Gaye holud

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Gaye Holud (Bengali: গায়ে হলুদ lit: "yellow/turmeric on the body") or Gatro Horidra (গাত্র-হরিদ্রা) is a ceremony observed mostly in Bangladesh[1] and in the Indian state of West Bengal, Tripura & Assam by all Bengalis regardless of their religion.

Gaye Holud in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Gaye Holud ceremony in West Bengal, India

It is part of an elaborate series of celebrations constituting the Bengali wedding. The gaye holud takes place prior to the religious and legal Bengali wedding ceremonies. The gaye holud may be a joint event for the bride and groom's families, or it may consist of separate events for the bride's family and the groom's family.[2][unreliable source?]

Ceremonial process[]

Separate events are held for the bride's gaye holud, the groom's family - minus the groom himself - go in procession to the bride's home. They carry with them the bride's wedding outfit and jewelry, wedding decorations such as the turmeric paste (Bengali: হলুদ holud) , cosmetics, sweets and other gifts. Henna (Bengali: মেহেদি or মেহেন্দি mehedi/mehendi) also gets brought in Muslim Bengali families, though the Hindu and Christian Bengali brides also decorate their palms these days with mehendi or henna. They also bring fresh fish decorated nicely like a wedding groom or bride, or desserts molded to resemble fish. The procession traditionally centers on the bride's (younger) female relatives and friends, who traditionally dress in matching clothes. The bride, her attendees, and all the guests traditionally wear red, yellow, orange, or green clothing. Nowadays, other colours are also permitted for gaye holud guests. The guests then enjoy a feast, including music, dance and some performances, arranged by the bride's family.

Paste of turmeric prepared for Gaye holud ceremony

The bride is seated on a dais and the turmeric paste is applied by the guests to her face and body. Turmeric is known to cleanse, soften and brighten the skin, giving the bride's skin the distinctive yellow hue that gives its name to this ceremony. The sweets are then fed to the bride by all the guests and attendants, piece by piece.[3] In Muslim Bengali families the henna is used to decorate her hands and feet with elaborate abstract designs.

Traditional Gaye Holud of Groom in Dhaka.jpg

The groom's gaye holud comes next, and has the same form as the bride's holud ceremony. In this ceremony, the bride does not participate. The groom is accompanied by his male relatives and friends, and as with the bride's ceremony, the guests traditionally wear red, yellow, green, or orange clothing. The bride's family brings the gifts for the groom (usually the wedding outfit and some grooming items, along with the turmeric and other gifts) to his house. The guests exchange sweets with and apply turmeric paste to the groom, and a feast (with food, music, dance, and various cultural performances) is arranged for the guests from the groom's family. Unlike the bride, the groom does not get henna applied to his body; henna is only applied to the bride in Muslim Bengali families and perhaps also some of her younger female attendants.

Popularity of the custom[]

Although similar ceremonies exist in other parts of the Indian subcontinent, the gaye holud is a custom particular to the Bengali people. It is not considered a religious function, as it is celebrated by Muslims, Hindus, and Christians in both Bangladesh and Indian state of West Bengal and wherever Bengalis live irrespective of religion. Although it is considered a part of the Bengali wedding tradition, the couple is not considered married at the end of the gaye holud. There is no legal marriage performed during this ceremony. Unlike the wedding ceremonies, the gaye holud is not a formal or extravagant event; both guests and bridal party members dress more simply and decorate the venue less intricately than at the wedding ceremonies.[4]

  • Gaye Holud from Bangladesh

  • The groom's family members often bring fish decorated as a wedding couple to the bride's Gaye Holud

  • A girl is dancing in her Gaye Holud

  • Girls are dancing in Bangladeshi Gaye Holud Ceremony

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "একালের গায়ে হলুদ | কালের কণ্ঠ". Kalerkantho (in Bengali). 12 December 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Bangladeshi wedding traditions: Gaye Holud". The BD Bride.
  3. ^ একালের গায়ে হলুদ. Kaler Kantho (in Bengali).
  4. ^ Akhter, Shahida (2012). "Gaye Halud". In Islam, Sirajul; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. Retrieved 30 December 2021.

External links[]

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