छोटे परदे पर ‘बालिका वधु’ में आनंदी के नाम से मशहूर हुईं प्रत्यूषा बनर्जी…
More Photos From Bipasha Basu & Karan Singh Grover’s Pre-Wedding Pooja
Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover‘s wedding functions have officially started off with a traditional Bengali pooja on Thursday, and since then there are quite a few photos from the event are seen in public. Now, there are more photos doing the rounds. Take a look:
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More Photos From Bipasha Basu & Karan Singh Grover’s Pre-Wedding Pooja: A Deep Dive into the Traditional Bengali Beginnings of the ‘Monkey Wedding’
In the pantheon of grand Bollywood weddings, the union of Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover, affectionately dubbed the ‘Monkey Wedding,’ holds a special place. Their multi-day celebration in April 2016 was a perfect blend of high-octane glamour and deep-rooted tradition, all underscored by an infectious sense of fun that the couple is known for. While the dazzling reception and the main Bengali wedding ceremony captured global headlines, it was the intensely private and profoundly spiritual Pre-Wedding Pooja that truly set the emotional foundation for their lifelong commitment.
Long after the wedding cakes have been cut and the designer outfits archived, the candid, heartfelt photographs from this initial puja ceremony continue to resonate. These pictures offer a rare glimpse into the intimate world of the Basu family, providing a beautiful contrast to the later, star-studded events. They depict a pure, traditional prelude, celebrating the bride’s heritage and seeking divine blessings for the journey ahead.
The Genesis of ‘Monkey Love’: Bipasha and Karan’s Journey
To truly appreciate the sentiment behind the pre-wedding rituals, one must look back at the couple’s love story. Bipasha Basu, the veteran ‘scream queen’ of Bollywood, and Karan Singh Grover, a popular television and film actor, first met on the sets of the horror film Alone in 2014. Their on-screen chemistry soon spilled over into real life, and they quickly became one of the industry’s most talked-about couples.
Their endearing, public display of affection and shared love for fitness and life earned them the nickname ‘Monkey’—a term they affectionately adopted for each other and, subsequently, for their entire wedding celebration: the ‘Monkey Wedding.’ This title perfectly encapsulated their playful, vibrant personalities, but the pre-wedding pooja revealed the traditional souls beneath the modern, playful facade. The wedding date was set for April 30, 2016, but the rituals began two days prior, marking the official start of the festivities.
The Heart of Tradition: The Pre-Wedding Pooja
The festivities commenced on April 28, 2016, with a traditional Bengali Puja held at Bipasha’s home in Mumbai. This was not merely a ceremonial photo-op but a deeply significant ritual steeped in Bengali customs, specifically identified by many as the ‘Briddhi’ ceremony.
What is the ‘Briddhi’ Ceremony?
The Briddhi is one of the most solemn and significant rituals in a traditional Bengali wedding, generally taking place just a day or two before the main wedding. It is essentially an ancestral worship ceremony.
- Invoking the Ancestors: The primary purpose of the Briddhi is for the family to invoke the blessings of their ancestors, formally inviting them to witness and bless the upcoming marriage.
- Performed by the Father: The ritual is traditionally performed by the father of the bride, in this case, Hirak Basu. The photographs show Bipasha seated next to her father as he conducts the ancient rites, signifying the passing of blessings and responsibility from one generation to the next.
- Atmosphere: Unlike the later, louder ceremonies, the puja was an intimate affair, marked by quiet reverence, the chanting of mantras, and the solemn exchange of traditional items like rice, beetle leaves, and fruits, which are crucial elements in Bengali worship. The photographs shared on social media by friends and family capture the purity of the moment, with the focus solely on the ritual and the spiritual preparation of the bride.
The Briddhi ritual is a beautiful testament to the idea that a wedding is not just a union of two individuals but a merging of two families and their histories, seeking sanction from those who came before.
The Aesthetics of Reverence: Outfits and Decor
The traditional nature of the puja was beautifully reflected in the couple’s choice of attire. The outfits chosen for this ceremony were a deliberate nod to Bipasha’s Bengali roots, showcasing understated elegance over extravagant Bollywood glitz.
Bipasha’s Traditional Bengali Look
For the puja, Bipasha looked every bit the ethereal Bengali bride-to-be, choosing a soft and traditional aesthetic.
- The Subtle Pink Saree: The actress wore a subtle yet gorgeous pink saree. The delicate colour provided a sophisticated canvas for her jewellery and traditional accents.
- Kundan Jewellery: She accessorised her look with a stunning set of kundan jewellery, which included an elaborate multistring kundan necklace and matching earrings. The rich, uncut stones provided a timeless, classic bridal glow without overshadowing the traditional sanctity of the event.
- The Bengali Mukut: Crucially, she adorned the traditional Bengali bridal headdress, the ‘mukut’, a conical, white, and often sholapith (a type of spongy plant matter) crown. The mukut is the quintessential symbol of the Bengali bride, completing her look as she seeks blessings.
