Family history the untold stories

Family history the untold stories.

Sla individual project. By Shreya Roy Chowdhury 500090118.

3. Did you know that learning about your family history can actually increase your happiness?.

Hello!. I’m Shreya Roy Chowdhury I belong to a Bengali Brahmin (Baidya) Family. My ancestral background is based in West Bengal..

1. P aternal Side.

6. Origins Of Roy Chowdhurys. eeoo. Devi Parulia Kolkata.

7. Emergence of Roy Chowdhurys. R oy Chowdhury s ( Bengali : রায় চৌধুরী ) are a Zamindar family of Mughal Bengal. They controlled vast swathes of territory, including what would later become Kolkata , prior to the sale of zamindari rights in 1698 to the East India Company . According to family legend, Man Singh I was a disciple of one of Banaras' ascetic monks, Kamdev Brahmachari, born Jia Ganguly and the only successor of Panchu Ganguly "Khan." [1][2] Kamdev not only taught him all the secrets of the trade, but he also gave him tactical advice on how to deal with Pratapaditya of Bengal, a rebel vassal. [1][2]Meanwhile, Jia's son, Lakshmikanta Ganguly, had risen through the ranks of Pratapaditya to become the Chief Revenue Officer.[1] Man Singh persuaded him to switch sides, and then went on to put down the revolt..

8. In exchange, he was granted the zamindari rights of several parganas, including but not limited to the three villages of Sutanuti, Govindapur, and Dihi Kalikata — these territories were still owned by the Mughal emperor, but the right to governance (and tax-collection, a large portion of which was to be remitted to the Mughal Court) was ceded away with —were granted to him, who went on to adopt the surname of Roy Chowdhury. The Gangulys are considered to be the traditional patrons (and followers) of the Kalighat Kali, which explains their preference for jagirs..

9. Caste. My paternal family belongs to a Bengali caste system of Baidya Bengalis. Baidya or Vaidya is a Bengali Hindu community. Baidyas, an Ayurvedic physician caste/jati, have long held a position of prominence in society alongside Brahmins and Kayasthas. The Bhadraloks (meaning gentleman) were formed during the colonial era from these three castes, and they still hold sway in West Bengal..

Just Bengali Things. 10.

11. Shoes: Bata is regarded as the Holy Grail of footwear. A batar juto ( a Bata’s shoe) is something that every Bengali swears by. Though my family prefers Khadim's hawai, I'm going to stop here or else I'll ignite a Bengali civil war..

12. Wardrobe: Wait, what is a wardrobe? Bengalis don't need wardrobes because we have a greater creation, the Alna. Naturally aerated, free from congestion and the smell of confined spaces, and alna is another legendary Bengali household structure..

13. Cassette players: I'm not sure what satisfaction Bengalis derive from having these antiques in their homes. Some of them operate, while others do not, but a Bengali home without a tape player is unusual..

14. Wedding Customs & Traditions.

15. India is a melting pot of cultures, with Bengali culture being one of the most vibrant. Bengal, like every state, has its own set of marital customs and ceremonies that the rest of India finds amusing and entertaining. There are various exciting and occurring customs that make a Bengali wedding not just 'bigger than life,' but also unique and pleasurable, such as the ceremony of holding a paan leaf before the bride and groom's first look..

16. Pre Wedding Customs & rituals in Bengali Wedding.

17. 2. Ashirbaad – The Blessing. The groom's family pays a visit to the bride to bestow blessings and presents as a mark of her acceptance into their family. On a different occasion, the bride's family does the same for the groom. Dhan, or rice with the husk, and dubyo, or trefoil leaves, are given to the bride and groom. Gold jewellery, family heirlooms, and other items are among the offerings. On the wedding day, the woman is supposed to wear this jewellery. Close friends and relatives participate in on this occasion, and the rite is followed by a lavish feast. Dressing up for the occasion can be difficult because you cannot attend as a guest in your everyday clothes. Wear a saree or kurta that is appropriate for a daytime wedding..

18. This ritual involves a meal comprising of the favourite dishes of the person about to get married. This ritual takes place in the respective households of the bride and the groom on the afternoon of the day before the wedding. Aiburo means not married and bhaat means rice. So it translates as ‘the last rice taken by the person while the person is still not married’. This is usually a big affair and marks the start of the celebrations of a Bengali wedding . The Bengali bride and groom need to designate specific outfits for this occasion. Most preferred colors involve red, pink, gold etc for the bride. The groom wears a kurta and pajama . If you are a guest at an aiburo-bhaat, you may opt for a Bengal cotton saree with zari border and motifs. Men should dress up in kurta-pajama ..

