# Bengali wedding invitation wording, in Bengali and English

By Zaroor Aana. Last updated 15 November 2026. Page: https://zarooraana.com/blog/bengali-wedding-invitation-wording

> A Bengali Hindu wedding card opens with শ্রী শ্রী প্রজাপতয়ে নমঃ, then সবিনয় নিবেদন and the address মহাশয়/মহাশয়া. One long sentence gives the Bengali date, the host’s child and the match, and asks for your presence and blessings. It closes with পত্র দ্বারা নিমন্ত্রণের ত্রুটি মার্জনীয় and the host’s name under বিনীত.

## In brief

- A Bengali wedding card is written as a letter: invocation, opening address, one sentence with the date and the couple, the request, an apology line and the host’s name.
- শ্রী শ্রী প্রজাপতয়ে নমঃ, a salutation to Prajapati, sits at the top of most Hindu cards, usually with a butterfly.
- The date is given in the Bengali calendar, with the English date beside it marked ইং.
- The bride’s family invites guests to the wedding and the groom’s family to the boubhat or preetibhoj, so the two sides usually print separate cards.
- পত্র দ্বারা নিমন্ত্রণের ত্রুটি মার্জনীয় asks the guest to forgive being invited by letter and not in person.

## What is written on a Bengali wedding card, and in what order?

A Bengali wedding card is called biyer card (বিয়ের কার্ড) or nimontron patro (নিমন্ত্রণ পত্র), the invitation letter. Hindu cards are headed শুভ বিবাহ (shubho bibaho), “auspicious wedding”. The card is one short letter from the head of the family, and the parts follow a set order.

**The parts of a Bengali Hindu wedding card, in order**

| Part | In Bengali | How it is said | What it means |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Invocation | শ্রী শ্রী প্রজাপতয়ে নমঃ | Sri Sri Prajapataye Namah | Salutations to Prajapati |
| 2. Opening | সবিনয় নিবেদন, | Sabinay nibedan | A humble submission; “respectfully” |
| 3. Address | মহাশয়/মহাশয়া, | Mahashay / Mahashaya | Sir / Madam |
| 4. Date and couple | আগামী [Bengali date] … শুভ বিবাহ অনুষ্ঠিত হইবে। | Agami … shubho bibaho anushthito hoibe | On the coming date, the wedding of … will take place |
| 5. Request | উপস্থিত থাকিয়া নবদম্পতিকে আশীর্বাদ করিলে বাধিত হইব। | Upasthit thakiya nabadampatike ashirbad korile badhito hoibo | I shall be obliged if you come and bless the new couple |
| 6. Apology line | পত্র দ্বারা নিমন্ত্রণের ত্রুটি মার্জনীয়। | Patra dwara nimontroner truti marjoniyo | Please forgive the fault of inviting you by letter |
| 7. Sign-off | বিনীত | Binito | Humbly, followed by the host’s name |
| 8. Programme | শুভ বিবাহ · বৌভাত / প্রীতিভোজ | Shubho bibaho, boubhat, preetibhoj | The dates, times and places |

This is the form used by Hindu families in West Bengal and Bangladesh. Bengali Muslim cards open with Bismillah and use the word দাওয়াত (dawat) where Hindu cards say নিমন্ত্রণ (nimontron). For the same order in English, see [wedding card matter in Hindi and English](https://zarooraana.com/blog/wedding-card-matter-hindi-english).

## What does “Sri Sri Prajapataye Namah” mean on a Bengali wedding card?

শ্রী শ্রী প্রজাপতয়ে নমঃ (Sri Sri Prajapataye Namah) means “salutations to Prajapati”. Prajapati is the lord of creation in Hindu tradition, and the line asks his blessing on the marriage. It is printed at the very top of the card.

> শ্রী শ্রী প্রজাপতয়ে নমঃ

প্রজাপতি (projapoti) is also the Bengali word for a butterfly, and a butterfly is drawn above or beside the line on most cards. A writer recalling the wedding booklets of his childhood describes the same layout: the butterfly on top, this line under it, and the couple’s names below in large letters.

