Katherine's Reflections on the Wedding

From India Part II...

Katherine: The wedding was fun and so exhausting -- here is my attempt to describe bits of it. The first prayers of the parents with the priests in front of a private altar started at 7:30am and it finally ended around 12:30 in the afternoon. You would not believe the length of the rituals -- food and drinks are served throughout the event, people are talking on their cell phones or with other people (even the parents while doing one of the blessings of the newly married couple and even the priest at one point during the ceremony!), and kids are singing or playing games. Somehow, none of this feels inappropriate to the ritual -- there is great detail to follow but lots of space to relax and enjoy in the midst of it! The building of the fire about 4 hours into the ceremony was wild because I didn't think they could possibly add more ritual and then they built a fire and had to do innumerable prayers and walk around it many times, while their garments were tied together. I have fewer pictures of this because I was definitely worn out by this time. But the colors and decorations were exquisite and the garlands and flowers seemed never-ending. As well as the copious amounts of rice, coconuts, water, betel leaves, earth, and turmeric and vermilion powder, there was nearly constant chanting by one of the priests in Sanskrit (another reason why the background talking and socializing was not disturbing, there was already constant noise). At one point during the ceremony a paste of the spices was pressed into each of the bride's and groom's heads and left for the remaining time. Again, it feels like a lot to describe these 5 hours of sensory overload -- I think the photographs will paint a much more vivid picture. Note the photograph of Smriti's father's watch as he waits for the precise moment of 10:42am when the cloth between the bride and groom was removed for them to see each other (traditionally they would have been seeing each other, and even touching each other, for the first time...can you imagine the drama of this!?). Yesterday, an analog watch was used to monitor this precise moment. Also, the bride's outfits alone were amazing -- especially as she was carried in to the main ceremony area in a basket!

From India Part II...

Apparently, there is a good deal of choice when planning modern Indian weddings. Another wedding that occurred at the resort last night had a much more western feel -- it also started at 7pm and the reception was over around 11pm! There was alcohol at this event, too, whereas it was nonexistant at either the wedding or reception yesterday. (note: Gretchen and I will be missing an event tonight which is actually a martini party for the family's business associates, and some important people will be attending, evidently). We are grateful for Mark and Smriti's choice to have a very traditional wedding as it is an experience we will never forget.

We just said goodbye to Mark and Smriti; Mark's father and step-mother; Greg, Mark's friend, who stood as his best man in lieu of Mark's siblings being present; and Mary, Smriti's host mother from the States. Along with Gretchen and me, we comprised the American contingent of the wedding. It is funny how fast people can feel like family, especially when sharing a special occasion and being in a foreign land. We were sad to say good-bye but glad to have such great company as we attempted to digest all of the wonder of an Indian wedding.