Unveiling the world of customised bridal veils
Depending on the details, length of the veil, quality of the fabric and colour customisation, the price of these veils starts at Tk800 and can reach up to Tk40,000
The velvet border on a red net fabric with golden zari buti bears an inscription in Sanksrit, written in the Bangla script: "Jodidong hridoyong tobo, todidong hridoyong momo," which translates to "May your heart and my heart be one". Sumita Halder wore this veil on her wedding day last December.
With the red bridal look, gold jewellery and white mukut (crown) and Shanhkha, the red veil sat perfectly over her head while the inscription said a thousand words in a frame.
"Shopping for a wedding, especially a Sanatan one, is nothing less than maintaining a war. So many things had to be done and organised. I wanted something simple yet meaningful for my attire that says who I am, what my culture is. Getting a ready-made custom veil was a relief because this meant I could just order without running for it much," Sumita, who is a fine arts student and an artist by profession, said.
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In 2018, Deepika Padukone wore a red Sabyasachi lehenga for her Sindhi wedding, in Italy. Apart from the intricate hand embroidery, chowki design and kinara lace, what caught everyone's eye was the phrase "Sada Saubhagyavati Bhava" written on her wedding stole and veil. This Sanskrit phrase translates to "May you always be lucky as a married woman."
However, the frenzy for customised wedding orna with Bangla inscriptions began in Bangladesh in 2021, when Patralekhaa Paul, a Bollywood actress, and wife of actor Rajkummar Rao paired her lehenga with an embroidered Orna with her declaration of love inscribed in Bangla.
"Earlier, traditional bridal veils – made of net or tissue fabric, with golden zari border, were standardised for brides. However, the Sabyasachi brides of India have made a market for customised orna in Bangladesh," said Mahmudul Hasan Juton, owner of Average Orna Ghor, at Gawsia market.
After Rajkummar and Patralekha's wedding, Jannatul Ferdous and Mahidul Islam- the siblings duo started their own bridal orna business online and since November 2021, they have sold more than 10 thousand bridal stoles.
"One of our best-selling orna is the Bangla and Urdu border one, which has a length of 81 inches, 45 inches, priced at Tk1500. The more detailed inscriptions you want, the price will increase accordingly," Ferdous said.
On this net butidaar orna, the velvet border that says 'Qabool Hai' in Urdu or 'Jodidong hridoyong tobo' that translates to 'May our hearts be one'.
According to Ferdous, the majority of the Bangladeshi weddings are still very traditional with similar attire, decorations and food.
"Among all these, the brides want something personal to the arrangements, that says about the person, what they feel or what they want to say. This is why these customised veils are getting so popular these days."
While matching stores at Chandni Chowk, Newmarket, Gawsia and Chandrima shopping centres sell these bridal veils with customisation services, there are more than 15 online stores on Facebook and Instagram that sell such bridal stoles.
Depending on the details, length of the veil, quality of the fabric and colour customisation, the price of these veils starts at Tk800 and can reach up to Tk40,000. While ready-made dupattas are available in the stores, the customised ones may take 3-10 days to be ready to take home.
From trail veils, and couple veils to bridal dupattas
Amora, an online based clothing store specialises in trail veils, which stretch on the floor when the bride wears them. The length of the trail depends on the choice of the bride, however, a basic trail veil is 40 feet long and the minimum price for it is Tk3000.
"Now if you want to add more lace, and more details, the price will increase accordingly. If it is an uncommon colour, for colour customisation, we charge an extra Tk300", the owner of Amora said.
The letter inscription dupatta and veils can range from Tk1500 to Tk3000 in the market. Daraz sells such dupattas for Tk2200.
"One of our customers had a full customisation order for her veil. She wanted a poem by Rabindranath Tagore embroidered on the border of it. So our embroidery master required a week to complete the design on the border. This particular veil cost Tk6500 because of the details and other customisation," Jannatul Ferdous of Nehal's said.
Other than that these dupattas and veils are further adorned with border laces, zari polkas and glitters. Besides the border, inscriptions are embroidered on the fabric of the dupatta as well. Sojib Haider, owner of The Beautiful Blue said, "Brides want their and their husband's name with the wedding date to be embroidered on the dupatta. These types of customisation cost Tk2,600.
"Traditional wedding shari and other attires are bought readymade and are kept for life as heirloom pieces. There are not many items that we can customise and keep for life from our wedding. All the things are decided and bought according to the elder's choice and family tradition. However, I wanted something to be kept for us two, and my wedding veil is a piece like that," said Soha, the bride of Akash.