19. 3. Aiburo-bhaat – The Last Meal as Unmarried.

20. 4. Nitbor & Nitkone – Companions to the Bor and Kone.

21. 5. Shankha-Pola – Sign of Marriage. Apart from sindoor , a Bengali married woman usually wears bangles on both wrists made up of conch shell – shankha – and red coral – pala . A bride usually starts wearing these from the eve of the wedding. The custom is a homely one where her close family is only present..

22. 6. Ganga Nimantran – Inviting the River Ganga.

23. Wedding Morning rituals in Bengali Wedding. 7. Dodhi Mangal – The Day Break Meal.

24. 8. Nandi Mukh – Homage to the Ancestors. This ritual involves paying homage and respect to the forefathers of the family of the bride as well as the groom. The bride and the groom sit with the eldest male member of their respective families to perform the ritual. It is a Vedic ritual that requires the involvement of a priest. The bride wears a new cotton saree for this ritual..

25. 9. Gaye Holud – Smearing of the Purifying Turmeric.

26. 10. Tattha – The Gifts. Bengalis exchange gifts for the wedding. These gifts include different kinds of ethnic clothes, cosmetics, toiletries and accessories for the bride and groom, clothes for the family members, clothes and toiletries for the nitbor and nitkobe, sweets, a whole fish etc. These usually come in decorated trays. It is customary that friends and family spend days before the wedding packing and decorating these trays. The groom’s family sends these gifts to the bride’s family along with the haldi. So this is called the ‘gaye holud er tattha’. The bride’s family sends these gifts on the day of the boubhat..

27. Wedding Evening Rituals. 11. Bor Boron – Welcoming the Groom.

28. 12. Patta Vastra – The Sacred Attire. The main Bengali wedding rituals take place under the chhadnatola or wedding mandap, which is a decorated square area or stage . Before the rituals start the groom needs to change into specific attire called the patta vastra which includes a dhoti and along piece of cloth which the groom is supposed to wrap around the upper part of the body. An elderly member of the family of the bride hands it over to the groom..

29. 13. Subho Drishti – The First Auspicious Glance.

30. 14. Mala Bodol – Exchange of Garlands. Next the bride and the groom exchange garlands, thrice. A fun custom is performed at this time when friends lift the bride up so that it gets difficult for the groom to put the garland around her neck ..

31. 15. Sampradan – The Induction of the Bride into the Groom’s family.

32. 16. Yagna – The Sacred Fire. Now, the bride and the groom sit next to each other while the priest helps them perform the yagna in front of the sacred fire. The ritual of a Bengali wedding is performed to make the God of Fire – Agni – a witness to the sacred union..

33. 17. Saptapadi – The Seven Important Steps. Though this ritual may sound similar to Saat Phere, it is not so! For this ritual, the bride steps on seven betel leaves placed on the ground one after the other. The groom follows while moving a nora with his feet as they move forward. A nora is a cylindrical stone used to ground spices. Before this ritual the bride’s saree pallu is tied to the patta vastra of the groom. This tie-up is called gatchhora..

34. 18. Anjali – The Offering. . An offering of puffed rice is made to the sacred fire. The bride’s brother hands her the puffed rice and the groom holds the bride’s hands from behind her while both of them slowly pour the offering into the yagna fire..

35. 19. Sindoor Daan – Smearing the Vermillion. .

36. Post Wedding Rituals in Bengali Wedding. 20. Bashor Jaaga– The Interactive Session.

37. 21. Biday – The Farewell. . The time of biday depends on customs specific to families. While some brides leave the paternal home early the next morning after the wedding, some families take the bride home only after sunset. This is a bittersweet moment when the bride bids farewell to her home and family. The bride and groom touch the feet of all elderly members of the bride’s family. An important part of the ritual is the bride placing some rice on the pallu of her mother just before she leaves..

38. 22. Bodhu Baran – Welcoming the Bride Home. As the bride steps into her new home she is first supposed to see milk being boiled in the kitchen. The rising milk that flows out of the vessel is symbolical of a household where everything is in surplus. While the mother-in-law welcomes her with an aarti, she is required to stand with a kalash filled with water in one hand and a particular kind of fish in the other. Then she steps on a vessel filled with aalta and milk and then step on a white cloth and walk on it. The footprints on the white cloth are symbolical of the steps of Goddess Lakshmi..

39. 23 . Bou-bhat – Acceptance of Responsibility.

