Indian weddings are such a colourful amalgamation. Each and every religion has different forms of the wedding ceremony and now banking in on the cultural delight is West Bengal’s state government. They have gone ahead to promote the state tourism with plans to make theme-based packages for tourists around the world. While the Durga Puja act as a major crowd-puller to the state, the Bengali weddings also include a lot of tradition and cultural aspect. So the state tourism department is keen on planning a ‘bridal tourism’ package which will give a wider peak into the wedding rituals.

"The bridal tourism package will offer foreigners a chance to witness the colourful rituals of a Bengali marriage. They will find it interesting as they are not accustomed to anything like this three-day long gala at Bengali homes," West Bengal Tourism Minister Gautam Deb told PTI. So a foreign tourist will not just get to attend a wedding but also enjoy the traditional rituals that happen before the actual ceremony. Of course, the details of connecting a tourist with the concerned family will be worked upon. The guests can witness closely the haldi ceremony, exchange of garlands and the sindoor daan (vermilion ritual). Other than the ceremony the guests will also be able to relish the authentic Bengali dishes made for the wedding.

Bengalis are famous for their sweets, so tourists can take utmost advantage of the desert delicacies at a wedding function. By including a personal wedding event as a part of a tourist package, the department also encourages private sector participation in the state benefiting activity. Other than offering bridal tourism the department is also looking at offering other options like cruises, adventure, wellness, medical and education.

West Bengal ranks at the fifth number with regards to the foreign tourist arrivals. Minister Deb also informed that tourism has created around 5 lakh jobs over the last few years. With tourism being such a boost to the state, it seems a very novel idea to include tourists in the wedding ceremonies of a rich traditional culture. Moreover, any family will be hospitable to have a foreign guest enthusiastically attending their family function.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 22, 2018 02:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).