Strī-ācār – An Analytical Study on the Non-Priestly Marriage Rituals of Bengal

Marriage rituals of Bengal are quite different from the rest of India. The marriage rituals of Bengali people are divided into two parts: priestly rituals and non-priestly rituals. In this paper the non-priestly rituals of Bengali marriage called Strī-ācār are discussed. Strī-ācār are performed by married women. This study tries to identify the role of women in Bengali society on the basis of the various wedding rituals practiced by them. An attempt has also been made to identify the environmental, geographical factors behind these rituals that characterizes the distinctiveness of Bengali culture irrespective of ethnicity, caste and religion.