Event Description

Gaye Holud (Haldi)

If you’ve heard of Indian weddings, you may already know about the Haldi ceremony - it’s one of the most colourful and fun pre-wedding traditions. In Bengali we call it Gaye Holud, which literally means “turmeric on the body”.

But why turmeric? Back in the day, turmeric was considered almost magical - it’s antiseptic, it makes your skin glow, and it symbolises purity and good luck. Families believed that smearing this golden paste on the bride and groom would wash away any negativity, protect them from the “evil eye,” and bless them with a bright, happy start to married life.

So the ceremony is basically a mix of ritual and play: relatives and friends take turns applying turmeric on us (sometimes gently… sometimes not so gently), showering blessings in the process.
There’s music, laughter, sweets, and the occasional turmeric ambush.

It’s messy, it’s hilarious, and it’s filled with love. And for our friends from abroad, consider this your warning: don’t wear your nicest clothes, because haldi stains like it means business.