A Bridal Portrait

The wedding ceremony is arranged by the bride's family. The groom, along with his friends and family (Borjatri), traditionally arrive later in the evening. Before leaving for the wedding venue, the groom is blessed by his mother,and he formally seeks permission from her so as to start a new life with his would-be better-half.The groom's mother does not attend the wedding as it is believed to have negative impacts on her son's married life.Instead,she waits at home with some other ladies for her son and daughter-in-law. .While the groom participates in the main wedding ritual from the beginning,the bride joins it much later after she is brought by her brothers and friends,seated on a woodden seat called 'piri'.This symbolizes the medieval ideas of considering a daughter as a burden for the family,though nowadays its merely practised as a ritual and daughters are given equal affection as sons.This is followed by the 'Saat paak' when the bride encircles the groom seven times,still sitting on the 'piri' covering her face with beetel leaves.Then comes the Shubhodrishti,when the bride finally puts down the leaves and their eyes meet.This is accompanied with heavy ululation and blowing of conch shells.The wedding is presided over by the bride's eldest male relative,who performs the konnasomprodaan. Finally comes the Sindurdaan,when the groom fills the bride's forehead/maang with sindoor. These ritual signifies the ritual marriage procedure. However, legal marriage is done separately. This pic was taken just before the "Sindoor Dan" when she was waiting in her seat.