WeddingBengali wedding: rituals in order
A Bengali Hindu wedding, the biye, is known for its conch shells and ululation, the bride's red and white, and a series of gentle, graceful rituals. It takes place in the evening.
| Ritual | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Aashirbaad | Before the wedding | Elders of each family bless the bride and the groom with rice, grass and gifts. |
| Aiburo bhaat | The day before | The last grand meal each of them eats in their parents' home before marriage. |
| Dodhi mangal | Dawn of the wedding day | The bride and the groom are each fed a small meal of curd and flattened rice before sunrise. |
| Gaye holud | Wedding morning | Turmeric paste is applied to the groom, and the same turmeric is then sent to the bride's home with gifts. |
| Bor jatri and boron | Evening | The groom's party arrives, and the bride's mother welcomes the groom. |
| Saat paak and shubho drishti | Evening | The bride, seated on a low stool carried by her brothers and hiding her face behind betel leaves, is taken around the groom seven times. She then lowers the leaves and the two look at each other. |
| Mala bodol | Evening | The couple exchange garlands three times. |
| Sampradan | In the mandap | An elder of the bride's family gives her hand to the groom. |
| Yagna and saptapadi | In the mandap | The couple circle the sacred fire and take the seven steps. |
| Sindoor daan | End of the ceremony | The groom applies sindoor to the bride's parting, and her head is covered with a new sari. |
| Bidaai and bou bhaat | The following days | The bride leaves for her new home. At the bou bhaat she serves a meal to her new family, and a reception follows. |
Customs differ from family to family and from place to place. This is a general guide for guests and for couples learning about each other's traditions, not a rule book. Reviewed on 11 November 2026.
If you are a guest
- Expect the sound of conch shells and ululation (ulu) at every happy moment.
- The wedding dinner is a serious matter. Fish is usually part of it.
- Women often wear saris, and red and white are the bride's colours.
- By old custom the bride's mother does not watch the main ceremony, though many families no longer follow this.
Questions people ask
What is shubho drishti?
The moment when the bride lowers the betel leaves from her face and the couple look at each other in front of everyone.
What is bou bhaat?
A meal at the groom's home after the wedding, where the bride serves food to her new family. It is often combined with the reception.
Other traditions
Hindu wedding (North India)Sikh wedding (Anand Karaj)Muslim wedding (Nikah)Christian weddingSouth Indian Hindu weddingMarathi weddingGujarati wedding
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