Around the Globe: The royal start

I was always fond of having signature scent that will remind me of my wedding day again and again. And the best way to save our date was capturing the moments in a creative and unique frame. I met this guy Anupam Chatterjee to shape our wedding in the best of the best ways!

23rd nov 2012

After eleven months of preparations and wait the date is finally here.

Anindya, my handsomest prince, i am so happy to take the vow with you. In a short while i will be your wife and be your Mrs. forever.

Pre Wedding Rituals

The invitation

The cards should not go unnoticed since It flowed all the way from house to relatives to all my friends and colleagues, across the nation and brought everybody on the floor the right time and place. My dad choose the sample and as i said i want it to be small and compact he picked the right size from the Kolkatta's busiest suburban street.

Aai Budo Bhaat

A bachelorette party for the bride before the big-day was thrown by relatives or friends. It signifies their approval and blessing are showered for the upcoming bride.

I actually never had a wide diameter plate before adorn with food filled bowls. Every elder has to give me a bite of sweets and morsel of food and fish. Now here was the biggest challenge i didnt want to cheat on my diet regime neither i want to be rude to eat by checking the calories.

i better starved the whole day to take the food offering in the late evening in "yum" and "thank you" expressions. I also escaped the loud belch in the crowd.

That was the only time i felt myself like a queen and there is no better way to be pampered than with good food cooked with love.

Holud Kota

A ceremony in which five or seven married women of the household grind turmeric with mortar and pestle and anoint the bride with turmeric paste.

I remember everybody was way too happy that day.

Ashirbaad

On an auspicious day the elders of the groom's side go to bless the bride and vice versa, by sprinkling husked rice and trefoil on their heads and giving them gold ornaments. It is a kind of acceptance of the boy and the girl on both sides.

Main Weddin Rituals

Bor Jatri

The members of the groom's house as well as his friends dress in their best attire and journey to the bride's house where the wedding takes place. The groom arrives in the decorated car send by the bride's side.

Bor Boron

When the bor jatri reaches the bride's place, usually the mother of the bride along with other members come out to welcome the groom and his family by showing the holy earthen lamp, sprinkling trefoil, and husked rice placed on a bamboo winnow (kula). Then they are served sweets and drinks.

Potto Bastra

After the groom is seated at the chadnatolla (wedding altar and canopy) - thesanctum sanctorum where only the groom, bride and the priest takes their place, the groom is offered new clothes by the person who is to do the sampradaan - a kind of gift to the boy from the girl's side.

(Consequence, when a groom is not allowed to see his bride.)

Saat Paak

The bride, usually seated on a low wooden stool called pidi is lifted by her brothers and is taken round the groom in seven complete circles. The significance is they are winded up securely to each other.

Mala Badal

After the circles are completed, still sitting high on the piri, the bride and the groom exchange garlands of fragrant flowers thrice. This is the first step in which they accept each other.

Subho Dristi

After garlanding one another the bride and the groom are made to look at each other in front of all the assembled invitees. This exchange of loving glance is to initiate them to be together officially by the society.

( That awkward moment, when looking into his eyes wasnt easy )

Sampradan

The bride then takes her place at the chadnatolla where an elderly male member of the bride's family hands her over to the groom and the couple's hands are bound by the sacred thread amidst recital of Vedic chants and are placed on the mangal ghot - a brass pitcher filled with water that is covered with mango leaves attached to one twig and a green coconut placed on it.

Yagna

The bride and groom sit in front of the sacred fire and chant mantras after the priest.Agni, the fire god is made the divine witness to the marriage.

Saat Paak

Seven circular rounds are taken by the couple around the fire thereby solemnizing the occasion.

Anjali

An offering to the fire is made. The bride's brother puts puffed rice (khoi) in the hands of the bride, and the groom standing close to her holds her hands from the back and extends their arms forward. They then pour the offering into the fire together.

Sindoor Daan and Ghomta

Once again seated at their respective places in chadnatolla the groom applies sindoor or vermilion (a symbol of marriage worn by Hindu women thereafter) on the bride's hair-parting. The bride then covers her head with a new sari offered by the groom as ghomta or veil.

Post Wedding Rituals

Bidaay

This is a farewell - mixed moment of joy and sorrow as the bride is bid adieu with blessings of her parents and relatives to start a new life with her beau.

Kaal Ratri

After the couple reaches the groom's house and the initial welcome ceremony is over they are separated for the night, probably to get a refreshing sleep and prepare for the next day's final wedding ceremony.

Bou Bhaat & Bodhu Boron

The girl cooks and serves all the members of her husband's family. A banquet is held to treat the guests who lavish gifts on the new bride.

Phool Shojja

The couple is adorned with flowers and are left together alone in their room to enjoy conjugal bliss on a bed laid with flowers.

About the rituals none of us were serious. Throughout the chants he was giving naughty glances and i didnt know which side to look, since it was becoming more hard to hide my laugh the shutter never stopped clicking.

Things i learnt about on my W-day

Alpana

The artwork is mainly done by women. It was firstly done in Bengal. They are conscious of the changing moods of the seasons and their creativity thus marks the changing cycle of the year.It is done in black or white color only. However, traditionally in Bengal, alpana is strictly white since the liquid paste used for alpana is rice powder mixed in water.

Topor

The topor is traditionally given to the groom by the bride's family. The groom dons the topor before the main ceremony begins. It is believed to be bring good luck. Brides will typically wear related, but differently-shaped, headgear. The topor is typically fragile, made of sholapith and white in colour.