A Kolkata bride’s tribute to timeless Bengali grandeur

Some bridal looks are chosen; others are imagined long before the wedding day arrives. For fashion enthusiast Srijita Ghosh, her reception ensemble belonged to the latter — a vision shaped by years of admiration for cinematic grandeur and Indian heritage aesthetics. Inspired by Parvati from Devdas, Srijita envisioned a reception look that celebrated Indian maximalism. Rich textiles, intricate zardozi embroidery and heirloom-style jewellery came together in a midnight-blue sari designed by Jigar Mali. Set against the historic backdrop of Khelat Bhavan, the look echoed the timeless grace of Paro while complementing the old-world architecture of the North Kolkata bonedi bari. ‘The reference that stayed with me most strongly was Parvati from Devdas’ Srijita says Paro’s look in Devdas has an incredible balance of strength and grace. “Somewhere in my mind, I always imagined myself as a Bhansali bride, and the reference that stayed with me most strongly was Parvati from Devdas. Paro’s aesthetic — jewel tones, regal drapes and layered jewellery — offered the perfect starting point. With the reception taking place at Khelat Bhavan, the Parvati-inspired aesthetic felt like a natural extension of the historic setting." ‘I looked in the mirror and felt transported to another time’ The look took shape through months of collaboration with designer Jigar Mali, whom Srijita considers an elder brother. Mali envisioned her in deep midnight blue, creating one of his heaviest saris with intricate zardozi embroidery across the pallu and borders. “Nearly seven metres long, the saree allowed for a dramatic ghomta and was paired with a fully embroidered full-sleeve blouse and a matching shawl,” she says. For her husband Soubik Debnath, who is a filmmaker and photographer, the designer created an antique-gold embroidered ivory angrakha with a dhoti and deep blue shawl — a look designed to echo Srijita’s ensemble while maintaining regal contrast. “When everything was complete — the saree, the ghomta, the jewellery, the makeup — I looked in the mirror and felt transported to another time,” says Srijita. For her, the look went beyond recreating a cinematic reference and became a celebration of heritage, femininity and storytelling through fashion. A vintage Bengali bride for the wedding dayThe inspirationThe bridal ensembleThe groom’s look The jewellery storyThe overall aesthetic Reception day jewellery that felt powerful and divine “When Srijita spoke about embodying Parvati, we focused on jewellery that felt powerful, divine and deeply rooted in heritage,” says Rimple Narula, founder of RAH Jewels. The bride wore a Patiala Peepal Patti choker and statement earrings from the Peepal Patti collection, where the peepal leaf motif symbolises life and continuity. The look was layered with the Vraj Ratan Rani Haar, evoking temple grandeur, and completed with traditional haathphools and a mathapatti crafted in gold-infused silver. Soubik complemented the look with a three-layered pearl necklace paired with his ivory angrakha.‘Vintage Devdas-era Bengali royalty meets modern bridal glamour’ The hair, makeup and draping were created by makeup artist Prasenjit Biswas, who describes the aesthetic as “old-world royal Bengali elegance with contemporary styling.” He explains that the hair was styled in a sleek pulled-back base to create a structured silhouette, while the makeup brought in a modern edge. Dark smoky eyes added depth and intensity, defined brows and kohl-rimmed eyes created a regal character, and sculpted bronzed skin enhanced Srijita’s natural dusky complexion. Nude-brown lips balanced the dramatic eye makeup, while strategic highlighting gave the skin a luminous glow that complemented the gold jewellery and embroidery.