Indian wedding glossary · The functions
What is Gaye holud?
Also written: Gae holud, গায়ে হলুদ
Gaye holud is the Bengali turmeric ceremony, where the paste is first applied to the groom at his home and the same turmeric is sent to the bride's home for her ceremony.
- Who keeps it
- Bengali Hindu and Muslim families in West Bengal, Bangladesh, Tripura, Assam and the diaspora.
- When
- The morning of the wedding in many Hindu families, after dodhi mangal; a day or more before in others.
About Gaye holud
What should you know about Gaye holud?
The groom's family sends the turmeric with tattwa, decorated trays of gifts for the bride: a saree, cosmetics, sweets and often a large fish dressed up as a bride or groom. Married women of the family apply the turmeric and bless the bride, and she bathes before the wedding rites.
In Bangladesh and among many Bengali Muslim families, gaye holud is a large, colourful function of its own.
In the order of functions
Where does Gaye holud come in an Indian wedding?
The morning of the wedding in many Hindu families, after dodhi mangal; a day or more before in others.
- Before the weddingFixing the match, the engagement, the date and the card.
- The functionsPujas, haldi, mehndi, sangeet and the family days before the wedding.
- Wedding day ritualsFrom the baraat to the pheras, nikah and anand karaj.
- After the weddingVidaai, the new home, the reception and the first visits.
Planning your own days? The free wedding function order planner puts your functions in a sensible order with dates.
On the card
What do families write on the invitation for Gaye holud?
Gaye holud, Saturday, 14 February, 9 am. Please wear yellow and orange.
Related words
Words that go with Gaye holud
- Dodhi mangal
Dodhi mangal is the Bengali wedding-morning ritual where the bride and groom eat curd and flattened rice before sunrise, the last food before they fast until the wedding.
- Aiburobhat
Aiburobhat is the Bengali custom of a final feast for the bride or groom as an unmarried person, cooked by the family with their favourite dishes.
- Haldi
Haldi is the ceremony where relatives apply a paste of turmeric, gram flour and oil or rose water to the bride and groom, each at their own home, to bless them and make them glow.
- Shubho drishti
Shubho drishti is the Bengali ritual of the auspicious first look, when the bride, carried on a wooden seat, lowers the betel leaves covering her face and she and the groom look at each other.
- Saat paak
Saat paak is the Bengali ritual where the bride, seated on a low wooden seat (pidi) lifted by her brothers, is carried around the groom seven times with her face hidden behind betel leaves.
Questions
Gaye holud, answered
What is Gaye holud?
Gaye holud is the Bengali turmeric ceremony, where the paste is first applied to the groom at his home and the same turmeric is sent to the bride's home for her ceremony.
Which families celebrate Gaye holud?
Bengali Hindu and Muslim families in West Bengal, Bangladesh, Tripura, Assam and the diaspora.
When does Gaye holud happen in the order of wedding functions?
The morning of the wedding in many Hindu families, after dodhi mangal; a day or more before in others.
What do families write on the invitation for Gaye holud?
Gaye holud, Saturday, 14 February, 9 am. Please wear yellow and orange.
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