Some cards shorten the line to ॥ প্রজাপতয়ে নমঃ ॥. Both forms are in use.

## How does a Bengali wedding card begin, and how are the date and the couple written?

After the invocation the card begins like a formal letter. সবিনয় নিবেদন (sabinay nibedan) means “a humble submission”. মহাশয়/মহাশয়া (mahashay/mahashaya) is “Sir/Madam”; the card prints both so that it can go to anyone. Many newer cards skip সবিনয় নিবেদন and begin straight from মহাশয়/মহাশয়া.

> সবিনয় নিবেদন,
> মহাশয়/মহাশয়া,

The sentence that follows starts with আগামী (agami), “the coming”, and the date in the Bengali calendar: the day with its ending, then the month, then the year if you wish. The English date goes beside it in brackets after ইং, short for ইংরেজি (English).

> আগামী [Bengali date], [Day] (ইং [Date])

A real card reads, for example, “আগামী ৯ই ফাল্গুন ১৪২৭ (ইং ২২শে ফেব্রুয়ারী ২০২১)”: the coming 9th of Falgun 1427, with the English date 22 February 2021. Take the Bengali date and the lagna, the auspicious time, from your purohit or the family panjika.

Older cards are in sadhu bhasha, the formal written Bengali, with verbs such as হইবে (hoibe) and থাকিয়া (thakiya). Newer cards use chalit, everyday Bengali: হবে (hobe), থেকে (theke). Both are correct. Do not mix the two in one card.

Next come the names. The host names his or her own child first, then the other family. The titles change with how formal the card is.

- কল্যাণীয় (kalyaniyo) before the groom’s name and কল্যাণীয়া (kalyaniya) before the bride’s: “the blessed one”, the way an elder refers to a younger person.
- শ্রী (Sri) for a man and শ্রীমতী (Srimati) for a woman, used for the parents and, on many cards, for the couple too.
- শ্রীমান (Sriman) before the groom’s name on older cards.
- পুত্র (putra) is son and কন্যা (kanya) is daughter. জ্যেষ্ঠ (jyeshtha) marks the eldest.
- পিতা (pita), মাতা (mata) and নিবাস (nibas): father, mother and home address, printed under each name on some cards.

> শ্রী [Father] ও শ্রীমতী [Mother]-র কন্যা কল্যাণীয়া [Bride]

One point of spelling. The ending after a name is -র when the name ends in a vowel sound and -এর when it ends in a consonant, as in অনন্যা-র and অরিন্দম-এর. Fix the endings once your names are in.

## What is a complete Bengali wedding card wording to copy?

This first sample is the bride’s father’s card, in the traditional sadhu bhasha. Replace the words in brackets.

> শুভ বিবাহ
> শ্রী শ্রী প্রজাপতয়ে নমঃ
> সবিনয় নিবেদন,
> মহাশয়/মহাশয়া,
> আগামী [Bengali date], [Day] (ইং [Date]) আমার কন্যা কল্যাণীয়া [Bride]-র সহিত শ্রী [Father] ও শ্রীমতী [Mother]-র পুত্র কল্যাণীয় [Groom]-এর শুভ বিবাহ অনুষ্ঠিত হইবে।
> এই শুভ অনুষ্ঠানে আপনি সবান্ধবে উপস্থিত থাকিয়া নবদম্পতিকে আশীর্বাদ করিলে বাধিত হইব।
> পত্র দ্বারা নিমন্ত্রণের ত্রুটি মার্জনীয়।
> বিনীত,
> [Father]
> স্থান: [Venue], [City]

Read aloud: “Agami [Bengali date], [Day], amar kanya kalyaniya [Bride]-r sahit Sri [Father] o Srimati [Mother]-r putra kalyaniyo [Groom]-er shubho bibaho anushthito hoibe. Ei shubho anushthane apni sabandhabe upasthit thakiya nabadampatike ashirbad korile badhito hoibo. Patra dwara nimontroner truti marjoniyo. Binito, [Father]. Sthan: [Venue].”

