How to Approach a Divorced Bengali Girl For Marriage
Before approaching a Bengali girl for marriage, the family must determine whether they can trust the matchmaker. If so, the matchmaker may be able to provide a list of potential matches. The family may also agree to let the matchmaker contact these people, and the family may agree to meet them, too. Documentation of potential matches may include astrological charts, biodata, and resumes. The documentation is normally refundable if the match fails, but the family will need to review each match before the matchmaker shortlists matches for the Bengali girl.
Dodhi Mongol
In Bengal, the wedding of a divorced Bengali girl involves a traditional ceremony called the Dodhi Mongol, which is performed at dawn on the day of the marriage. During the ceremony, seven married women adorn the bride’s hands and feed her curd. The bride and groom are then escorted by a group of women and carried to the Mondop (ceremony), where the married couple exchange rings and vows.
The bride and groom wear the traditional Bengali bangles Shakha and Pola, made from red coral and conch shell. The bangles are considered a symbol of the bride-to-be. The couple is then dressed in red coral and white sarees, which are traditionally worn by women who are married. The wedding ceremony also includes a Dodhi Mongol ritual, in which the mother of the bride and groom bathe each other in turmeric-infused water. A ceremonial feast of yoghurt and puffed rice is then served to the couple.
The ceremony begins before daybreak and is preceded by a ceremony of rice throwing. The bride is accompanied by several married women and the groom brings a pitcher of water from the pond to drink. The ceremony includes paying homage to the bride’s forefathers and the groom’s family. The bride wears a red and white conch-shell saree and bangles.
After the Dodhi Mangal ritual, the bride’s family and her father walk the bride to the river and offer her puffed rice. The groom’s brothers follow suit, chanting Vedic mantras for seven times and pouring the water into the pot. The bride’s parents, grandparents, and relatives also accompany her. After the ceremony is complete, the bride and groom exchange first glances.
Jol Sowa
The name of the ceremony “Jol Sowa” (literally “sacrifice”) comes from the two words jolbhora, meaning to fill with water. This ritual takes place on the day before the wedding and is performed by the bride’s mother and the groom’s mother separately. The bride’s mother is accompanied by her sister who fills a brass pitcher with sweet curd, rice flakes, bananas, and sandesh. Before the ceremony begins, the bride and groom are seated on a betel leaf, eating a dish known as “Dodhi Mangal” before dawn. They then fast until the wedding rituals are complete.
The groom and bride are then given gifts by both families. The bride is given a white cloth and she is greeted with a ceremony that involves a rice offering ritual. She is also thrown rice over her shoulder. Following this ritual, the bride enters the house. Her family and elders give her gifts, including gold and silver jewelry. The newlyweds spend the first night of their marriage alone in separate rooms.
The ceremony of Jol Sowa is held in the early morning hours of the wedding day. On the morning of the wedding, the bride’s mother and groom visit a nearby waterbody where a brass pitcher is filled with water to cleanse the bride and groom. The bride and groom also share a special meal known as Dodhi Mongol. The bride and groom are then surrounded by family members, friends, and family members to celebrate the wedding day.
Jol Sowa ceremony
Jol Sowa is a traditional ceremony in Bengal, where the bride and groom are bathed with water. The bride is dressed in traditional Bengali bangles made from red coral and conch shell. It takes place on the wedding day dawn, when the bride’s mother visits a water body in the neighborhood and fills a brass pitcher with water. The bride and groom are then fed Dodhi Mongol before the sun comes up.
The groom also wears traditional Bengali clothes for the wedding. The Bengali bride wears a red Benarasi Saree embroidered with gold zari threads. She wears a veil and lots of jewellery. She also has unique designs on her forehead. The groom’s family and friends do not get to see the bride until after the ceremony. This is a traditional way to bring peace to the family.
The ceremony also involves the bride’s family, who welcome her to their home and wish her good luck. The bride’s mother and father offer the couple gifts, and her parents will bless the couple. The groom’s family, the bride’s family, and her friends attend the wedding. Aiburo Bhaat is a vital ritual in Bengali matchmaking. It is considered the send-off meal at the bride’s maternal home. This is a time when the bride’s friends and relatives gather at her mother’s house and sing and dance.
The bride’s mother-in-law will welcome her with aarti. The bride-to-be must stand with her kalash filled with fish or water. She must then step on a vessel filled with milk or alta. She should also step on a white cloth that has been prepared by her mother-in-law. Footprints on the white cloth symbolize the steps of the Goddess Lakshmi.
The marriage ritual continues with the Jol Sowa ceremony. The bride and groom spend the night before the ceremony. After the Gaye Holud ceremony, the bride’s mother takes the bride to the neighborhood of her parents’ house for the last time. She and the groom eat Dodhi Mangal, a special meal eaten before sunrise. The bride and groom fast until the marriage rituals are completed.
Documentation for potential matches
When a young Bengali woman seeks a man for marriage, the first step is to meet with the matchmaker. The matchmaker identifies prospective matches and contacts the families of both parties. They also exchange documentation including photographs and astrological charts. Other documentations such as biodata and resumes are also exchanged. In general, these documents are returned to the families if the match does not go through. Afterwards, the son/daughter reviews the documentation and photographs and shortlists the potential matches.
[Dating & Romance]