(no subject)
Back to day 2 of Dipti's wedding I forgot to mention the day time! There was a Mende (probably spelt wrong) party for the ladies on the brides side. Dipti had her hands, lower arms, feet and legs decorated, and the rest of us had out hands done. After you have had it down you have to keep your hands out of contact with anything for about an hour (quite difficult for me!) It is still just about visible on my hands. Whilst the mende was being done Dipti's Mum played a traditional Indian instrument, people sang Indian love songs and dances were performed. Clapping was a challenge! When are hands were suitably dry and the paste was starting to flake off we had a lovely lunch.
Day 3: Rest day, Dipti spent most of the day rehearsing dances for friends and family weddings that were coming up in December and January. She organised for a car to take us "foreigners" on a tour of Pune. We went to lots of temples, some gardens, the market, a fort etc. We also saw the outside of a famous meditation retreat where you have to take an HIV test to enter... That evening I had a lovely dinner with Rucha and her parents and then we went out for ice cream with one of her friends.
Day 4: The actual wedding. Rima arrived from Hydrabad. Andi and Rosanna arrived in amazing Indian costumes! The wedding ceremony started early in the morning and the rituals, ceremonies, vows and gift giving between the 2 families lasted until past mid day. Finally Dipti and Rahul circled the fire 4 times and were pronounced married. It is traditional that the grooms shoes are stolen by the brides side of the family during the ceremony, and they then sell them back to him. Rahul's shoes were procured very early on in the ceremony, and his cousins spent the whole day trying to find them. Eventually he had to spend 1000 rps to have them returned. After the wedding ceremony everyone queued to go up on the stage and congratulate the couple and their immediate family, before going to another area of the venue for the wedding meal. The immediate family ate together at tables in the area where the wedding ceremony took place.
Rima and Rucha then took us to see the latest Bollywood film, they helped to translate for us, it was great fun. At the interval I got some very yummy caramel popcorn.
After that we went to the roof Rahul's house for another party, this one was mainly for the younger guests, lots of alcohol and food. Dipti and Rahul cut their wedding cake. Got home very late.
Day 5: We had a quiet morning, I joined Kunal, Andi and Rosanna for a lovely lunch and chat before returning to Rucha and Rima's house to get ready for the wedding reception. I wore a sari! Over 1000 people attended the wedding reception, again the venue was outside. Dipti and Rahul stood on a stage with their parents and guest arrived queued up to give their congratulations and have their photo taken and then enjoyed another delicious buffet. Their smiles must have felt pretty sore by the end of the evening. Rima had to leave early to go home to Hydrabad.
In the next installment Michael will arrive and we will go to Arangabad with Andi and Rosanna to do some touristy stuff : )
Day 3: Rest day, Dipti spent most of the day rehearsing dances for friends and family weddings that were coming up in December and January. She organised for a car to take us "foreigners" on a tour of Pune. We went to lots of temples, some gardens, the market, a fort etc. We also saw the outside of a famous meditation retreat where you have to take an HIV test to enter... That evening I had a lovely dinner with Rucha and her parents and then we went out for ice cream with one of her friends.
Day 4: The actual wedding. Rima arrived from Hydrabad. Andi and Rosanna arrived in amazing Indian costumes! The wedding ceremony started early in the morning and the rituals, ceremonies, vows and gift giving between the 2 families lasted until past mid day. Finally Dipti and Rahul circled the fire 4 times and were pronounced married. It is traditional that the grooms shoes are stolen by the brides side of the family during the ceremony, and they then sell them back to him. Rahul's shoes were procured very early on in the ceremony, and his cousins spent the whole day trying to find them. Eventually he had to spend 1000 rps to have them returned. After the wedding ceremony everyone queued to go up on the stage and congratulate the couple and their immediate family, before going to another area of the venue for the wedding meal. The immediate family ate together at tables in the area where the wedding ceremony took place.
Rima and Rucha then took us to see the latest Bollywood film, they helped to translate for us, it was great fun. At the interval I got some very yummy caramel popcorn.
After that we went to the roof Rahul's house for another party, this one was mainly for the younger guests, lots of alcohol and food. Dipti and Rahul cut their wedding cake. Got home very late.
Day 5: We had a quiet morning, I joined Kunal, Andi and Rosanna for a lovely lunch and chat before returning to Rucha and Rima's house to get ready for the wedding reception. I wore a sari! Over 1000 people attended the wedding reception, again the venue was outside. Dipti and Rahul stood on a stage with their parents and guest arrived queued up to give their congratulations and have their photo taken and then enjoyed another delicious buffet. Their smiles must have felt pretty sore by the end of the evening. Rima had to leave early to go home to Hydrabad.
In the next installment Michael will arrive and we will go to Arangabad with Andi and Rosanna to do some touristy stuff : )