In English: “Sir/Madam, on the coming [Date], the wedding of my daughter [Bride] with [Groom], son of Sri [Father] and Srimati [Mother], will take place. I shall be obliged if you are present at this auspicious occasion with your family and friends and bless the new couple. Please forgive the fault of inviting you by letter. Humbly, [Father]. Venue: [Venue].”

This second sample is the groom’s parents’ card for the preetibhoj, in everyday Bengali.

> শ্রী শ্রী প্রজাপতয়ে নমঃ
> সবিনয় নিবেদন,
> মহাশয়/মহাশয়া,
> আগামী [Bengali date] (ইং [Date]) আমাদের পুত্র কল্যাণীয় [Groom] ও কল্যাণীয়া [Bride]-র বিবাহের প্রীতিভোজের মাঙ্গলিক অনুষ্ঠানে আপনার উপস্থিতি একান্তভাবে কামনা করছি।
> পত্রের দ্বারা নিমন্ত্রণের ত্রুটি মার্জনীয়।
> বিনীত,
> [Father] ও [Mother]
> শুভ বিবাহ: [Bengali date] (ইং [Date])
> প্রীতিভোজ: [Bengali date] (ইং [Date])
> স্থান: [Venue], [City]

Read aloud: “Agami [Bengali date] amader putra kalyaniyo [Groom] o kalyaniya [Bride]-r bibaher preetibhojer mangalik anushthane apnar upasthiti ekantobhabe kamona korchhi.” It means: “On the coming [Date], we earnestly wish for your presence at the auspicious wedding feast of our son [Groom] and [Bride].” The last three lines give the wedding date, the feast date and the place.

A modern card can be two plain sentences.

> আমাদের মেয়ে [Bride]-র সঙ্গে [Groom]-এর বিয়েতে আপনাকে সপরিবারে নিমন্ত্রণ জানাই।
> আপনার উপস্থিতি আর আশীর্বাদ আমাদের কাছে সবচেয়ে বড় উপহার।

Meaning: “We invite you, with your family, to the wedding of our daughter [Bride] with [Groom]. Your presence and blessings are the greatest gift for us.”

## What does “patra dwara nimontroner truti marjoniyo” mean?

পত্র দ্বারা নিমন্ত্রণের ত্রুটি মার্জনীয় (patra dwara nimontroner truti marjoniyo) means “the fault of inviting by letter is to be forgiven”. The line is read as an apology for inviting by card and not in person, which many families still treat as the proper way to invite elders and close relatives.

> পত্র দ্বারা নিমন্ত্রণের ত্রুটি মার্জনীয়।

Cards word it a little differently: পত্রের দ্বারা নিমন্ত্রণের ত্রুটি মার্জনীয়, or পত্র দ্বারা নিমন্ত্রণের জন্য ত্রুটি মার্জনীয়. A Bengali letter-writing guide treats it as an older custom that many invitations now leave out, so it is your choice. It is a good line to keep on a digital invite, where nobody has come to the door.

The sign-off under it is বিনীত (binito), “humbly”, or বিনীতা (binita) when a woman signs. Older cards add নিবেদন ইতি (nibedan iti), “here ends my submission”, above it.

## Why do the bride’s side and the groom’s side print different cards?

In a Bengali Hindu wedding the two families usually host different events. The wedding, the biye, is held by the bride’s family. The boubhat, with its dinner for guests, is held by the groom’s family soon after; the gap varies. So each family prints its own card for its own guests.

