There is something very special about a Hindu Bangladeshi marriage. The event is elaborate and the rituals and ceremonies generally begin with the engagement that takes place a few days before the wedding. Bangladeshi marriage is referred to as bibaha in the local language. The celebrations of the bibaha or the Bangladeshi marriage do not end with the wedding as the rituals continue post marriage as well. Every wedding in the family is a joyous occasion with relatives coming in from far and near to participate in the celebrations. If you want to know more about this, check out Where is Bangladesh.  The rituals begin with Adan Pradan which is way of checking the lineage of the individuals to be married to ensure there is no direct blood relationship between the couple and that they belong to the same caste. The engagement ceremony takes place once the priest who is referred to as the purohit confirms their lineage. The engagement is known as Aashirwad and is a formal agreement that the alliance has been fixed. All ceremonies that are a part of the Bangladeshi marriage are performed with the blessings of deities and elders in the family. The idol of Bhagwan Narayan presides over the engagement ceremony. The couple exchange rings and seek the blessings of the elders by touching their feet. As per custom there is exchange of gifts which also include heirloom jewelry.The next ritual known as vridhi is performed a day prior to the wedding. In this, the bride and groom pray to their forefathers and ask for their blessing.The day of the wedding starts with a ceremony called dodhi mangal. This ritual is held before the sun comes up at the side of a water body. Married women separately accompany the bride and the groom to the water body and invoke the blessings of Goddess Ganga and invite her to preside over the wedding. Water from the site is carried home in earthen pots and the couple is bathed with it water.The bibaha ceremony is not complete without the groom sending gifts called gaehalud tattva to the bride. The gifts include clothes, cosmetics, sweets and fruits. The bride's family in turn sends gifts for the groom, called adhibas tattva.The Bangladeshi marriage has a lot of rituals on the wedding day, before the actual ceremony. Each ritual has to be performed in a specific order. As part of the wedding day rituals, a special ceremony called kubbi patta is held in the homes of the couple where Sant Kuber is worshipped.The Bangladeshi marriage rituals are incomplete without the traditional snan or bath. The bride and groom are smeared with turmeric and oil before they can bathe, after which the couple is adorned in their wedding finery. The bride is dressed in shimmering clothes and her face covered in a veil.The groom arrives at the bride's home in a procession accompanied by family. The group is welcomed by the bride's family amidst sounds of bells, ululation and conch shells, all of which are symbol of good tidings. As the groom crosses the threshold, the women in the family pour water on the doorstep. For more info, visit Where is Bangladesh.