Gaye Holud and Its Importance in the Bengali Matrimony

In traditional Bangla, holud stands for turmeric. The turmeric paste is applied on the body of the bride-to-be before their wedding day. As per the general belief, turmeric has medicinal qualities, which purifies the skin and adds a glow to it. Turmeric also helps in reducing the dark spots and pigmentation, and also reduces body hair growth. The turmeric also leaves the skin soft and supple, giving it a fairer appearance. All these benefits are combined with the essential oils to make it more effective for the skin.

In the Bengali matrimony, there is a ritual named as Gaye Holud, in which the bride and groom are applied with the turmeric paste. The turmeric used during Gaye Holud is not the turmeric which is used in the cooking, but the fresh ones. The bride wears a yellow saree during the ritual, and the exposed arms, legs and face are massaged with turmeric paste, which is believed to enhance the beauty of the bride. The term 'Gaye Holud' literally means 'Body Turmeric', referring to application of turmeric on the body before the wedding.

The tradition of Gaye Holud is generally performed by the ladies of the family, who massage the turmeric paste over the bride’s body, tease her and crack jokes to create a light and fun-filled atmosphere. The bride is also offered traditional sweets to make her new life full of sweet taste. With time, the custom of Gaye Holud has changed, and the groom’s family is also invited to the function. However, as per the customs of Bengali matrimonial, the groom is not allowed to join the function and see the bride, unless they are married. Similarly, the groom is also applied with the paste of turmeric, and the bride is not allowed to see him.

Author: Rashmi Karan

A Beautiful Inter Caste Wedding In Bengali Matrimony

Generally Bengalis are considered to be conservative when it comes to the decision of marriage. I got lucky to attend the wedding of my friend who recently got married to a guy from Bihar. The wedding was fun as we got a chance to see a mix of customs from both Bengal and Bihar.

My friend Soumi was so happy to get the life partner of her choice. The bridegroom was also beaming with happiness. The family members of the bride seemed to be a bit tensed about the rituals which were to be performed during the wedding. This issue was very wisely solved by the groom’s mother. Who said that the wedding would be a mix of wedding rituals of Bihar as well as the Bengali Matrimony?

Although there was a kind of miscommunication between both the families as both were unaware of the local languages which people from Bihar and Bengal speak. The atmosphere was so overwhelming to see the family members from both sides trying to respect the sentiments of the other side. The families took care of the fact that it was an inter caste and inter community marriage, and a small misunderstanding would create problems during the wedding. Another friend of mine acted as a mediator, who was actively involved in the marriage, as she was the person who made both families understand about the rituals from both sides according to Bihari and Bengali Matrimony

The wedding was arranged in Delhi, and it was mostly attended by the friends and the close family members from both the bride and groom’s sides. The bride elegantly embraced the groom’s Bihari background, and wore sari as per the choice of her mother-in-law. She looked stunning in a red sari with a golden border. On the other hand, the groom wore topor like a Bengali groom, and the wedding was happily solemnized with the rituals of both Bihari and Bengali matrimony.

Author: Rashmi Karan