Today was the first time visiting a house because everyone else I know in India so far lives in flats. The house is awesome and her family is so nice. M and her dad picked me up from the bus stop. I met her cousins, mom, grandparent and brother.  S arrived during breakfast.  During breakfast sweets were shared among her uncle's family.

After breakfast 3 women came to do mehindi. M got her arms done up to her elbows and her feet up to mid calf. Her fiancé name is hidden in the mendi. More of her relatives arrived and all the while three women were playing music. When the photographer and video guys came the dancing began. I got my hands done but only on my palms.

A north Indian wedding in Bangalore. Bridegroom is rajput from  up. Tonight was the engagement which was at a very nice club that I believe Meha and her family belong to because it is in in the housing colony.  

 

First there were Indian snacks like chat and dosa as the two families mingled.  The couple took pictures once M arrived.  After the first set of pictures M was given gifts from the grooms family then they exchanged rings. He got down on one knee when putting her ring on. Her ring is a lovely Pearl some in a silver band. Then he had a pooja with men from both sides of the family. After the pooja he and his family were given gifts from the brides family followed by pictures. Dinner was yummy and I finally tried jellibee which is good but so sweet.

Day 2

First ceremony or ritual I think is called Pithi Dastoor. There were two ladies playing wedding songs. The bride's family apply turmeric and sandalwood paste to her arms legs and face using a particular plant.   Each member of her familty takes a turn.  After each person put turmeric paste on the bride they got their face covered in turmeric powder and the men also got turmeric paste handprints on their backs.

After she bathed she sat down on a low stool with her feet in a bowl of water and milk. Each family circled her a few times carrying their gift to the bride before placing them on the brides lap. Her mother's brother and his wife circled her a few times before sitting before her to put on anklets and toe rings.

afterwards it was lunch time and time to pack to go to iskon temple.  Thanks to Bangalore traffic it felt it took forever to get there. When we got to the temple we had to wait for the bride's brothers who were already there. Turns out not all the rooms were ready. The bride's friend and I waited at reception until we were shown to the bride's room. While waiting at reception we saw the groom and his family as they were shown to their rooms. Shortly after going to the bride's room she arrived to get ready for for the reception. Her outfit alone alone was 10 kg. The stylist was efficient in cutting her hair into layers layers applying nail polish and makeup. All the while her family kept coming in before it was time for them to get ready. The bride's brother told us our room was ready when we went to grab some some snacks in the hall. The room is is a for 16 people intended for all her single friends who want a place to rest tonight and tomorrow.

The reception began with the groom and his family processing to the hall. They were received by the bride's family before the bride came out. Then the bride with her cousins came out and processed to the stage. After pictures with the couple couple and both families it is time for everyone else to take pictures with the couple. S and and I waited until the line died down before taking our place In line to take a picture with the couple and their families. Then it was dinner time. I tried some butter naan with paneer and baby corn but didn't Like the paneer. After dinner we are free until the ferras tomorrow at 6am.

My thoughts so far: I don't understand most of what has gone on but I like that it involves the family.  Traditions are kept and the meanings haven't been lost. It is awesome that her grandparents have such an active role. Her mother's brother and his family are like the bride's second set of parents. They have a key role in the wedidng. Her family reminds me of mine I may not understand Hindi but I see the joy joy and love they have for one another.  I've had limited interactions with groom. I think he's a sweetheart with a unique laugh that just makes you want to laugh with him. His face lights up up and his demeanor lightens. He is is not is a picture person so last night he always had a look of relief whenever he wasn't in the picture. So far I've been the token non Indian and grateful that I chose to wear Indian. S was was a huge blessing to take time to not only meet me but  also take me shopping. I like the outfits I got and glad I didn't listen to the advice to get a gagra choli. I could never outshine the bride and since it is a North Indian wedding I wouldn't have been so unique since some of the women had on gagras. Not everyone was in Indian attire mostly the men were half and half.  Even today the father of the bride had on a suite and traditional headdress.

Day 3

So after over sleeping I showed up 90 minutes late to the ferras. The bride looked stunning in a red and gold outfit. During one of the poojas the bride and groom circle around passing under a sword and its sheath each completion. Certain number of times the bride leads and the rest the groom leads. The bride's cousins started planning to steal the grooms shoes. They were unsure if they had gotten the right shoes. The groom has to pay whoever steals his shoes to get them back so his family safeguards his shoes. During breakfast breakfast the grooms family found where his shoes were hidden and switched switched the shoes.  After the ferras the couple went to the temple. There is still one more pooja after the couple returns from the temple for brides family to steal the grooms shoes. At 3 pm the family will see the bride off as as she leaves with her husband.