E = Eye to Eye

In India, traditionally, weddings are ‘arranged’ by the families on the basis of ancestral history, social standing and astrological predictions. Often, the bride and the groom didn’t meet each other until the day of the wedding. In West Bengal, there is a special (and cute) ceremony for the bride and groom to ‘see’ each other for the first time known as Shubho drishti or literally ‘auspicious glance’.

This custom involves the resplendent bride being seated on a low wooden stool (pidi) and carried in by her brothers while she covers her face with betel leaves. The groom stands under the open sky while the brothers take the bride around the around the groom seven times (saatpaak) – binding her irrevocably to the groom.

Bride hides her face behind betel leaves.
The bride being carried around the groom while she hides her face behind betel leaves.

Subsequently, the bride is turned to face the groom and is allowed to remove her ‘veil’ of leaves and they look at each other for the first time. There is a short story by Bonophul, that is worth a read.

Of course, in today’s time and era, this is not the ‘first’ time that the bride and groom ‘see’ each other. Nevertheless, the entire process, culminating in the meeting of eyes for the first time under public gaze (amongst hoots and catcalls) can still be a heart stopping exhilarating moment and remains one of my personal favorite memories.

Thought for the day: “As soon as I look up, his eyes click onto my face. The breath whooshes out of my body and everything freezes for a second, as though I’m looking at him through my camera lens, zoomed in all the way, the world pausing for that tiny span of time between the opening and closing of the shutter.” ― Lauren Oliver, Delirium

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For more information about the blog please click here and for the readers of Moonshine, here’s Chapter 51. Please note that, there will be no update of Moonshine on Friday as I am traveling. But do drop in for challenge posts will be up as per schedule :)

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Dahlia

Email me at mysilverstreaks@gmail.com or tweet me @mysilverstreaks

23 thoughts on “E = Eye to Eye”

  3. Romantic custom that is!…plenty of opportunity for the shutterbugs to capture some lovely coy moments .

    Hahaha!…that was some bet!…brutus moustache! 😉 🙂

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  4. Awww….this is a cute custom. My nephew just married a bong girl and it was hilarious to see the wedding rehearsal (US mein yeh sab hota hai) where they rehearsed bringing the girl in on the peedhi:). Wasn’t part of my wedding though- and I guess i wasn’t a very bashful bride either. Good going!

    Loved the short story link.

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    1. Bashful or not – it is rather difficult to meet eyes with the significant other while everybody is staring at you both, jeering and hooting. Feel pretty foolish and embarrassed! But definitely cute – at least for the onlookers 🙂 That is news to me – In US, you have an Indian wedding rehearsal? But why?

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  5. “Eye to eye” with every other eyes on them, jeering and hooting, would really be fun, embarassing, and romantic. But then, everything goes with the flow and there would be moments to cherish forever… with of course, laughter all around!!

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  6. Dearie, these wedding traditions/ customs and the colourful outfits are beautiful! I love my visits here! You have more to tell, yes?

    Sir Leprechaunrabbit
    @leprchaunrabbit
    yourrootsareshowingdearie.wordpress.com

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  8. Arranged marriages are something I just can’t wrap my brain around and I’m amazed that so many of them work out. That story was crazy! 🙂 The wife sure went to extremes, didn’t she?

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