I don't know the best way to do this because there is so much I can and want to say to describe the last day of the wedding but I also have a lot of pictures that I want to post. I think I'm going to try to keep my description as brief as possible and let the pictures show what it was like. Most of the day was spent resting from the night before and preparing for this night. After everyone was ready, about two hours after the planned start, the groom's side gathered in the hotel we were staying at. There was a ceremony where the groom received headdresses and dozens of large necklaces made out of 10 rupees note. A little boy who was to ride with him to the wedding was also adorned with several of the necklaces and a turban.
Everyone spilled out into the street below where the groom mounted his traditional white horse with the little boy behind him. The horse to was all decked out for the procession. Family members gave last minute blessings with more money and placed tikka powder (the red paste used on foreheads for traditional occasions and welcomes) on his forehead. Finally, the crowed began to walk as one mass out to the main road. The procession consisted of a mass of people with the groom and boy on a horse lead by a hired man in the middle. A large music player-mobile lead the way blasting music and accompanied by several men playing loud drums. Around the outside of the crowed were people carrying large electric lanterns, the wires connecting the lanterns ran around the perimeter of the crowed and to a large, loud generator on wheels that took up the rear. The main wedding party was in the middle of the group dancing enthusiastically. Accompanying us were also fireworks and confetti cannons. After a hundred meters on the main road, there was a mad dash for the cars that followed and everyone got a ride to another part of the city.
We all reconvened near where the wedding ceremony and reception would actually be held. From here the same procession restarted except with even more zeal. We danced out way slowly down the main road towards the garden where the reception was to be held and where the bride's family was waiting.
Once we reached the entrance to the garden, there was a traditional exchange of formalities and greetings between the two families. Soon everyone had poured into the reception area where there were massive buffets and eating areas set up, waiters milling around with trays and and a stage set up on the opposite side.
After a little bit, there was some fanfare and the bride was carried in on a pallet by some of her family members. She ascended a set of stairs to a circular platform set up in the middle of the area. There she stood elevated so that everyone could see her and the platform rotated around so that she faced everyone. From the other side, on an opposite set of stairs, came the groom who stood with her. There, the some family members came up and spoke to them. There was a speech made and the couple placed flower garlands on each other. More confetti cannons were set off. At the end, the couple was standing together instead of on opposite sides of the platform and they both descended to the side the groom had come from.
The couple and their main family members then went to the stage where the bride and groom sat in elaborate chairs while people came up and presented them with gifts, most commonly envelopes of cash, and congratulations and well wishes. Very often, when a party brought their gifts to the bride and grooms to be they were all called upon to stand together and pose for pictures.
This lasted until well after midnight when most of the guests except for the closest few had left. At that point, the wedding party got to come down from the stage and eat dinner. Following dinner, many of the women changed out of their saris and into kurtis.
THIS HAS BEEN MUCH LONGER THAN INTENDED. I WILL FINISH WITH THE CEREMONY AND ADD PICTURES TOMORROW. FOR NOW I'M GOING TO BED, I HAVE SCHOOL IN THE MORNING.
Everyone spilled out into the street below where the groom mounted his traditional white horse with the little boy behind him. The horse to was all decked out for the procession. Family members gave last minute blessings with more money and placed tikka powder (the red paste used on foreheads for traditional occasions and welcomes) on his forehead. Finally, the crowed began to walk as one mass out to the main road. The procession consisted of a mass of people with the groom and boy on a horse lead by a hired man in the middle. A large music player-mobile lead the way blasting music and accompanied by several men playing loud drums. Around the outside of the crowed were people carrying large electric lanterns, the wires connecting the lanterns ran around the perimeter of the crowed and to a large, loud generator on wheels that took up the rear. The main wedding party was in the middle of the group dancing enthusiastically. Accompanying us were also fireworks and confetti cannons. After a hundred meters on the main road, there was a mad dash for the cars that followed and everyone got a ride to another part of the city.
We all reconvened near where the wedding ceremony and reception would actually be held. From here the same procession restarted except with even more zeal. We danced out way slowly down the main road towards the garden where the reception was to be held and where the bride's family was waiting.
Once we reached the entrance to the garden, there was a traditional exchange of formalities and greetings between the two families. Soon everyone had poured into the reception area where there were massive buffets and eating areas set up, waiters milling around with trays and and a stage set up on the opposite side.
After a little bit, there was some fanfare and the bride was carried in on a pallet by some of her family members. She ascended a set of stairs to a circular platform set up in the middle of the area. There she stood elevated so that everyone could see her and the platform rotated around so that she faced everyone. From the other side, on an opposite set of stairs, came the groom who stood with her. There, the some family members came up and spoke to them. There was a speech made and the couple placed flower garlands on each other. More confetti cannons were set off. At the end, the couple was standing together instead of on opposite sides of the platform and they both descended to the side the groom had come from.
The couple and their main family members then went to the stage where the bride and groom sat in elaborate chairs while people came up and presented them with gifts, most commonly envelopes of cash, and congratulations and well wishes. Very often, when a party brought their gifts to the bride and grooms to be they were all called upon to stand together and pose for pictures.
This lasted until well after midnight when most of the guests except for the closest few had left. At that point, the wedding party got to come down from the stage and eat dinner. Following dinner, many of the women changed out of their saris and into kurtis.
THIS HAS BEEN MUCH LONGER THAN INTENDED. I WILL FINISH WITH THE CEREMONY AND ADD PICTURES TOMORROW. FOR NOW I'M GOING TO BED, I HAVE SCHOOL IN THE MORNING.
No comments:
Post a Comment