After the temple wedding was done, we had good 3 hours to our disposal. We had a hearty meal of soft hot idlis with chutney and sambhar. We then headed to get ready for the hall wedding.
The bride got ready in a very bright red kanjivaram. A simple hairdo with manteeka and gajra made her look so astonishing. She was ready in about an hour. We had decided to wear our kanjivarams too. For the hair, I told the beautician to put as much gajra on my bun as humanly possible. The smell of the fresh jasmine was intoxicating and unmatchable.
It was now time to welcome the groom. He was welcomed by brides mother with the jasmine garland. My son washed groom's feet and then both bride and groom walked towards the stage together.
The stage was decorated with coconut flowers, wheat, lamps and other such things which were the symbol of productivity. 11 small girls brought the small lamps and placed it on the stage. The bride and the groom took pheras of the same. I wondered what could be better than taking the pheras around the symbols of productivity and prosperity as two young lives were about to start a life together. The garlands were exchanged. The bride tied a gold chain around the groom's neck and he in turn adorned her neck with a beatific necklace. There were shouts of congratulations.
As a north Indian I wondered if we would be able to treat both of them with sweets as I could not see the sweet boxes in the vicinity. Then the groom's mother came with a glass of milk with small chunks of banana in it. We had to fed the couple spoonful.
There were no envelopes given, no gifts showered. Only genuine smiles and pictures. As for the cash. We were told to keep Rs.100 in front of the God on stage. 100 to the man playing shehnayi and yet 100 to the priest. Not more than that. There were no bandwalas asking for "neg" and nagged you.
After the pictures were done ( people didn't rush for food after giving envelopes since there were none to be given. ) the lunch was served " sadya" or the traditional wedding food was served on the banana leaf. The food was without onion and garlic and ofcourse our beloved paneer. Apparently you have to serve vegetarian food even of you are a non vegetarian.
The vidai was done admist laughter and smiles. We knew we are not giving away our daughter, she is going to a new home.
The simplicity of the entire process just made me speechless. The brother of the groom who had to attend the hall full of people came several times to ask her if we need anything. It was so humbling. What a gesture I thought. I kept thinking that in North the colour of our skin is white but in South the colour of their heart is whiter than that. We spent so much on our weddings and here they prefer to give it to the newlyweds and keep it simple and yet so elegant and purposeful.
I would also like to say that it is not necessary that everyone will have the same experience, but this is what we experienced. May be we were the lucky ones.
In the end I want to thank my sister and my brother in law, had it not been for them we would have never had such a divine experience. May they live happily ever after.😊
The bride got ready in a very bright red kanjivaram. A simple hairdo with manteeka and gajra made her look so astonishing. She was ready in about an hour. We had decided to wear our kanjivarams too. For the hair, I told the beautician to put as much gajra on my bun as humanly possible. The smell of the fresh jasmine was intoxicating and unmatchable.
It was now time to welcome the groom. He was welcomed by brides mother with the jasmine garland. My son washed groom's feet and then both bride and groom walked towards the stage together.
The stage was decorated with coconut flowers, wheat, lamps and other such things which were the symbol of productivity. 11 small girls brought the small lamps and placed it on the stage. The bride and the groom took pheras of the same. I wondered what could be better than taking the pheras around the symbols of productivity and prosperity as two young lives were about to start a life together. The garlands were exchanged. The bride tied a gold chain around the groom's neck and he in turn adorned her neck with a beatific necklace. There were shouts of congratulations.
As a north Indian I wondered if we would be able to treat both of them with sweets as I could not see the sweet boxes in the vicinity. Then the groom's mother came with a glass of milk with small chunks of banana in it. We had to fed the couple spoonful.
There were no envelopes given, no gifts showered. Only genuine smiles and pictures. As for the cash. We were told to keep Rs.100 in front of the God on stage. 100 to the man playing shehnayi and yet 100 to the priest. Not more than that. There were no bandwalas asking for "neg" and nagged you.
After the pictures were done ( people didn't rush for food after giving envelopes since there were none to be given. ) the lunch was served " sadya" or the traditional wedding food was served on the banana leaf. The food was without onion and garlic and ofcourse our beloved paneer. Apparently you have to serve vegetarian food even of you are a non vegetarian.
The vidai was done admist laughter and smiles. We knew we are not giving away our daughter, she is going to a new home.
The simplicity of the entire process just made me speechless. The brother of the groom who had to attend the hall full of people came several times to ask her if we need anything. It was so humbling. What a gesture I thought. I kept thinking that in North the colour of our skin is white but in South the colour of their heart is whiter than that. We spent so much on our weddings and here they prefer to give it to the newlyweds and keep it simple and yet so elegant and purposeful.
I would also like to say that it is not necessary that everyone will have the same experience, but this is what we experienced. May be we were the lucky ones.
In the end I want to thank my sister and my brother in law, had it not been for them we would have never had such a divine experience. May they live happily ever after.😊
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