Agrahayan, a Bengali wedding month

What is worn for Agrahayan, a Bengali wedding month

Agrahayan is the Bengali month that runs from about 17 November to 16 December. The harvest is in, the weather is cool, and it is one of the favoured months for Bengali Hindu weddings, together with Falgun and Boishakh. The bride wears a red saree, most often a Banarasi in silk with gold zari, and a headdress of white sola pith, called topor, with the groom wearing a similar crown, called mukut. Her face is covered with betel leaves at the shubho drishti, the first look. At the gaye holud, the turmeric ceremony the day before, the colour is yellow, and the sarees are yellow or orange cotton or silk. White and red garad is used for the rites of the day.

The sarees

Banarasi sariA red silk with gold zari, the bridal saree.