There is quite a bit i could write but then again it would be unfair to just leave it in parts.
I just have 3 links that can capture most of what i have to say.
Nothing more than this.
Ok i thought of expanding this cause its only only correct to have it here even though utsu put this together. :)
My sister got married earlier this month. She'd been dating her now-husband for a little over two years before they got married. It wasn't without extra effort, though, owing to the crossover of culture and religion ("Guy's Indian, Christian; girl's Bhutanese, Hindu. How do we make this work best?" kind of stuff). In the end, they had two weddings- one to satisfy each system. This is the Hindu wedding that happened in Thimphu on the 6th:
The bride and her family welcome the groom
Offerings are made into the fire. As for the girly stuff as requested by Lynn, she's wearing a silk sari, and a shawl to keep out the cold. There's a bit of jewellery, including a traditional nose-ring. The green thing she's wearing around her neck is called a
potey, and is supposed to be worn by all married Nepali women (yes, yes, Bhutan, I know - we're of Nepalese ethnic origin, part of the sizeable Hindu minority. Bhutan is a Buddhist country). Of course, the
potey usually comes off soon after the wedding in most cases.
The bride and groom, with his grandmother. She's one...well, spunky lady. Doesn't that expression say it all? The pink stuff on their foreheads is
tika, made of raw rice, curd and some kind of colour.
It is customary for the bride's family to wash her feet with water. Along with the immediate family, uncles, aunts and cousins, must also all take part in this ritual. We, of course, made sure she was properly pedicured already!
Later, at the reception. The shiny white pieces of silk are called
khadas- in Buddhist culture they signify respect and good wishes and are always presented at occasions such as these. Interestingly enough, the expat guests seemed to be the most adept ones at the correct way of folding and presenting them.
If anybody remembers me complaining about it not snowing, guess when it finally decided to!
Snowfall is considered a lucky sign, and the booze kept people from getting too cold, even the ones from warmer climes.
Groom's family sample Bhutanese fare
From the night before:
Mum, Dad and Sis share a family moment.
Bald men congregate. The song we were singing was about being bald, too. The baldest one (grey sweater) is me.
The car being decorated...
...to look like this.
Until tomorrow, then, when I'll be back with Part II - Christian wedding in Bangalore. So long!
Posted by Utsav at
10:53 PM
Second Part Expanded
On to the Bangalore wedding now. This one entailed a lot of scheduling and rescheduling, thanks to the
Cauvery water dispute-related unrest happening in Bangalore. It eventually happened on the 13th of Feb, the church ceremony taking place at St. Jude's Church, RT Nagar, and the reception at Bowring Institute.
Here we go:
She's wearing a white silk sari with a veil. For jewellery, there's diamonds and gold and stuff (I don't really know, Lynn, I'm sorry- at least I tried!)
She did look great...
...as did a very pleased father.
In church. Priest delivers the sermon.
Taking of the vows
The couple with the priest
The grand entry at the reception. Yes, another silk sari.
Mmmm...caa-aake..
This picture I do not claim authorship of. All the others are from my camera, and since I thought it would be rather impolite to endlessly click away from the pews, I got very few. Despair not, visit
Sajay's Flickr page for all the pictures. AL
L the pictures.
Also, in an unrelated note, this happens to be my 50th post. It took me one and a half years write fifty of them, but I guess this is a great way to bring it up. Time to get a drink...oh crap, it's time to sleep, I see- got class tomorrow. So again, here's wishing the lovely couple- who also happen to be two of my best friends, happiness, peace and prosperity all their lives. Love ya!
Posted by Utsav at
10:54 PM
