STILL WORKING on this one. It is a biggy. Tom and I have to compare pix and figure out what we did when. Stay tuned.
Tom and I were invited to the wedding of his team member Saket. Saket and Mira’s wedding took place on February 19th, but the festivities began on the 15th. Oh wow, can the Indians party or what!
A little background on weddings; a great many are arranged marriages, including this one. These marriages come to be in a great many ways. For example, a couple with a son or daughter might begin looking for an appropriate spouse for their child; a son (or daughter) might ask his parents to find him a wife; good friends or relatives might promise to have their children wed, even if the kids are babies. No one is forced to marry someone they don’t like or to marry if they don’t want to—at least in most circles. Of course, everyone longs to have a “love marriage” where the two people fall in love on their own. Many, many people fall in love with the spouse they marry in an arranged marriage. Of course, a great many are miserable too; about the same number of miserable marriages as we have in the West, and ALL our marriages are “love” arrangements!
Wedding Fashions
The first event we went to was a lovely reception Saket’s parents gave. Here I am getting ready. I’m wearing a skirt and top called Ghagra Cholis. This is a very full pleated skirt with a tight-fitting mirror work top. I’m holding up the dupatta (scarf) that you drape over yourself in a variety of ways. My top covers my waist and the band of the skirt. You must have matching shoes and handbag. They are required. Not really, but you get fashion points for matching. If you wear an outfit and your shoes, bag, bracelets match, it will be noted and commented on. “Oh, matching! Very pretty.” It isn’t just the women who notice, men will also say something. People are very interested in colors and designs. Do not make a fashion faux pas and wear something that doesn’t match.
Here’s pretty Mira also wearing a Ghagra Cholis. Look at those Wow bangles! The material in her skirt is a method of tie dye from Jaipur (I think). Tiny bits of fabric are scrunched up into a design. The cloth is a little puffy when finished. It is the most beautiful fabric. It looks a bit like a pointillist painting.
Mira wears her dupatta over one shoulder, but I am cold, so I wrap up.
Saris
The woman in the yellow sari is Shasi, Saket’s mom.
Salwar Kameez
Anybody can wear a salwar kameez, but not everyone can wear a sari. There is a gents version called kurta and pajama. Only grown women can wear a sari, young girls wear the salwar sets. Here are a couple of cuties.
I am not a young girl, but the wedding night, it was so cold, I knew I couldn’t BARE to wear the pretty sari I had. It must have been in the 50s. Brrr. I had just bought the beautiful wool Kasmiri jacket, so I put on my salwar set and was warm. All wedding events were outside under special tents, brrr brrrr. Other gals wearing saris had covered themselves with big wool shawls or sweaters which spoiled the effect.
Gents
Most of the guys wore a version of kurta and pajama like this fellow or a western suit.
Mona with Saket’s dad, DC.
Thursday evening reception
Pooja and Informal Gathering
Come on in, leave your shoes outside.
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