Day 1 - 15th Jan, 2014 - Wednesday The worst start to the journey ever. Our maid didn't come
and we miscalculated our time which made us jump from 427 CST slow train
and trod towards platform 18 at 514 pm to make it in time for our 515
duranto to howrah only to be greeted by an individual whose seat we
chose to rest to catch our breath "dekha bittu, is liye mein tumhe bolta
hu ki aadha ghanta pehle niklo." (See these sad people who have had to
run the platform, this is why I tell you to reach the platform 30
minutes early atleast)
We sat next to someone who has travelled 22 times in
duranto. She told us about the differences in food. She also told us the
logic behind duranto. Dur ant means it's only stop is at the end, hence
duranto. When I asked my hubby to read this and check the facts for me, he told me that Duranto means hyper in bangla and maybe this too is a reason for duranto.
We reached to a freezing cold weather. Brrr. Literally with shaking bodies we wore around 3 sweaters.
In the evening of Friday (Day 3 - 17th Jan, 2014), we could hear and see so many beautiful birds. I saw kingfisher, bulbul, mynah, koyal and a kind of dove.
I have come to bengal for a wedding as is clear by title. The morning was fine but evening started with the festive flavor of a bengal wedding.
There were haluikar (cooks) who came to make rosogullas. My
elders found it funny that I was clicking pics, I told them that in
mumbai we only know how to eat rosogullas, not to make.
It is amazing to see the skill of these cooks who can roll 2 rosogullas at a time. Apparently they can roll 3 or 4 rosogullas too.
I wish that I could bring you the aroma, flavor and experience of it all.
I might have mentioned Mori. She is the house cat. Her
delicate body shivers in the cold. She folds it all in a way to gain
maximum heat. So pretty.
Day 4 - 18th jan, 2014 - Saturday
We visited my new mom's village for a puja.
My 2 cute younger sister in laws stay there but the highlight of the day
was meeting this childlike pandit. After the puja was done, I liked
this pretty scenery and thought of capturing this clean green moment.
He saw it and asked me to click his photo. I turned around but he wanted to sit in this specific pose. My husband told me stories later of his childlike nature.
He saw it and asked me to click his photo. I turned around but he wanted to sit in this specific pose. My husband told me stories later of his childlike nature.
We clicked a group photo too.
On the way we also found gobi farming and muli. I didn't know muli had flowers too :)
They had a jackfruit tree too which had this so cute tender jackfruit.
The girls knew I would like their farm, they took me there and plucked some meha, dhania and carrots.
They also have this chalta tree. Chalta is used to make a khatta meetha chatni.
Since I had worn sari, we decided to make full utilization of it and visited all the relatives's in the evening.
Day 5 - 19th Jan, 2014 - Sunday
Sunday thankfully started as all sundays are supposed to start.
In the evening, one ritual before the wedding was conducted. The husk of the rice is removed like in the original days. It is actually called dhan kota. Payasam is made out of this rice and all the ladies eat it,
The pic on right is of my mom removing the husk.
All the ladies took turns including me in this ritual and then applied alta.
The bride applied mehendi and the glow on her face was just increasing with the minute.
Evening started with alpana. The 3 very talented cousins finished the work with some little help from the remaining of us.
In the end, the brother of the bride made a prajapati (butterfly) that symbolizes marriage in bangla customs.
Day 7 - 21th Jan, 2014 - Tuesday (The wedding day) Or still monday.
The day of the wedding started at 4 am with a ritual. I have never seen fog so dense and close by.
After lunch, there was a ritual of taking kulo to the river/pond. The eldest daughter in law should be doing it but since I have not done it before, everybody told me to do it. They also told me that I should tell them if hands pain in some time. They did after few minutes and I handed over the kulo to my boudi.
The work of the pandal was over by evening and it looked splendid. The pandal, the entrance, the place to dine, everything is decorated in style and with lots of love.
The bride looked just splendid before the wedding. She has never worn make up or the works ever in her life to my knowledge. So this was a major step for her and she looks so pretty after it all.
I couldn't help but click this pic. He looked so confused and cute.It reminded me of all the jokes on marriage and the bakra. :)
I missed most of the wedding as I had work outside. I hope to catch it on video. :( but from what I understand, Bengali weddings happen over three days. The main wedding happens in the night of first day in the bride's house depending upon the muhuratham. It can be at late night after 1pm too but fortunately for us it started at 8:45pm and finished within 10pm (very few Pics are above)
I forget the people I meet and hence am reintroduced to the same people again. My hubby has hence started this family tree on imlee. We were clicking pics of it in our free time. This is how my cousin posed, She looked sooo funny and cute that I had to post it here.
Day 8 - 22nd Jan, 2014 - Tuesday - The bahubhat
In the morning of the second day, There is a ritual of aashirvad.
The bride and groom sit in one place and everyone comes one by one to give aashirvaad, makes them eat something sweet and then a little water. It is a very heart touching moment. The bride leaves her home after this.
The bride is supposed to eat and serve food in grooms house to the relatives.
We, in the bride's house now - Most of us caught on sleep. It is not easy to get someone married. Though I can hardly claim that I did any work but whatever little bit I did, made me sleep this noon. We also utilized this time for shopping to take goodies back home.
