An A+ Rating

     After watching “The Namesake” movie, I found it interesting how the producers decided to elaborate on the Indian culture and tradition of Gogol’s family. For instance, rituals and ceremonies followed Gogol and Moushumi’s wedding and the death of Ashoke, I was interested to see if the makers of the movie correctly portrayed the Bengali traditions. I researched some of these and found that the movie did a very nice job.
     In Bengali weddings, people dress in bold, bright colors to acknowledge the joyous day. The bride blows into a conch shell and the woman guests participate in ululation. Our class giggled at the funny noises the women at the wedding made with their tongues. Yet this high-pitched clicking noise is one of the main rituals at the wedding. Elders also sprinkle husked rice onto the newlyweds’ heads. I remember watching Gogol and Moushumi exchange leis to one another. This ritual is called Mala Badal when the bride and groom exchange garlands of fragrant flowers to one another. This symbolizes acceptance for one another. 
     After the death of Ashoke, we see Gogol getting his head shaved and Ashima washing out the red dye on her forehead and in her part. In the Bengali culture, the first-born son of the dead father has his head shaved for mourning purposes. Ashima removed the red jewel on her forehead, called a Bindi, to show that she no longer has a husband. In the movie, Gogol, Moushumi, Sonia, and the rest of the Ganguli family traveled to India to spread Ashoke’s ashes. At the ceremony I remember seeing all the guests in white robes. This is a typical death ceremony ritual. Family members dress in all white, except for the wife who dresses in a brightly colored sari.