshi wedding also represents cultural synthesis. I have found Biryani, an ethnic Muslim delicacy, in almost all Bangladeshi marriage ceremonies. I have also seen rice and fish curry, the essential part of Bengali cuisine, in wedding feasts. I have also seen qawwali, traditional Muslim music programs, part of Hindu marriage in Bangladesh.
Emerging Bangladeshi Wedding Trends
The social changes gradually sweeping Bangladeshi society have enriched the cultural fusion of wedding ceremonies. The traditional blend of Hindu and Muslim cultural traits has further opened up to include other traditions. The bridal attire and makeup have changed according to contemporary styles. The designer lehengas have replaced famed Bangladeshi saris as the chosen bridal wear. The red color is no more sacrosanct and all pervasive. I have seen the brides and grooms wearing pink, blue, and bright yellow designer clothes. Film songs, disco parties, bachelor parties, and comedy shows are more recurrent than the traditional qawwali performances. The food has become international, though fish, rice, and Biryani continue to be there. In many wedding ceremonies, I have enjoyed Punjabi, continental, Italian, French, Chinese, and Indian culinary.
I have found Bangladeshi wedding ceremonies the most suitable to witness the intermingling of different cultures. Traditional rituals blended with modern entertainment, ethnic feeling aided by contemporary style, and international dining combined with diverse religious elements make Bangladeshi marriage a unique experience.
