Like in most many of the world, wedding ceremonies in Bangladesh are celebrated with pomp and zest. Generally, two types of marriages are prevalent in Bangladesh – Muslim marriages and the Hindu marriages. Although there are a number of rituals which are different in these two weddings, they have a lot in common as well. It is a delight to see a traditional wedding ceremony in Bangladesh.
Wedding Preludes
Nearly two days before the wedding day, a pre-marriage ritual takes place at the bride’s home. It is a Henna ceremony, where the new bride’s hands and feet are embellished with Henna. In Bangladesh it is often termed as the Mehendi Sondha. It is an informal gathering of the women folks of the family, mostly the bride’s relatives and close friends.
The next day, that is the morning before the wedding day, a ritual called ‘gaye holud’ or turmeric ceremony takes place at the bride’s home. As part of the ritual, the groom’s family, except the groom, comes to the bride’s house and presents her gifts, mostly sarees, jewelries, sweets and other traditional gifts. The groom’s family also brings in turmeric paste which is put all over her face and her body. The ceremony is followed by both Hindus and Muslims in Bangladesh and is considered to very auspicious. The same turmeric is then taken for the groom and the same ritual is celebrated at the groom’s house.
Wedding ceremony
The wedding preludes are more or less the same for both the Muslims and Hindus in Bangladesh. However, the wedding rituals are quite different.
For Muslim, on the day of wedding, the couple is made to sit close to each other in the presence of a Muslim priest called a Kazi. Both the bride and the groom are surrounded by their respective relatives and friends. The kazi asks for consent from the bride and the groom and with their consent sanctifies the marriage. The family of the groom has to give monetary compensation to the bride. This is known as Mahr. The couple offers sweets to each other. The marriage ceremony is followed by music, dance and a feast. A Walima or a wedding reception is normally organized the next evening at the groom’s place. The couple dresses traditionally and greets their friends, relatives and all the invitees. A wedding feast is arranged at the occasion.
For Hindus in Bangladesh, the groom and his family arrives at the bride’s house on the wedding evening. The groom is greeted with bells and conch shells by the bride’s mother. The wedding is performed in the presence of the priest, who chants the mantras. The couple then exchanges garlands and the groom puts vermillion on the bride’s forehead. The Vidaai ceremony takes place the next day when the bride leaves her paternal home to move to the groom’s place. A bou baran ceremony that is welcoming the new bride takes place at the groom’s house followed by several rituals. A reception is held the next evening at the groom’s pllace.
Seeking blessings from elders remain a key part of the wedding ritual for both Muslims and Hindus in Bangladesh.
