Chitrita and Tirtha's wedding

December 10th, 2009, 11:30 AM

Kamakhya Apt, Chandannagore, Kolkata

This is the day, the mother of the bride prepares the last maiden rice meal for the bride. The bride's mother invites people to be a witness of the event and pampers her to bengali delicacies like, cholar dal and rice,  macher jhal, payesh and bengali sweets and mishti doi.

December 11th, 2009, 06:00 AM

Chandannagore, Kolkata

A few married women go to a nearby pond, pray to Goddess Ganga, invoke her blessings for the couple, invite the Goddess for the wedding and fetch a pitcher of water. The bride and the groom are bathed with it . The bride's hands are adorned with the traditional bangles Shakha and Paula i.e. one pair of red and a pair of white bangles. The women feed the bride and groom a meal consisting of fried fish and rice cooked in water. The next meal for both will be only after their marriage.

December 11th, 2009, 10:00 AM

Indralok Marriage Hall, Chandannagore and Bhatpara

The bride and the groom are smeared with turmeric considered pious in hindus.Sweets, gifts including saris and cosmetics - all for the bride are sent by the bridegroom's family.

December 11th, 2009, 6:30 PM

Indralok Marriage Hall, Chandannagore

The house of the bride and the bridegroom's wears a festive look; with flowers, diyas ,fragrance of agarbattis, Mango leaves. A small copper pitcher, the mangal ghot with the Sri symbol painted on its side is placed under the banana tree. The pitcher is filled with water and a mango tree stem with five leaves is inserted. Elders of both families visit the other's houses to bless the bridal couple.

December 11th, 2009, 7:30 PM

Indralok Marriage Hall, Chandannagore

The bride is made to sit on the piri and arrives at the marriage alter on the shoulders of her uncles. Conch blowing marks the moment. All along she keeps her eyes hidden with a beetle leaf. The priest hands over garlands to the bride and groom and asks them to exchange for three times amidst chanting of mantras. This is followed by the custom called sampradhan wherein the father of the bride gives her away in marriage to the groom. The remaining part of the wedding is conducted with the fire as witness.

December 12th, 2009, Morning

Indralok Marriage Hall, Chandannagore and Bhatpara

Departure of the bride and groom to the groom's house.Welcoming the bride and groom. As the couple steps down, the women pour water on the ground right beneath the vehicle. The groom's sister-in-law holds a plate containing lac dye and milk right under the bride's feet on which the bride imprints the soles of her feet.The elders bless the couple as they enter the house.

December 14th, 2009, 6:30 PM

Kamakhya Bhavan, Bhatpara

Marks the first meal served by the new bride in her new home. The same day, the groom's father holds a reception. Friends and relatives come together to take part in this fun-filled, joyous moment for the newly wed couple.