The Breathtaking Bengali Badhu Bride Doll

Ideal for: 

• Premium Home Décor (Especially Bengali themed room)
• Ideal Wedding gift for Bengali Bride
• Housewarming gift item for Bengali Couple
• Wedding Anniversary Gift for Bengali Wife or Parents
• Valentine’s Day gift for Bengali Girlfriend/ Wife/ fiancée
• Gifting option for people with roots in West Bengal or Bengali Heritage
• Doll Collectors/ Plangonologists interested in Collectible Dolls
• Birthday gift for Bengali child/ Girl/ Lady/ Woman

Description of the Ensemble of the Bengali Badhu (Bride)

West Bengal is an Indian state well-known for its sweet-sounding Bengali language, literature, cinema, rich culture, intellectual prowess and love for fish! So much so that Bengalis enjoy almost the same status in India as the French do in Europe.  The Bengali 

Let’s see how bridal ensemble of our lovely Bengali Badhu (bride) doll makes her joie de vivre personified. 

Attire: 

Banarasi Saree

Bengali brides have a signature red attire. They usually drape their sarees in the distinctive Bengali drape. No saree except the brightest among red Banarasi silk sarees with a heavy gold border will do for her.  

Wedding Veil 

The bride wears a long red translucent veil over her head.  However, unlike other North Indian brides who have veils covering their faces too, the veil of the Bengali bride covers only her head. 

Forehead Ornaments

Tikli (Maangtikka)

The bride’s hair is parted from the trichion (intersection of the hairline and middle of the forehead) to the top centre of her head. This hair parting is adorned with an ornament called ‘Tikli’. It consists of a delicate gold chain with a craved gold pendant resting on the bride’s trichion.  During the marriage rituals, the groom will fill this hair parting with vermilion, which will serve as a visual marker of the bride’s now married status.

Matha Patti

‘Matha Patti’ literally means ‘forehead band’. This ornament consists of gold chains with designer motifs worn on the hairline and serves to frame the wearer’s face. Our classic Bengali bride doll is wearing heavy Matha Patti. 

Kumkum Bindi and Chandan Bindi

A Bengali bride will beat every other Indian Hindu bride hands down when it comes to the Bindi (red decorative dot at the centre of the forehead worn by Hindu women). The Bengali Bindi is not only larger in size but is accompanied by Chandan bindi. Chandan bindi refers to the intricate patterns above the eyebrows as well as surrounding in the red bindi.  (Some design may extend all the way from forehead to the cheeks!) It is drawn with sandalwood paste and symbolizes peace and tranquillity in blessed matrimony. This fantastic combination of the Kumkum bindi and Chandan bindi exudes an undeniable charm and sophistication.  

The Chandan Bindi adorned by our regal looking Bengali bride doll has wavy vine-like patterns that make look so absolutely stunning. 

Hair and Head Accessories

Bun Pin

The bride’s thick long and lustrous black hair is neatly tied into a bun on her nape. It is adorned with a shimmering bun pin and flowers. 

Topor

The magnificent ‘Topor’ is a white intricately carved tiara-like ornament donned by the Bong bride with occasionally red reliefs. It is made from ‘sholapith’ (soft wood of the herbaceous plant named ‘Indian Cork’/ ‘Shola’ native to the region).  This head ornament is unique and exclusive to Bengali Hindu weddings confers princess vibes to her overall look. This crowning glory of Bengali brides symbolizes new beginnings, good luck and prosperity. 

Jewellery for Arms

Ananta (Armband)

The ‘Ananta’ is a golden armband with elaborate gold detailing and carvings that is worn by the bride on both her upper arms. Our mesmerising Badhu bride doll is wearing Ananta with a fish motif. This motif pays homage to the ‘Hilsa’ fish, the state fish of West Bengal and also a very famous and intrinsic part of Bengali cuisine and culture. (The Bengali love of fish is well-known.)

Ratanchoor

The Ratanchoor is a hand ornament consisting of a bracelet worn on the wrist and multiple rings on the fingers that are interconnected with chains. The Ratanchoor is the first ornament adorning the wrist of the bride. Our gorgeous Bengali bride doll is wearing a bracelet with daisy motifs. 

Bauti

The second bangle worn by our beautiful Bengali Badhu doll is the ‘Bauti’. It is traditional, golden, hollow half-cut bangle that is filled with lac in order to preserves its shape. The ‘Bauti’ is a fairly common sight among married Bengali women.

Bala

The Bala is a perennial favourite among Bengali brides. It is a very thick golden bangle cum bracelet with ornate design that can be clasped opened and clasped on to the forearms using a cylindrical spring or screw mechanism. The third ornament on our bride’s forearms is the ‘Bala’. 

Shaka Paula

Nothing screams ‘Bengali’ more than the presence of a pair of the iconic ‘Shaka Paula’ bangles. The ‘Shaka’ and ‘Paula’ are white and red bangles respectively worn only by married women in Bengal. ‘Shakha’ is a delicate bangle made form conch shells while the bright red ‘Paula’ is made from Coral. Most Hindu women from other regions of India wear a Mangalsutra (sacred necklace) to visually indicate their married status. Bengali women use ‘Shaka Paula’ bangles for this purpose. 

Alta

The Alta is a red-coloured dye used to decorate the hands (especially the fingertips and centre of the palm) and feet of Indian women during religious functions and ceremonies. It’s of great significance in Bengali culture. Its blood red colour is symbolic of a woman’s fertility and prosperity. 

Gach Kouto

The Gach Kouto is an indispensable accessory of a Bengali bride. In accordance with Bengali Hindu marriage rituals, the bride holds a small red wooden pot called the Gach Kouto. This pot containing sindoor (Vermilion) and a silver coin. Hindu iconography depicts such as part as an accessory of Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of wealth. So, this pot symbolizes wealth and blessings of the Goddess. 

The bride has to carry this pot from the beginning of the marriage rituals till she enters the household of her in-laws. It symbolizes the strong bond between the couple and financial growth in her marriage life.

Necklaces

Chik

The ‘Chik’ is the Bengali version of the chunky choker necklace and comes in a wide variety of designs. Our Bengali Bride is wearing a statement choker with leaf motifs. 

Sita Haar

The Sita Haar is the second necklace on the bride’s bosom. It consists of a delicate gold chain with an ornately carved pendant with floral motif.  

Kaan Bala (Earrings)

The ‘Kaan Bala’ are the Bengali adaptation of the traditional gold dangler earrings with intricate gold detailing. 

Nolok (Nose ring)

The ‘Nolok’ is a nose ornament worn by most Hindu brides. The traditional Bengali ‘Nolok’ is an elaborate gold nose ring with beads and pearls strung on the ring and also features a dainty chain the connects the nose ring to the hair. 

Kamarbandh (Waist Ornament)

The Kamarbandh worn by Bengali brides over their saree are either gold or gold plated and adorned with elegant chains and floral motifs and occasional gemstones.

Nupur (Anklets)

No Hindu bride’s look is ever complete without tinkling anklets that herald her footsteps. 

The ‘Nupur’ is the Bengali version of traditional Indian anklets used to deck up the ‘Alta’ coloured feet of a Bengali brides. Usually made of silver and ‘Kundan’ stones, this elegant foot accessory completes the head-to-toe Bengali bridal look in a signature style.

A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Don’t all these trinkets and talismans worn in the fabulously Bengali manner make this Bengali Badhu doll a treasure to covet? So, what are you waiting for? Be the proud owner of this very embodiment of Bengali culture, heritage and roots with the Roots and Wings Bengali Badhu (Bride) Doll!