Recently I’d been to my cousin’s wedding. Here I’m trying to paint a
picture of typical Indian wedding, though one can find it more relevant
to a specific class (amongst too many in India), but I bet there would
be many generic things.
Don’t be afraid, I’m not trying to tell how the aunties’ prick you with words as if being single is a crime, and the reasons they throw for not being married already.
In old days (my childhood days) weddings were a series of rituals that would last atleast a week, nowadays some of the ceremonies are totally cutoff or merged with a few to get over in one day. Present days wedding schedule Haldi->Mehndi+Sangeet->Wedding->Wedding Reception, max 3-4 days. The reasons can be; people getting so self-obsessed, lack of time, increasing cost of everything…
Anyways let’s enter into the house:-
Ah as soon as you enter the wedding-house the exotic aroma will bind your senses, mix of marigold scent with the turmeric scent and all the oils they add to turmeric. Add to it the scent of Mehndi. But these all scents will make it almost difficult to guess what’s on the menu.
Secondly you’ll notice that whole of the house is already covered with genda phool (Marigold flower), and then we have this ritual of presenting a garland and a box of sweets to bride/groom on our first visit. All those garlands will hang themselves on every visible nail they can find on walls, and then on doors, or wherever they please. Sometimes they even make it to toilet flush too. Also no matter how many sweet teeth bride/groom had before, they would only be able swallow a pinch out of the 1 kg box of sweets you’ve got; some even makes the face like we are presenting the poison to them. Too much show-off by bride/groom I say; anyways every dog has its day
Day one of Haldi function – Every aunty will apply hand full of turmeric to bride/groom; they would not care if it goes in eyes or nose; just like the way your friends throw the cake on your face on birthdays. ‘For God’s sake leave my eyes atleast, how I’m gonna see my bride or the worst would girl still wants to be the bride when she discovers I’ve gone blind’. Thinks poor groom. Brides’ on the other hand manage to play safe, they always have their beautician on their side; ‘Oh no, don’t apply turmeric on nose/cheek/ear/eye-lid her makeup will get spoiled’ says pretty lady and saves the bride from torture. God can only save poor grooms from aunties!
Mehndi and Sangeet – I know I know, grooms side can totally miss this Mehndi mess, but noh wait, I’ve seen a few grooms smeared their hand with Mehndi, I say why not wear a lehnga as well?
One warning to all attending this function, watch it before you park yourself anywhere, you never know there may be a tube of mehndi lying under the covers ready to stain the wrong surface.
And guys it takes a lot of courage and patience to have hands and feet stained with mehndi, and sit at one place for too long time. I always wonder how the brides manage the nature’s calls during this day. You must appreciate the effort and must not show any irritation when she asks to find your names on her hand.
When girls are done with smearing their hands then the best thing comes, dhol (Drum). Yes, we still call the drummer who beats the beat outta drum
. Everyone wants to try their legs at dance but no one would stand
first (too much attitude show off), we need to go and request please
come and dance. Every sangeet I attend I request the drummer to play
‘Pallo latke re mahro pallo latke…’ they are my favorite beats. Don’t
think the sangeet is going to be something like they show in movies
where everyone is so perfect in their dance like they’ve just come out
of Dance India Dance, we are simple people and we dance like… well err…
leave it. For dear aunties, for them it is the golden chance to show
their talent, you must see how elegantly they shake their bellies. Once
started no one would stop till the elders’ in house start complaining
that they are not able to sleep.
What are your experiences and observation, please feel free to share in comments.
Extra Notes-
Haldi ceremony – The official start of wedding ceremonies, Haldi (Turmeric) is known as the natural source of beauty, the haldi is applied to bride/groom, preparing them for the D-day to look more beautiful and shiny on their wedding
Mehndi – The ceremony of applying Mehndi to bride
Sangeet – The most loved of all the rituals, dance function
Don’t be afraid, I’m not trying to tell how the aunties’ prick you with words as if being single is a crime, and the reasons they throw for not being married already.
In old days (my childhood days) weddings were a series of rituals that would last atleast a week, nowadays some of the ceremonies are totally cutoff or merged with a few to get over in one day. Present days wedding schedule Haldi->Mehndi+Sangeet->Wedding->Wedding Reception, max 3-4 days. The reasons can be; people getting so self-obsessed, lack of time, increasing cost of everything…
Anyways let’s enter into the house:-
Ah as soon as you enter the wedding-house the exotic aroma will bind your senses, mix of marigold scent with the turmeric scent and all the oils they add to turmeric. Add to it the scent of Mehndi. But these all scents will make it almost difficult to guess what’s on the menu.
Secondly you’ll notice that whole of the house is already covered with genda phool (Marigold flower), and then we have this ritual of presenting a garland and a box of sweets to bride/groom on our first visit. All those garlands will hang themselves on every visible nail they can find on walls, and then on doors, or wherever they please. Sometimes they even make it to toilet flush too. Also no matter how many sweet teeth bride/groom had before, they would only be able swallow a pinch out of the 1 kg box of sweets you’ve got; some even makes the face like we are presenting the poison to them. Too much show-off by bride/groom I say; anyways every dog has its day
Day one of Haldi function – Every aunty will apply hand full of turmeric to bride/groom; they would not care if it goes in eyes or nose; just like the way your friends throw the cake on your face on birthdays. ‘For God’s sake leave my eyes atleast, how I’m gonna see my bride or the worst would girl still wants to be the bride when she discovers I’ve gone blind’. Thinks poor groom. Brides’ on the other hand manage to play safe, they always have their beautician on their side; ‘Oh no, don’t apply turmeric on nose/cheek/ear/eye-lid her makeup will get spoiled’ says pretty lady and saves the bride from torture. God can only save poor grooms from aunties!
Mehndi and Sangeet – I know I know, grooms side can totally miss this Mehndi mess, but noh wait, I’ve seen a few grooms smeared their hand with Mehndi, I say why not wear a lehnga as well?
One warning to all attending this function, watch it before you park yourself anywhere, you never know there may be a tube of mehndi lying under the covers ready to stain the wrong surface.
And guys it takes a lot of courage and patience to have hands and feet stained with mehndi, and sit at one place for too long time. I always wonder how the brides manage the nature’s calls during this day. You must appreciate the effort and must not show any irritation when she asks to find your names on her hand.
When girls are done with smearing their hands then the best thing comes, dhol (Drum). Yes, we still call the drummer who beats the beat outta drum
. Everyone wants to try their legs at dance but no one would stand
first (too much attitude show off), we need to go and request please
come and dance. Every sangeet I attend I request the drummer to play
‘Pallo latke re mahro pallo latke…’ they are my favorite beats. Don’t
think the sangeet is going to be something like they show in movies
where everyone is so perfect in their dance like they’ve just come out
of Dance India Dance, we are simple people and we dance like… well err…
leave it. For dear aunties, for them it is the golden chance to show
their talent, you must see how elegantly they shake their bellies. Once
started no one would stop till the elders’ in house start complaining
that they are not able to sleep.What are your experiences and observation, please feel free to share in comments.
Extra Notes-
Haldi ceremony – The official start of wedding ceremonies, Haldi (Turmeric) is known as the natural source of beauty, the haldi is applied to bride/groom, preparing them for the D-day to look more beautiful and shiny on their wedding
Mehndi – The ceremony of applying Mehndi to bride
Sangeet – The most loved of all the rituals, dance function