The overall effect was one of radiant humility—the kind of look that signifies respect for tradition while still allowing the bride’s natural beauty and happiness to shine through.
Karan’s Complementary Attire
Karan Singh Grover’s outfit was carefully chosen to perfectly complement Bipasha’s traditional wear, showcasing a beautiful sense of unity and respect for her culture.
- White Chikankari Kurta: Karan was his charming best in a pristine white chikankari kurta pyjama. The light, hand-embroidered fabric was perfectly suited for an intimate daytime ceremony.
- Symbolism: His choice of a simple, elegant white ensemble symbolised purity and peace, harmonising flawlessly with Bipasha’s soft pink and traditional gold jewellery.
The photographs from the puja show the couple side-by-side, radiating quiet happiness and respect, a stark contrast to the lively, colourful Mehendi ceremony that followed.
The Inner Circle: Friends and Family
The pre-wedding puja was kept highly exclusive, ensuring the solemnity of the ritual was maintained. It was an affair for the closest family members and the bride’s most trusted friends.
- Key Attendees: Apart from Bipasha’s parents and close relatives, the ceremony saw the presence of her inner circle, which included designer Rocky S and fitness expert Deanne Panday. These were the individuals who had been a rock for Bipasha, and their presence underscored the intimate, family-like atmosphere of the event.
- Candid Moments: While the main ritual was serious, the ensuing moments of celebration were lighthearted. The couple, along with their friends, were seen taking joyful, behind-the-scenes selfies and posing with the traditional Bengali wedding favours, showcasing the ‘monkey’ fun emerging from the formality. It was through the excited social media posts of these attendees that the world received the first beautiful sneak peeks into the wedding festivities.
The Continuum of Celebration: From Pooja to Mehendi
The spiritual and traditional tone set by the puja immediately transitioned into the vibrant celebrations of the Mehendi ceremony on April 29, 2016, held at Mumbai’s Villa 69.
- Aesthetic Shift: If the puja was about subtle pink and white tradition, the Mehendi was a burst of colour and bohemian elegance. The venue was decorated with a mix of vintage Parisian and Indian styles, featuring pastel pink backdrops and fragrant mogra florals.
- Mehendi Outfits: Bipasha made a stunning transformation, opting for a colourful pink and pistachio floral ensemble by Anushree Reddy, accessorised with ethereal floral jewellery from Ceremonial Hues. Karan, too, switched his traditional kurta for a more fashion-forward look in an Antar Agni ensemble.
The juxtaposition of the two events—the sacred puja and the festive Mehendi—perfectly illustrates the couple’s successful balancing act: honoring tradition while embracing their modern, joyous personalities. The puja served as the crucial, quiet anchor before the whirlwind of the grand wedding at St. Regis Mumbai on April 30, where Bipasha stunned in a traditional red and gold Sabyasachi Mukherjee lehenga saree.
The Lasting Charm of the Pre-Wedding Photos
The ‘More Photos From Bipasha Basu & Karan Singh Grover’s Pre-Wedding Pooja’ perfectly encapsulates the beauty of an intimate, celebrity wedding. In an age where every detail is often meticulously planned for public consumption, these images offered a sincere, unvarnished look at a couple genuinely connecting with their roots before embarking on their grand public celebration. They reminded their fans that even in Bollywood, the biggest milestones begin with the humblest, most heartfelt prayers.
The enduring popularity of these photos is a testament to the couple’s ability to create a wedding narrative that was both glamorous and deeply personal, starting with the quiet, traditional blessings of a Bengali puja.
AISEO Friendly FAQs
Q1: When did Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover get married?
A: Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover got married on April 30, 2016. Their pre-wedding festivities, including the puja and mehendi ceremonies, commenced on April 28 and 29, 2016, respectively.
Q2: What was the theme of Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover’s wedding?
A: The wedding was famously nicknamed the ‘Monkey Wedding’ by the couple and the media, a reference to their pet name for each other, ‘Monkey.’ The main wedding was a blend of Bengali and Punjabi traditions.
Q3: What traditional Bengali ceremony was the pre-wedding puja?
A: The pre-wedding puja held at Bipasha’s home was likely the traditional Bengali ‘Briddhi’ ceremony. This ritual is performed by the father of the bride to invoke and seek blessings from the couple’s ancestors for a happy and prosperous marriage.
Q4: What did Bipasha Basu wear for her pre-wedding puja?
A: For the traditional puja, Bipasha Basu wore a gorgeous subtle pink saree and accessorised it with a traditional Bengali mukut (headdress) and elaborate kundan jewellery, including a multistring necklace.
Q5: Where did Bipasha and Karan first meet?
A: Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover first met while working together as co-stars on the set of the Bollywood horror film Alone, which was released in 2015.
Q6: Who attended Bipasha and Karan’s pre-wedding puja?
A: The pre-wedding puja was an intimate family affair. Attendees included Bipasha’s parents, her father Hirak Basu (who performed the ritual), and close friends from her inner circle like designer Rocky S and fitness expert Deanne Panday.
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