Nirvana

The wedding is a week away.

Next Wednesday.

South Indian weddings are fun.

Huge gathering of friends and relatives.

Cousins, uncles, aunts, school mates, elders, neighbors.

Some I have not met for years together.

All present for the occasion.

Dressed in the best of their clothes.

Men wearing traditional dhotis or kurtas.

Kids adorned in pavadais and sherwanis.

playing around the marriage hall.

Women wearing lovely silk sarees.

Bedecked with gold and diamonds.

Around a thousand are expected.

Can be intimidating to those who are not familiar.

Musicians in a corner.

Playing Nagaswaram and Molam.

The weddings in north and south differ.

North Indian weddings start late in the evening.

The rituals last only a couple of hours.

The merrymaking (music, dance, wine and food) follows.

Till early hours of dawn.

South Indian weddings lay emphasis on traditions and protocols.

The weddings are held during daytime.

The formalities start at around 5 in the morning.

End at around 1 in the afternoon.

The whole ceremony can sap all your energy.

The reception of the groom is on the previous evening.

A formal betrothal runs a few hours.

On the day of the wedding, there are vedic chants.

The proceedings are in front of the holy fire.

The groom usually sits barechested wearing a yellow dhoti.

The bride switches between different silk sarees.

The groom ties a sacred thread around the bride’s neck.

Indicative of the union.

The bride follows the groom around the fire seven times.

Each circle has it’s own significance.

An oath to stay together in times of happiness and travesty.

Followed by a sumptuous lunch for everyone gathered.

Three servings of rice with sidedishes, vegetables, sweets.

A king’s buffet.

Afternoon includes merriment and adequate rest.

There’s a reception in the evening.

Western style - groom wearing a suit, bride usually a saree.

Everyone’s looking forward to the occasion.

Here’s a link elaborating on the wedding rituals and customs.

Barely a week away!

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I like visiting other blogs.

Like this one.

I can't comprehend a word of what's in that blog.

Yet I like it.

Must be spanish.

Some corner of the world.

Pictures speak louder than words.

Wedding pictures.

Everyone's making merry.

Drinking, Dancing and Singing.

An elated couple dressed for the occasion.

Makes me happy.

Stirs emotions in anticipation.

R and I in ten days.

A couple in love with each other.

Living together, man and wife.

Ten more days.

End.

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In exactly 56 minutes, I am going to turn 28 years old. Yep, 28 years of existence on this planet.

Significant events chalked out for this year include

• My wedlock with R - my sweet, adorable fiancee'

• Honeymooning in the US of A - possibly Hawaii

• Relocating to India - in Sept-Oct timeframe after living in the USA for the past seven years.

Sweet 28, here I come!

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