Who wouldn’t agree on the fact that weddings are full of love, laughter, joy and all possible kinds of emotions imaginable! It begins with some really fun pre-wedding rituals like Haldi, mehendi, Sangeet, Chooda-Kaleerey ceremony, Joota-Chupai, Varmala, etc. followed by The actual Wedding Ceremony. Throughout the wedding, you get to witness so many things – Drunk uncles, dancing aunties, friends & cousins playing pranks on each other and what not! The bittersweet ceremony which occurs at the end of all this is Bidaai. It marks the farewell of the bride from her home. As the bride begins a new chapter of her life with her husband, all her relatives bless them for the upcoming adventure.
Conducting the final ritual.
Bidaai is the ritual which spells out as ‘goodbye’. It is unarguably the most sentimental part of any wedding. Well, of course. How can the thought of being separated from their child not swell up the parents’ eyes.
Mother and daughter breaking down during bidaai. (Park Hyatt Resort & Spa, Goa)
The Bride Tears-up. (Ajmer)
All the previous ceremonies are only a build up to this ceremony. Everybody loses control during the bidaai because it is the moment of truth. Traditionally, it marks the beginning of the bride’s life as a wife. It also signifies the end of her role as a daughter.
The bride is trying her best to control her tears.
Women are equated to Goddess Lakshmi in India – no secrets there. Before leaving for her in laws’ house, the bride performs a ritual which involves throwing rice and coins backwards over her head into her maternal home before crossing the doorstep. It ensures that her home always remains prosperous. The ritual also depicts that she is repaying her parents for bringing her up with so much love. It is a symbol of the bride wishing for her parents home to always remain healthy, wealthy and prosperous.
Nazuk Sood-Bar, at the Ritz-Carlton Albustan Palace, Muscat, Oman. Read More about her Bidai here
No matter how less the distance between her in-laws house and her maternal house is, almost every bride cries during bidaai. During bidaai, the idea of being separated from her parents takes a real form in the bride’s mind. It is certainly unbearable.
Bride saying the final goodbye by blowing a kiss to her Mom.
The flip side of bidaai is a happy fact -it’s the beginning of something new. It marks the beginning of the couple’s life as husband and wife.
An elated couple as they ride towards their future together!
The transition phase is now over. They embark on the beautiful and exhilarating journey of marriage together – sharing each little happy, sad, frustrating and hilarious moment together – as man & wife.
Fun & Drama at the Bidai
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I agree.
Hi Ramit,
as i am following your blog from a long time for getting some wedding venues idea or photography related ideas, this post is one of them but pictures are really beautiful.
these pictures doesn’t needed any description .
Thanks !
Thanks Naseem
Very nice blog. It is very helpful information for us about wedding photography & photographer in Kolkata, India
Bidaai is the last and most emotional ceremony at Indian wedding. it is a time when the bride finally say goodbye to family and ready to start a new life
The Bidaai ceremony brings alongside with it, heap loads of meanings and significance.
Hello Ramit,
Thanks for this beautiful piece of content. A very informative article and awesome photos.
Thanks for sharing.
It was beautiful, especially the images!
Bidaai is one of the emotional moments for girls family. It’s difficult to say goodbye to family and very emotional moment.