G sporting her new wedding outfit:
Kasthuri and Chris:
The temple next door to the event hall had this out front. I don't know why.
And this was out front as well. Perhaps there is no back door?
Vara Satkaarah
Kasthuri is greeted by Bidisha's family and he sits in a chair while bride's parents bless him with rice and trefoil and applies tilak of vermilion and turmeric powder. In the photo below Kasthuri is sitting to the left, which you can't see him because of the mataji in the purple sari; and Bidisha's parents are kneeling to the right, almost under the plate and cup.
Priya suggested I wear a bindi and the red markings of a married woman.
Kanya Dan
Bidisha enters in her beautiful red sari adorned will all sorts of gold jewelry. Her father gives her away to the groom while sacred mantras are being chanted by the priests.
It was tough getting pictures of them under the altar, as everyone was mobbed around this thing. Unlike American weddings, no one seems to sit down, they all crowd around the bride and groom.
The priest is a very busy man, so much so that he takes a cell phone call during the ceremony:
Here they are doing something that I'm not sure what it is. She was hidden by the blanket, there was something going on with their feet, then they threw puffed rice or petals, I think, over the blanket at each other.
And another ritual:
I apparently don't have pictures of Saptapadi, which is where the two are tied together with a knot. Hence where our term "tie the knot" comes from.
Aren't they cute?
We left shortly after noon and missed the lunch, which we were bummed about, but we were still quite jet lagged. Back at the hotel we napped for 3 hours!
What a ceremony! American weddings are nothing -- even with the chicken dance. An Indian woman at work married off her daughter and she prepared for months before the wedding. It's all she talked about - I can see why! Lots and lots of details (and organized chaos)
ReplyDeleteYou guys all look gorgeous in these pics...especially your girlie!
ReplyDeleteDid you know the couple getting married? I love how the bride has the requisite miserable face of an Indian bride. Too funny!
i noticed too that the bride never looked happy while the husband looks thrilled!!! the pictures and details you are giving are great...you definitely got me hooked!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe groom works with Chris. It was the first time for us to meet the bride. She's never been to America.
ReplyDeleteYes, she does have that "requisite miserable face," but it wasn't an arranged marriage, per se, so the look isn't because of that. (They met online, then went to their parents - and the astrologer - for approval.) I did ask her how she felt about moving to America, especially with never having been here before, and she said that she was sad to leave her family and nervous. So I think that is the reason for the "look."
Sabjimata - We met a mother and daughter in Vrindavan who are from Alachua. I asked if they by chance knew you and she said "of course! Who doesn't know you!" :-)
ReplyDeleteI forget the mother's name, but the daughter is Braja, 9 years old. Very polite young lady.