**Bride’s side card**

- Host: the bride’s father or parents
- Invites to: শুভ বিবাহ, the wedding
- Names first: আমার কন্যা, my daughter
- May add the groom’s boubhat date as one line

**Groom’s side card**

- Host: the groom’s father or parents
- Invites to: বৌভাত or প্রীতিভোজ, the feast
- Names first: আমার পুত্র or আমাদের পুত্র, my or our son
- Often gives the wedding date too

প্রীতিভোজ (preetibhoj) means “a feast of affection” and is the usual card word for the dinner. Many cards write বৌভাত ও প্রীতিভোজ together. Some families now hold one shared reception. Follow what the two families agree.

## What are the functions in a Bengali wedding called?

Customs differ between families, and between West Bengal and Bangladesh. These four are the ones named most often on cards and in messages.

**Bengali wedding functions and their names**

| Function | In Bengali | What it is |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aiburobhaat | আইবুড়ো ভাত | The last rice meal as an unmarried person, held separately at the bride’s and the groom’s homes before the wedding |
| Gaye holud | গায়ে হলুদ | Turmeric on the body. Turmeric is first put on the groom, then sent to the bride’s home with gifts |
| Biye | বিয়ে (শুভ বিবাহ) | The wedding itself, at the lagna, usually hosted by the bride’s family |
| Boubhat | বৌভাত (প্রীতিভোজ) | The bride serves rice in her new home, and the groom’s family hosts a dinner for guests |

Some families also hold an ashirbad (আশীর্বাদ), a blessing ceremony, before these. List only the functions you are inviting guests to.

## What short Bengali messages can you send on WhatsApp with the invitation?

A WhatsApp message in Bengali can be in everyday language, even when the card is formal. Keep it to the names, the date and the link or the venue.

> নমস্কার।
> আগামী [Date] [Groom] ও [Bride]-র বিয়ে। আপনাকে সপরিবারে নিমন্ত্রণ জানাচ্ছি। বিস্তারিত ও ম্যাপ এই লিংকে:
> [Link]

Meaning: “Namaskar. [Groom] and [Bride] are getting married on [Date]. We invite you with your family. Details and the map are at this link.” This one is for relatives and elders.

> অবশেষে! [Date] আমার বিয়ে।
> না এলে কিন্তু রাগ করব। তারিখ, সময় আর লোকেশন এখানে:
> [Link]

Meaning: “At last! My wedding is on [Date]. I will be cross if you do not come. Date, time and location are here.” This one is for friends.

> [Bride]-র গায়ে হলুদ
> [Date] · [Time]
> হলুদ বা কমলা পরে আসবেন কিন্তু!

Meaning: “[Bride]’s gaye holud”, with the date and time, then “do come wearing yellow or orange!”

> বৌভাত ও প্রীতিভোজ
> [Date], সন্ধ্যা [Time]
> [Venue], [City]
> আপনার সপরিবারে উপস্থিতি একান্ত কাম্য।

Meaning: “Boubhat and dinner”, with the date, the evening time and the place, then “your presence, with family, is earnestly wished for”.

For messages in English and Hindi, see [wedding invitation messages for WhatsApp](https://zarooraana.com/blog/wedding-invitation-message-for-whatsapp). At Zaroor Aana a wedding invite is ₹2,999 and opens as a link with a screen for each function. The shop does not have a Bengali opening line built in yet, so [write to us](https://zarooraana.com/contact) before you order if you want Bengali script on the invite. You can [see the wedding invites](https://zarooraana.com/invites) with sample names first.

## Questions families ask

### What is a wedding invitation called in Bengali?

A wedding invitation in Bengali is called biyer card (বিয়ের কার্ড) or nimontron patro (নিমন্ত্রণ পত্র), the invitation letter. Hindu cards carry the heading শুভ বিবাহ, “auspicious wedding”. Bengali Muslim families more often say biyer dawat (বিয়ের দাওয়াত) for the same invitation.

### What is written at the top of a Bengali wedding card?

Most Bengali Hindu wedding cards have শ্রী শ্রী প্রজাপতয়ে নমঃ at the top, which means “salutations to Prajapati”, the lord of creation. A butterfly is usually drawn with it, because projapoti is also the Bengali word for butterfly. The letter begins below this line.

