Bengali weddings involve the groom, bride and close relatives. Marriage is viewed as very special and sacred and is met with great enthusiasm.

The pre-engagement ritual is known as Adan Pradan where the ancestral lines of the bride and groom are examined before a priest to ensure that they are not of the same lineage.

Thereafter the engagement or aashirwad takes place to confirm the marriage. The purohit or priest uses a Bhagwan Narayan idol in this ceremony.

A visit is made by the family of the bride to the groom so as to bless him before the priest and vice versa. The bride and groom take their blessings by touching their elders' feet. Various gifts are given, including rings and ornaments.

Pre-wedding rituals are known as vridhi. They take place the day before the wedding. This is when the groom and his bride offer puja to their ancestors.

All members of the families attend this ritual. At dawn on the wedding day, the ceremony of dodhi mangal is held. The bride and groom are taken separately by the married women to a pond where they issue the goddess Ganga an invitation to the wedding.

A pitcher of water is brought back for them to bathe in. The morning meal will include macher laija bhaja, jal dhala bhaja, curd and chiruya.

Special wedding piris are taken to the bride's house and are used during the official wedding ceremony.

Gae halud tattva is sent to the bride from the groom and is made up of clothing and cosmetics as well as foodstuffs.

Adhibas Tattva are the gifts given to the groom from the bride. Each in their respective houses takes part in a kubi patta ceremony in honor of Sant Kuber.

Snan is the name for the bathing rituals of the wedding day that occur late in the afternoon or in the evening.

Turmeric and oil is placed on their bodies. The bride is then adorned in stunning clothing and veiled. The wedding ceremony is held at a mandap that is intricately decorated.

The wedding ritual begins with the arrival of the groom's party at the house of the bride. A great cacophony is made with bells, conch shells and ululation. Water is softly sprinkled onto the doorstep whilst the groom enters.

The priest then holds the wedding ceremony during which he chants mantras and the couple exchanges garlands.

Now begin the post-wedding rituals.

Basar Ghar is the welcoming of the newly married couple into the bride's home. There is a great feast with festivities.

Bashi Biye reforms to a ritual the next morning when the groom places vermilion on the forehead of the bride. They then go to the mandap to worship the Sun God.

Vidaai is the departure of the newly-weds to the grooms house. Bou Baran is the welcoming at the groom's house.The bride dips her feet in a plate of lac dye with milk and enters the house.

Bou Bhat is the bride's first meal at her in-laws house. A reception is then held in the evening.

Phool Sajja is the last Bengali wedding custom where the couple is dressed in new clothes. The nuptial bedroom is adorned with flowers.

Perhaps when you are visiting the country you will see a marriage procession and witness some of the wedding customs of Bangladesh.