Published: 12:00 AM, 10 October 2016
Christian weeding rituals in Bangladesh
Marriage, in Christian tradition is not only seen as an institution rather is considered a holy sacrament, a way to fulfill God's decree. Among the seven sacraments, a Catholic Christian can only choose six with an option between matrimony and holy order. The Christians see marriage as a reflection of God's image with a purpose of reproduction and reign. It is the only option by which man and woman become one in the eyes of God.
Christian evangelization in Bangladesh dates back to 1628, when the Portuguese Augustinian missionaries introduced Christian religion in Dhaka. However, the first church was established in old Jessore in 1599. Christian weeding is not different from the age-old Bengali tradition. The Hindus and Muslims who converted to Christianity used to follow the local cultural tradition of marriage from the genesis. The Christian's integration into the local culture shaped the marriage rituals which combined both traditional and church's regulations. Weeding details of the Christians are as follows.
Selection of the bride: The Christians are obliged to follow some traditional practices that start with the Selection of bride. The bridegroom and his guardian overtly and covertly collect information about the characters, nature, and clan of the bride.
Proposal: If it seems the bride is suitable, then it is turn for the proposal. The bridegroom, with his family members visit bride's house and express their intention and formally propose the maiden's guardian for marriage or ask the hand of the maiden.
Betrothal: If the bride's family accepts the proposal then formal engagement program is arranged. They visit the groom's family with betel leafs, betel nuts and odd number of fishes and sometimes sweet. After discussion both of the family members come to a fixed date for the marriage.
Blessing: After the engagement, comes the day of blessings. The bridegroom with his family members go to the maiden's house and take the blessings of the elders.
Name entry in church registration book and revelation: After taking blessings from the elders, following the customs of the church, the groom and bride go to the church for enlisting their names in the church registration book. This is because the name would be declared continuously three weeks in the holy mass on Sunday. Any kind of discontentment regarding with the marriage will be taken care of by the church in this time. The community people can complain to the local priest if they have any problem with the marriage.
Staying away from evil: After enlisting the names in the church's registration book, both the groom and the bride are given a holy rosary to wear which is believed to keep them safe from any kind of evil spirits or demons.
Turmeric ceremony: Before the days of the marriage the Christian arrange the turmeric ceremony separately or combined where both the bridegroom and grooms are bathed with turmeric paste. This is very common among people of different faith in this country.
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Picking the bride: On the day of marriage, the groomsmen first go to the bride's home playing traditional music where they are well served by the bride's family. They pick the groom and while returning from the groom's house, some money or coins are given in the hand of the groom which she spreads in the house to make sure that the goodness is not going out of anywhere from the house.
Church session: The main weeding ritual is performed in the church with the presence of the local priest and the guardians of the bride and bridegroom. Exchange of garland and drawing vermillion on the forhead of the groomsis performed before all the people participate in that ceremony. The priest says the sermon and the new bride and groom take an oath keeping hand the on the holy bible. They exchange ring which follows the exchange of vows. The service in the church ends with blessing and dismissal.
First entrance in the house: After the formal ceremonial rituals performed in the church, both the bride and the groom are taken in home with some local cultural practices. Both of them stand on a wooden tool decorated with liquid lime. They face to the house yard and start entering the main door walking on a red sharee holding each other little finger.
Departure from the bride's father house: After departure from groom's father house the newly married couple go to the groom's house and arrange weeding reception or yellow evening. Bridal feast is very common among the Bangalees.
This is just a brevity of the Christians weeding rituals. Divorce in Christian religion is highly controversial because of strict laws of the church. Moreover, polygamy is prohibited in modern Christianity though there are numerous example of it in the old testament.
The author is studying sociology at University of Dhaka
Christian evangelization in Bangladesh dates back to 1628, when the Portuguese Augustinian missionaries introduced Christian religion in Dhaka. However, the first church was established in old Jessore in 1599. Christian weeding is not different from the age-old Bengali tradition. The Hindus and Muslims who converted to Christianity used to follow the local cultural tradition of marriage from the genesis. The Christian's integration into the local culture shaped the marriage rituals which combined both traditional and church's regulations. Weeding details of the Christians are as follows.
Selection of the bride: The Christians are obliged to follow some traditional practices that start with the Selection of bride. The bridegroom and his guardian overtly and covertly collect information about the characters, nature, and clan of the bride.
Proposal: If it seems the bride is suitable, then it is turn for the proposal. The bridegroom, with his family members visit bride's house and express their intention and formally propose the maiden's guardian for marriage or ask the hand of the maiden.
Betrothal: If the bride's family accepts the proposal then formal engagement program is arranged. They visit the groom's family with betel leafs, betel nuts and odd number of fishes and sometimes sweet. After discussion both of the family members come to a fixed date for the marriage.
Blessing: After the engagement, comes the day of blessings. The bridegroom with his family members go to the maiden's house and take the blessings of the elders.
Name entry in church registration book and revelation: After taking blessings from the elders, following the customs of the church, the groom and bride go to the church for enlisting their names in the church registration book. This is because the name would be declared continuously three weeks in the holy mass on Sunday. Any kind of discontentment regarding with the marriage will be taken care of by the church in this time. The community people can complain to the local priest if they have any problem with the marriage.
Staying away from evil: After enlisting the names in the church's registration book, both the groom and the bride are given a holy rosary to wear which is believed to keep them safe from any kind of evil spirits or demons.
Turmeric ceremony: Before the days of the marriage the Christian arrange the turmeric ceremony separately or combined where both the bridegroom and grooms are bathed with turmeric paste. This is very common among people of different faith in this country.
Picking the bride: On the day of marriage, the groomsmen first go to the bride's home playing traditional music where they are well served by the bride's family. They pick the groom and while returning from the groom's house, some money or coins are given in the hand of the groom which she spreads in the house to make sure that the goodness is not going out of anywhere from the house.
Church session: The main weeding ritual is performed in the church with the presence of the local priest and the guardians of the bride and bridegroom. Exchange of garland and drawing vermillion on the forhead of the groomsis performed before all the people participate in that ceremony. The priest says the sermon and the new bride and groom take an oath keeping hand the on the holy bible. They exchange ring which follows the exchange of vows. The service in the church ends with blessing and dismissal.
First entrance in the house: After the formal ceremonial rituals performed in the church, both the bride and the groom are taken in home with some local cultural practices. Both of them stand on a wooden tool decorated with liquid lime. They face to the house yard and start entering the main door walking on a red sharee holding each other little finger.
Departure from the bride's father house: After departure from groom's father house the newly married couple go to the groom's house and arrange weeding reception or yellow evening. Bridal feast is very common among the Bangalees.
This is just a brevity of the Christians weeding rituals. Divorce in Christian religion is highly controversial because of strict laws of the church. Moreover, polygamy is prohibited in modern Christianity though there are numerous example of it in the old testament.
The author is studying sociology at University of Dhaka