### What does “sabinay nibedan” mean?

Sabinay nibedan (সবিনয় নিবেদন) means “a humble submission”, close to “respectfully” in English. It is the opening of a traditional Bengali wedding card, placed just before the address মহাশয়/মহাশয়া, “Sir/Madam”. Many newer cards leave it out and begin with the address.

### What does “patra dwara nimontroner truti marjoniyo” mean?

It means “please forgive the fault of inviting you by letter”. The card asks pardon for inviting by letter and not in person. The line, পত্র দ্বারা নিমন্ত্রণের ত্রুটি মার্জনীয়, sits just above the host’s name.

### What is the difference between boubhat and preetibhoj?

Boubhat (বৌভাত) is the ritual in which the bride serves rice in her new home, and the dinner the groom’s family hosts for guests that day. Preetibhoj (প্রীতিভোজ) means a feast of affection and is the card word for that dinner. Cards often print both together.

### Should a Bengali wedding card be in sadhu bhasha or chalit?

Either works. Sadhu bhasha, with verbs such as হইবে and করিলে, is the older formal style and still appears on traditional cards. Chalit, the everyday form with হবে and করলে, is common on newer cards. Choose one and keep the whole card in it.

### How do you write the date on a Bengali wedding card?

Write the date in the Bengali calendar first, such as ৯ই ফাল্গুন ১৪২৭, and add the English date in brackets after ইং, short for ইংরেজি. Add the day of the week if you like. Giving both dates helps relatives who do not follow the Bengali calendar.

## See it for yourself

- [See the wedding invites](https://zarooraana.com/invites)
- [How ordering works](https://zarooraana.com/how-it-works)
- [Wedding card matter in Hindi and English](https://zarooraana.com/blog/wedding-card-matter-hindi-english)
- [Wedding invitation messages for WhatsApp](https://zarooraana.com/blog/wedding-invitation-message-for-whatsapp)

## Sources

- [A sample online nimontron patro (শুভবিবাহ) with the traditional wording, from the groom’s father for the preetibhoj](https://green15.gitlab.io/mrg7/)
- [The Private Wedding App, October 2026: বিয়ের দাওয়াত কার্ডের লেখা, with a Hindu nimontron patro sample and a table of function lines](https://www.theprivateweddingapp.com/bn/blog/biyer-dawat-card-lekha-bangla-english)
- [Biyer Pata (a Bangladeshi e-invite seller): বিয়ের কার্ডের লেখা, with a Hindu card sample](https://biyerpata.com/guides/biyer-carder-lekha)
- [Biyer Pata: WhatsApp wedding invitation messages in Bengali](https://biyerpata.com/guides/biyer-dawat-message)
- [Biyer Pata: gaye holud invitation wording in Bengali](https://biyerpata.com/guides/holuder-dawat-lekha)
- [BigganBD: চিঠি লেখার নিয়ম (on নিমন্ত্রণপত্র, the Prajapati line and the old closing lines)](https://www.bigganbd.com/2020/08/Chithi-Lekhar-Niyom.html)
- [Robichakro (Somen Dey): বিয়ের পদ্য, on old wedding booklets with the butterfly and শ্রী শ্রী প্রজাপতয়ে নমঃ](https://robichakro.com/bengali-marriage-poems/)
- [Inscript: a feature on old wedding cards that opens with the “ত্রুটি মার্জনীয়” line](https://inscript.me/husband-and-wife-are-both-dead-twitter-responded-to-the-90-year-old-wedding-card)
- [Bengali Wikipedia: বাঙালি হিন্দু বিবাহ (আইবুড়ো ভাত, গায়ে হলুদ, বৌভাত)](https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%99%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BF_%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%81_%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B9)
- [Wikipedia: Bengali Hindu wedding (Aiburobhaat, Gaye Holud, Bou Bhat)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_Hindu_wedding)