Bengali wedding is vibrant and inbuilt fun throughout the ceremony makes it unique. Rice is the staple food of eastern part of India. It has special importance in wedding rituals. Both husked rice and rice in food form are special in Bengali Hindu wedding. There are two rituals involving cooked rice – first one is “Aiburo bhat” and second one is “Bou bhat”. Aiburo bhat is the other name for pampering with their favorite food the bride and groom before they are wed. Bou bhat is the ritual observed after wedding.
“Aiburo bhat” is comprised of two words – “aiburo” means “bachelor or spinster” and “bhat” means “rice” usually “cooked rice”. Thus this ritual literally means meal during bachelorhood. It is the last large meal as a bachelor or spinster.
This ritual is Indianised form of western bachelor party. This is not essentially one day ritual. Depending on family and friends’ size the bride and groom can have more than one “aiburo bhat” program. Before wedding on any day at first the bride and the groom are fed by their family members at home with all mouthwatering delicacies. Then they are separately invited by their relatives and/or friends.
1. Rice, 2. Pumpkin fry, 3. Mixed dal, 4. Paneer curry, 5. Chicken, 6. Fish curry, 7. Sweet-sour dish (In bengali the item is called “tawk”) prepared from various fruits, tomato and dry fruits, 8. Carrot halwa, 9. Salad
The menu for aiburo bhat comprises of many traditional Bengali dishes. Sometimes the menu can have beyond traditional dish. Fish is compulsorily placed on the plate. Other than fish the menu usually have rice, any vegetable fry, dal, mixed vegetable &/ paneer, chicken, sweet-sour dish “tawk”, sweet curd (mishti doi), sweet item.
This ritual involves fun as the bride and groom are specially fed with their favorite dishes. Relatives and friends wish the “bride” and “groom” good luck.
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