Marriage rituals in Sylhet- Muslim and Hindu styles

Advisory: With photo

Sylhet, June 16 (BDNEWS)- Bangladeshi culture mingles with customs and traditions specially in the matter of marriage and Sylhet attains a special position in it's magnificent marriage style. Both the Muslims and Hindus celebrate the marriage ceremony with a great festivity.

The marriage rituals observed by Hindu society

The Hindu marriage is solemnised following a number of phases namely Mongolacharan, Paner Khili, worship of Ruposhi, Odhibash Dodhimondol etc and are classified mainly in two types – traditional and religious. The former type is performed by the married women and barber and the latter by the priest.

Mongolacharan: Mongolacharan, the first step of the Hindu marriage ceremony, is the day of blessings to the bride by the senior and revered relatives of the bridegroom with vermilion and Shakha. On the very day, the would-be in-laws of the bride come with gifts to the house of bride and fix an auspicious day for the marriage.

Paner Khili: The ceremony of Paner Khili is observed by at least five married woman following various rituals especially making a pile of khili pan and penetrating bamboo, silver and gold stick in the paner khili. In a decorated basket, tying the khili pan the married woman goes to the temple singing various type of songs.

Worship of Ruposhi: This worship is also performed by the married women keeping fast all the day and making a small cottage with banana tree with stained vermilion on the banana leaves. They go under the Ruposhi tree with milk, paddy, Dohie Dubra, Ghee, egg and vermilion etc and wash the root of the Ruposhi tree and bless the small cottage leaving the vermilion and Dohie on the root of the tree. Besides, they also have to place different types of fruits and sweets for soothing the deities.

Adhibash: This ritual is observed on the eve of the marriage day both in the house of the bride and bridegroom to protect them from every kind of enemies circling a knife around the head of the bride and bridegroom by their mother. On the eve, the mothers of both the bride and bridegroom fetch the water of pond in seven pots and bathe their daughter and son respectively by turmeric and oil sitting them on decorative seat. Then the other married women use turmeric to the bride and bridegroom with songs and Dhamile dance. A Tarpon is placed on the hand of both the bride and bridegroom and they have to keep the Tarpon till the marriage.

The marriage ceremony: At last, come the occasion of the marriage ceremony welcoming the bridegroom with the Ulludhani and Shonkho by the married women in the house of the bride and making fun with the groom by in-laws. The mother of bride blesses the groom with a ring a few minutes before the marriage and the blessing is termed as the Dodhi Mongol. Then the groom is taken to the Mondop of marriage along with the receiving basket, the lamp of Dhutura and garlands carried by the married women giving the way to the Shatpak. The music and Ulludhani are continued till the end of the marriage ceremony. After completing six circle, the inter-exchange of a green coconut from Torpon from the of the bride to the groom and from the groom to the bride happen and after completing seven circles, come the occasion of Shuvo Dristi and exchange of garlands. With the Ulludhani both the bride and groom leave the marriage Mondop and enter again in the marriage Cunja for Shomprodan. The occasion of Shomprodan is significant for changing of the caste of the bride and on the time, the priest utters the Bedmontra, Himadri and Bashudhara Kriya which is performed by the father or elder brother of the bride. Then the bride and groom are taken to the bed of roses completing the Pasha playing which needs twenty one Khori and a single ring to perform the ritual aiming to make the newly married couple easy and cordial.

Bashi Biya: On the occasion, the newly married couple is taken to the yard by the married women for bathing and sitting on decorative seat they are blessed with paddy and Dubra. The married women also use turmeric and oil in the time of bathe. After bathing them with the water of pitches and pots, they wear new clothes and again take the Shatpak and taking the lunch the groom makes preparation to take the bride to his house in a auspicious day.

Receiving the bride and post-marriage ceremony: The ceremony is observed to receive the bride in the house of the groom cordially. The bride have to put her feet on a bronze-plate placing milk, Dhohi and Altaa and then have to make her first step in the house of the groom. The mother of the groom also blesses the bride using the honey on her mouth and ears and talks to her son and daughter –in –laws taking them to the lap. The second night in the house of the groom is termed as the Kaal Raat and observed to restrict the relationship maintaining as husband and wife. On the next day to Kaal Raat , the ceremony of post-marriage is observed termed as Bhat-Khapor Daan, the groom gives rice, Shaghi, vermilion and Shakha in a basket symbolising the starting point of conjugal life promised to take all the responsibilities of the wife.

Taking the hands: On the occasion, going to the market, the groom brings the daily necessities and after cooking, the bride serves her in-laws.

The rituals of coming back: The ritual of coming back is called the Fiera Jatra when the bride come back to her father's house .The ceremony of marriage of Hindu religion ends with performing the occasion of Jamai Khani.

The marriage tradition of Muslims

The marriage of Muslims are regarded as the marriage of convenience and performed by the system of registry. Though , a man can get married four times , but he cannot do it without the permission of his wife. Muslim marriage system permits the right of divorce, but the Hindus are not.

Panchini: The ceremony is performed after choosing the bride and groom and occurrs in the house of the bride giving her a ring or money. It is an occasion of fixing the marriage date and settles the amount of the Kabin money given to the bride by the groom.

The ceremony of 'gaye halud' (turmeric): The ceremony is observed using the turmeric and feeding sweets to the bride and groom. A Rakhi is tied on the right hand of the groom and on the left hand of the bride to protect them from any obstacle.

The ceremony of Dhodhi Momgol: The ceremony is observed on the day of the marriage in the house of the groom after wearing the marriage dress the mother of the groom feeds him two and a half a morsel of mixed milk-rice and leaves the rest of the rice in the pond. After mixing a pot of rice with Dohi in a dish, the groom takes three morsels of it and receiving his mother's blessings ,he starts for wedding.

Akdh: The Akdh, the only religious ritual is the prior ceremony in the Muslim weddings where in front of the witness of both bride and groom and a lawyer the groom accepts the bride as his wife. The marriage rituals are over after signing in the Kabinnama and praying for the well being of the newly married couple. The articles of Akdh are brought from the house of the groom and the banquet is held in the house of the bride.

The Post-Marriage Ceremony: Generally, it's an occasion held in the house of the groom after the third day of the marriage. It is also termed as Bou Bhat or Walima which is the closing point of Muslim wedding.

Sylhet is renowned for it's observing the marriage in a lively way and the participation of the relatives the ceremony makes it more joyful.

BDNEWS/1325 hrs