Indian wedding glossary · Wedding day rituals
What is Saat paak?
Also written: Saat pak, সাত পাক
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.
- Who keeps it
- Bengali Hindu families.
- When
- At the start of the wedding rites, right before shubho drishti and mala badal.
About Saat paak
What should you know about Saat paak?
The groom stands still while the bride is carried in seven circles around him. After the seventh round, the bride lowers the leaves for shubho drishti.
Brothers and cousins often practise lifting the pidi in advance, because the rounds can feel long. The pidi itself is often painted with alpana designs and kept by the family afterwards.
In the order of functions
Where does Saat paak come in an Indian wedding?
At the start of the wedding rites, right before shubho drishti and mala badal.
- 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 Saat paak?
Bibaho: Saturday, 14 February. Lagna 9:12 pm.
Related words
Words that go with Saat paak
- 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.
- Mala badal
Mala badal is the Bengali exchange of garlands between the bride and groom, done three times, right after the bride reveals her face at shubho drishti.
- Sindoor daan
Sindoor daan is the moment in many Hindu weddings when the groom applies sindoor, red vermilion powder, in the parting of the bride's hair for the first time.
- Pheras
Pheras are the rounds the bride and groom take around the sacred fire, tied together, with a vow made in each round; in most North Indian weddings there are seven.
- Kanakanjali
Kanakanjali is the Bengali farewell ritual where the bride, as she leaves, throws a handful of rice and coins over her shoulder into her mother's saree without looking back.
Questions
Saat paak, answered
What is 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.
Which families celebrate Saat paak?
Bengali Hindu families.
When does Saat paak happen in the order of wedding functions?
At the start of the wedding rites, right before shubho drishti and mala badal.
What do families write on the invitation for Saat paak?
Bibaho: Saturday, 14 February. Lagna 9:12 pm.
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