Mrinalini Devi was born in 1872 at Jessore (in present Bangladesh). Her father Benimadhab Raichoudhuri was a clerk in the estate of Debendranath Tagore. As Devendranath was a Pyrali Brahmin, it was not easy to get a girl from higher ranks of Brahmins. Benimadhab's daughter was chosen as a bride of Rabindranath and they were married on 9 December 1883 at Jorasanko hurriedly. Rabindranath was summoned from Satyendranath's residence. Before marriage her name was Bhabatarini. At the time of the marriage Rabindranath was 22 years old and Bhabatarini was 12. She was quite thin at that time, not very good-looking and was almost illeterate with an old-fashioned outlook. To speak frankly, she was not a good match for Rabindranath. In an attempt to groom her, she was admitted in Loreto School. Rabindranath was very caring and dutiful. Five months after the marriage, Kadambari Devi, wife of Jyotirindranath, committed suicide leaving a lasting effect on Rabindranath.
On 25 October 1886, Mrinalini gave birth to her first child Madurilata, nicknamed Bela, in Kolkata.
Rabindranath went on a family tour to Darjeeling with his wife, daughter, sister, and nephew.