40. The groom’s family arranges a big reception party on the evening of the bou-bhat, where they invite all their friends and family. The bride’s family are the guests of honor for the reception. They arrive together and are called the kone jatri. It is at this time that they bring the tattha from their side. Along with everything else, the bride’s family is also supposed to bring a tray of floral ornaments for the bride and a bowl of khoi or puffed rice and sweet yoghurt..

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42. Mahalaya is a seven-day festival that celebrates the arrival of Durga, the goddess of great power, seven days before Durga Puja. It's a form of request or invitation to the mother goddess to come down to earth. Mantra chanting is used to accomplish this. It's a form of request or invitation to the mother goddess to come down to earth. Mantra chanting is used to accomplish this. Mahalaya, or the day of invocation, is honored on this day. People pray to Goddess Durga to appear in the earth during the dark night of Amavasya (new moon) to fend off all ills..

43. The joyous festival of Dol or Holi is an integral part of the Bengali and Indian culture. But Dol utsav which is known as Basanta Utsav in Shantinketan is celebrated in a different way making it an unique cultural festival which makes it a special. The Holi or the Basanta Utsav at the Santiniketan make you feel romantic, pleasant and very special. Owing to its own dignity, the festival lures visitors from all over the world. Participation by the students makes it much more delightful. Rabindranath Tagore started Basant Utsav in the serene and tranquil Shantiniketan, with the ethereal charm of Holi or Dol Utsav to add a new dimension to the festivities. Thus, he came up with an idea to celebrate the festival in the Shantiniketan way with dance, recitation, music and abirs propagating the healthy joyous cultural mixing. Also known as ‘Dol Jatra’ or the ‘Dol Utsav’, the fiesta enjoys the repute as the “Rabindrik Basanta Utsav”. Today “Basanta Utsav” at Santiniketan is not only a Visva-Bharati University’s programme or a local programme, rather a grand fiesta..

44. Durga Puja. The Bengalis' most important Hindu festival is Durga Puja. This festival is held throughout West Bengal in the month of October. People from all over India and the world come to West Bengal to participate in this festival. During the celebration, all government offices, educational institutions, and law courts are closed. Durga Puja is the city of Kolkata's most significant event. The celebration commemorates good triumphing over evil. This event lasts five days and includes prayers to Goddess Durga, feasts, joy, music, dancing, and theatre. People dress up in new attire and go to all the community Pujas to worship the ten-armed god..

45. Vijaya Dashami. Vijayadashami is celebrated as victory of Lord Rama over Demon Ravana and also triumph of Goddess Durga over the buffalo Demon Mahishasura. Vijayadashami is also known as Dussehra or Dasara. In Nepal Dasara is celebrated as Dashain..

46. Kali Puja. The Kali Puja event is not an old one. Before the 18th century, Kali Puja was virtually unknown, although a late 17th century devotional work called Kalika mangalkavya by Balram mentions an annual event dedicated to Kali. King (Raja) Krishnachandra of Navadvipa introduced it to Bengal in the 18th century. With Krishanachandra, Kali Puja acquired prominence in the nineteenth century..

47. Laxmi Puja. In West Bengal the most important day to worship Goddess Lakshmi falls on the full moon day in lunar month Ashwin. Lakshmi Puja on Purnima Tithi in month of Ashwin is known as Kojagari Puja and more commonly known as Bengal Lakshmi Puja. Kojagari Puja Purnima is more famously known as Sharad Purnima in most parts of India..

48. Poila Baisakh. The Bengali New Year or Naba Barsha is celebrated in April throughout West Bengal. The Bengali year starts from the first Baisakh (mid-April). The Bengalis celebrate the New Year by wearing new clothes, visiting the temples and the usual exchange of greetings and sweets..

49. Vishwakarma Puja. Vishwakarma is known as the divine engineer and main architect of the universe. He is worshipped by the engineering community and professionals too. Workforce in the offices and workshops worship their instruments and tools which are used in their profession in front of Lord Vishwakarma. This is known as the Vishwakarma Puja. It is celebrated in the month of September by all artists, weavers, craftsman and industrial houses. This day is observed on the Kanya Sankranti Day which is followed by the Ganesh Chaturthi. Vishwakarma Puja is also done after Diwali..

50. Jagadhatri puja. Jagaddhatri meaning the savior of the universe is the Goddess who comes to save the people from the demonic reign of the asuras. According to Vedic scriptures, Goddess Jagaddhatri is another form of Devi Durga. In the Shukla Navami of the Bengali Month of Ashwin, the Devi appears as the ten-handed Goddess Durga, on the same day, on the month of Karthik, she presents herself in the form of the four-handed Devi Jagaddhatri, the caring mother of the world..