Bashi Biye consists of two words – “bashi” means stale or old and “biye” means wedding. Thus bashi biye literally means marriage for the second time.
Bashi Biye happens in the morning after “bashor ghor” (bride and the groom are supposed to stay awake till morning) either at bride’s house or at groom’s house depending on the family’s customs. When it happens at bride’s house: after “bashi biye” the bride and the groom leaves bride’s place i.e. “bidai” takes place after bashi biye. But when “bashi biye happens at groom’s place: it happens after “bidai” and before “Kaal Ratri” (staying apart for one night and the couple is forbidden to see each other).
The rituals for bashi biye are similar to wedding but done in brief manner. At first turmeric paste is applied to both bride and the groom (gaye holud). Then holy water taken from nearby water body (jolbhora) is poured on them.
The groom applies sindur or vermilion on upper forehead or “sithi” of the bride. In some families the groom pours holy water on the bride with one hand and the other elbow straight. In some families sindur is applied on the wedding day.
The purohit or the priest chants Vedic mantras. The bride and the groom pray to God and then move round banana plant seven times (saat paak).
The couple takes part in “angti khela” (finding the ring) and the person who wins the game of finding the ring is supposed to take the lead in married life 🙂
Then the couple sits for “kori khela”. Each of them throws “kori” (small sea shells) and the other one picks up in a go. This is a very fun event. Sometimes husked rice is also mixed in the bowl alongwith “kori”.
The bride gives mother in law husked rice (dhaan) and haritaki which has been kept folded in her shawl (from bidai).
After all the rituals are over, the couple gives each other sweets (misti mukh).
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