Day 9 - 23rd Jan, 2014 - Wednesday - The Fulsaja (suhaag raat)
Here is my hubby and me with the bride. She looked so pretty and happy that we really forgot to include the groom in this pic. I realized this only while uploading it on FB ;)
This is the room of the bride and the groom. It was filled with the gifts we had sent. It was such a happy feeling to see the splendor and the works. It reminded me of my wedding so much. The getting ready, the fun, the rosogullas, the decoration, the relatives, the games and the love.
We had a early morning train to catch. We clicked one last pic and called it a day.This was my last sari for the event.
Day 11 started at 4 am again. We ensured we reached on time for the duranto. The whole day was in the train , eating and catching up on sleep.
Day 12 - 25th Jan 2014 Saturday - On our way back in duranto again. The fascination for duranto is long gone but the sun made me click this beautiful pic after igatpuri. Also notice how one can see the other window too in the first pic.
Taahito remains to be my fav word. I don't know why though but I like the sound of it very much. My day ahead is filled with house work and cleaning and the stuff that goes along after coming from a vacation, thankfully my maid has cleaned it in our absence. Heres to Bijay and Mahua. Hope their lives are filled with love, happiness and prosperity.
Day 6 - 22 Jan 2014 - Monday
The work at the byah baadi was in full swing on a day prior to the wedding.
The work at the byah baadi was in full swing on a day prior to the wedding.
Also notice the lauv gaach (dudhi plant) on the kitchen roof.
Evening started with alpana. The 3 very talented cousins finished the work with some little help from the remaining of us.
In the end, the brother of the bride made a prajapati (butterfly) that symbolizes marriage in bangla customs.
This is how it looked when completed
Day 7 - 21th Jan, 2014 - Tuesday (The wedding day) Or still monday.
The day of the wedding started at 4 am with a ritual. I have never seen fog so dense and close by.
Village weddings have a ritual of serving breakfast lunch and dinner for 3 days to all the invitees.
Around 11 am, the haldi from the boys side came along with a lot of things. It is called gaaye halud.
The girl was smeared with haldi.
After lunch, there was a ritual of taking kulo to the river/pond. The eldest daughter in law should be doing it but since I have not done it before, everybody told me to do it. They also told me that I should tell them if hands pain in some time. They did after few minutes and I handed over the kulo to my boudi.
The scenery is breathtaking as always
This is the ritual taking place.
The work of the pandal was over by evening and it looked splendid. The pandal, the entrance, the place to dine, everything is decorated in style and with lots of love.
A ritual I forgot to ask about. It is basically done for the bride's protection before the wedding if I am not wrong.
The bride looked just splendid before the wedding. She has never worn make up or the works ever in her life to my knowledge. So this was a major step for her and she looks so pretty after it all.
I like her better when she smiles.
These are the cousins who made the alpana. They too decked up for the wedding.
The groom is made to sit in a room "Varasana" He doesn't talk at all. Only smiles and looks handsome when he does.
With the pretty bride.
I couldn't help but click this pic. He looked so confused and cute.It reminded me of all the jokes on marriage and the bakra. :)
I missed most of the wedding as I had work outside. I hope to catch it on video. :( but from what I understand, Bengali weddings happen over three days. The main wedding happens in the night of first day in the bride's house depending upon the muhuratham. It can be at late night after 1pm too but fortunately for us it started at 8:45pm and finished within 10pm (very few Pics are above)
Day 8 - 22nd Jan, 2014 - Tuesday - The bahubhat
In the morning of the second day, There is a ritual of aashirvad.
The bride and groom sit in one place and everyone comes one by one to give aashirvaad, makes them eat something sweet and then a little water. It is a very heart touching moment. The bride leaves her home after this.
We, in the bride's house now - Most of us caught on sleep. It is not easy to get someone married. Though I can hardly claim that I did any work but whatever little bit I did, made me sleep this noon. We also utilized this time for shopping to take goodies back home.
Day 9 - 23rd Jan, 2014 - Wednesday - The Fulsaja (suhaag raat)
On this day kanyajaatris come to the grooms house with the gifts. We had to pack all the stuff that was to be sent to the boy's home. We spent the whole day doing so. Here is a pic of the bride's brother inspecting the gifts and the packing.
At the reception, The bride was decorated yet again and made to sit in this beautiful seat.
Here is my hubby and me with the bride. She looked so pretty and happy that we really forgot to include the groom in this pic. I realized this only while uploading it on FB ;)
This is the room of the bride and the groom. It was filled with the gifts we had sent. It was such a happy feeling to see the splendor and the works. It reminded me of my wedding so much. The getting ready, the fun, the rosogullas, the decoration, the relatives, the games and the love.
We had a early morning train to catch. We clicked one last pic and called it a day.This was my last sari for the event.
Day 11 started at 4 am again. We ensured we reached on time for the duranto. The whole day was in the train , eating and catching up on sleep.
Day 12 - 25th Jan 2014 Saturday - On our way back in duranto again. The fascination for duranto is long gone but the sun made me click this beautiful pic after igatpuri. Also notice how one can see the other window too in the first pic.
Taahito remains to be my fav word. I don't know why though but I like the sound of it very much. My day ahead is filled with house work and cleaning and the stuff that goes along after coming from a vacation, thankfully my maid has cleaned it in our absence. Heres to Bijay and Mahua. Hope their lives are filled with love, happiness and prosperity.
