Last Friday, I was very excited. My cousin, Piya, whom I think of more as a sister, was getting married! My family is in Gopalganj, which is far away from me since I live in Dhaka for my education. However, the information about Piya's marriage quickly closed the distance. I was very excited about the opportunity to celebrate with my family and friends.
With a craze expectation, I was packing my things. I was very excited during that time. I took two sarees, one for the "Gaya Holud" festival and another one for the wedding day attire. With my heart full of expectation, I started my journey in the early morning by bus to reach Gopalganj. I bid a temporary goodbye to Dhaka.
The four- to five-hour drive was beautiful as the view through the window was amazing, especially when crossing the Padma Bridge. Besides my seat, there was an aunt with whom we were talking about why I was going to Gopalganj. Hearing about the upcoming wedding, we struck up cheerful discussions.
Arriving in Gopalganj was like entering a warm hug. My hometown's well-known sights and noises helped to relieve my journey’s tiredness. Reunions were both happy and painful. After reaching my home, I hugged my parents and sister. Then I take a shower. After a long time, my whole family and I ate our lunch. After lunch, we prepared ourselves to go to my aunt's house.
When we reached my aunt's house, the home was a mess of activities. Our Bengali pre-wedding tradition of applying turmeric paste, known as the "Gaye Holud" ceremonial, was about to get underway, and the air was charged with a collective spirit. The family's female members—my mother and my aunt- managed the ceremony with their own skills.
In the evening, all the girls wore our traditional Bengali clothing, called "Sarees," which was yellow in colour. The future bride, Piya, looked stunning in a yellow saree.
The "Gaye Holud" event was a colourful show. We, the ladies in the family, applied turmeric and sandalwood paste on Piya, and we sang traditional Bengali wedding songs. A powerful combination of emotions resulted from the deep, earthy perfume of turmeric with the delicate smell of flowers. As blessings and wishes for Piya's lifetime of happiness were bestowed upon her, laughter and tears mixed together.
The days before the wedding were packed with events. The whole home was transformed into a stage for various parts of the event. We also arranged an event in Bengali called the " Mehedi event. "Here, the Henna Mehedi paste was being drawn on Piya's hands and feet. It revealed the love and care that went into that special day.
The day of the wedding was bright and clear. That day, my job was to record the brief moments on film, such as my younger sister's bright grin as she assisted Piya with getting dressed, my aunt's quiet tears welling up in her eyes, and my father's proud expression. Every snap captured a tale that awaited retelling.
The actual wedding ceremony was a lovely mix of seriousness. At first, they put a ring on each other fingers. Then they exchange their "mala ". Then, the marriage registrar completed the marriage with their signatures. Their marriage was registered in the official book. I couldn't help but feel happy for Piya and her Fiancé as they exchanged bashful grins.
There was delicious food during the wedding feast. The air was filled with perfume, which made us hungry. We were treated to a delicious buffet that included beef and goat meat, roasted vegetables (roast), fragrant rice cooked with aromatic spices, lentil soup (dal), and, for dessert, the traditional Bengali dish, "Payesh," which is a creamy rice pudding laced with almonds and cardamom. The ladies in the family had exceptional cooking skills, as seen by the burst of flavour in every meal. There was also a special dish for the bridegroom, which contained some other special items.
A sorrowful sense descended over everyone as the wedding ceremonies came to an end. As Piya and her fiancé were ready to start a new chapter in their life, there was a great deal of happiness in their marriage, but there was also a hint of melancholy. As a family, we gathered to say goodbye and offered them our best wishes and blessings.
During the following several days, family members who had travelled far and wide were gathered to share tales, enjoy leftover treats, and reminisce about the wedding. The home gradually settled back into its regular rhythm, the sounds of blessings, laughing, and the happiness that comes from being a part of a lovely marriage echoing throughout its walls.
There was much more to my journey to Gopalganj than merely going to a wedding. It was an opportunity for me to go back to my origins, a chance to get up with relatives, and a touching celebration. It served as a timely reminder of the value of cherishing loved ones, the strength that comes from family, and the pleasure of sharing laughter.
This was an unforgettable event for me. It was a rainbow of colours, a tornado of emotions, and a monument to the lasting strength of love and custom. And I bring a heart full of gratitude with me when I return to Dhaka.