While most regions of India shun non-vegetarian food during auspicious occasions such as weddings, Bengali weddings are incomplete (indeed unacceptable) without non-vegetarian food. Fish, in particular, is very close to the heart of the true Bengali. In fact, it is considered inauspicious for a married woman to refuse to partake fish. After the wedding, the bride and groom are served a lavish meal comprising of a numerous items including a variety of fish preparations.
But what is perhaps most remarkable (and weird) is that before the wedding, along with clothes and other gifts that arrive from the groomβs family to the brideβs house, is a whole fish (usually Rohu or carp), decorated like a bride complete with vermilion and nose-ring!
However, as now more and more intercultural marriages are happening, in case the brideβs family is not comfortable with such fishy practices, sweets in the shape of fish are considered an acceptable alternative.
Thought for the day: When you fish for love, bait with your heart, not your brain:- Mark Twain
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Fishy business…your posts are so interesting. Do the fishly shaped sweeties have to be made out of special ingredients or are some things not allowed, like chocolate?
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Anything edible is allowed and innovative ideas are very welcome π
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Ah, okay. Very interesting indeed. π
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So, if I showed up with a box filled with fish-shaped crackers, Swedish fish (red jellies), blue-white gummy sharks, and “gone fishin” hard candy, it would be an acceptable gift? (0.0)
Maybe with 2 toothbrushes and some dental floss tied to them to look like fishing poles?
Sir Leprechaunrabbit
@leprchaunrabbit
yourrootsareshowingdearie.wordpress.com
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Sounds like a great idea and gift!
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Hahaha… yes! So true! Can you imagine, I’m a Bengali, but I’m not too fond of fish. I crib every time mum cooks it. But I LOVE seafood – crabs, prawns, shrimps! Love your posts. π
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Thank you! Likewise – love seafood (err even fish) and your posts π
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Just two before I discussed this fish ..rohu sending ceremony with my mom .
I really don’t like this , I can see fishes being cut π₯
Good one, appreciate for bringing it up
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I can understand your sentiments. Have you heard of ‘save the fish from drowning’? Buddhist fishermen in Myanmar are caught between a rock and a hard place. They need to fish to live but killing is forbidden in their religion. They find a way around this dilemma by telling themselves that they are saving fish from drowning. – See more at: http://www.stillwater.co.in/saving-fish-from-drowning/#sthash.Ojj7LTxD.dpuf
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Sending fish!!! How do they keep it from spoiling?? I am sure there must be an interesting story behind this practise. Any ideas? Interesting post!
@yenforblue from
Spice of Life!
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That one is easy – eat it up π I am sure there must be but my suspicion is that the groom’s family just wants ensure fish on their menu (just in case the bride’s family cannot afford to buy fish!) π Thanks for dropping by Archana.
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Learning lots of things, including that carp is edible. I didn’t know that!
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After cooking of course π
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its kind of weird lo know such rituals… though m veggie… π i heard cooking fish is common in WB but sending them like decorated bride is first tym…. indeed interesting…. π 4
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Even though I am a non-veggie plus a Bengali, i do find this custom a bit weird – but then again we are like that only π
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I thought this was so interesting! You did a great job of sharing the tradition and then how modern day life has improvised while still honoring that tradition (as weird as it is π ). And I have to say, Mark Twain was such a wise man! β€
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Hello and thanks for dropping in π Glad you like and we are like that only – the weirder things are the more determined we are to honor it π Mark Twain – love his quotes π
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These posts are so interesting!!! My Mum is from India but she’s Anglo and so she had a catholic marriage. I never realized how many sweet little things go into Hindu weddings (and we’re only on ‘F’ – lol). Even though I’m not a fish-lover, I couldn’t resist chuckling at the fully dressed fish with nose-rings. Hahaha.
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Hi! Glad you liked – nothing like your poems tho! Thanks for dropping by π
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A fish as a gift. I love this idea – as long as the fish is sealed into plastic till eaten… π
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Yes of course π
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This is the most interesting thing I’ve learned all day! (Maybe all A to Z!)
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Wow that’s cool! Thanks for dropping by
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I think I would prefer a confection fish rather than a real eye of a fish looking at me on my wedding day.
Happy A to Zing
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Well me too, thanks
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Yessss- I remember the shock that reverberated through my mallu household when a large fish arrived with sweets and fruits etc on the morning before the wedding! Good memories-thanks for reminding me:)
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My pleasure π
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Wow!…decorated with vermilion and a nose ring…as beautiful as the bride …Lol!…who gets to eat it though?…the bride? π
This A-Z challenge theme is getting more n more interesting by the day..hadn’t known such rituals(exotic) exist….and your presentation makes them more appealing.
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Aww thank you
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Lovely post. “To save a fish from downing” is something I’d never heard of before. Love the sentiment behind the well packed raw fish. But, tied with a red ribbon is a bit too mach!
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Hahaha…. Good one π
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A decorated fish given in exchange for the real bride π …. certainly a fishy business indeed π
Loved the thought for the day, though π
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π π
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