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Hindu Wedding
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Well, I wouldn't say we're the luckiest travelers in the world. Stories float around about some backpacker meeting a movie star and getting to hang out on their private boat for a few days or some family inviting them along on a free vacation through the Himalayas and seeing things outsiders never do. But at the same time we've never been robbed or fallen off a cliff. So we're probably somewhere in the middle between blessed and cursed, but we do mange to stroll upon some interesting sights. On this particular day, we thought we'd check out a Hindu temple near our hotel. Once inside, we saw that a traditional wedding was about to take place. Women floated around us in colorful garb, blessings were taking place, and uniquely dressed and incredibly hairy priests performed sacred rights which we did not understand. We expected to step in for a few minutes and take some pictures of statues. Instead, we spent the next three hours as silent and awed spectators to a ceremony unlike any we had ever seen. We were kindly given a wedding program after the ceremony that explained all we had just witnessed. Lindsey already discussed it in her blog, so I will simply steal it from her. So, as Lindsey said....
First the groom was escorted by the wedding party in a slow candlelight procession. The origin of the candle-lighting portion of the ceremony was to ward off the "evil eye." The procession circled the interior temple platform and then knelt in the center with the priest, who was very round-bellied and shirt-less. There was a series of rituals designed to purify the groom, which reminded me a bit of Catholic communion. Then the groom was led away and the same procession and process was enacted for the bride. Next the groom returned via another procession in new wedding attire to light the holy fire, which apparently served as a silent witness to their union.
Finally the bride re-emerged (with another procession) in her sumptuous wedding garments, and the couple was at last joined at the "bridal seat" in the middle of the temple, which was basically a lavishly decorated floor rug. Both sides of the family stood behind the couple and anointed one another (to show mutual respect) by placing the red dot on each other's forehead with a paste made from sandalwood. The bride's father then placed the bride's hands in the hands of the groom, and the bride's mother sprinkled holy water over them. This symbolizes the parents relinquishing their care of their daughter to the groom, and his progression from a bachelor to husband and provider. Next the couple rose and relocated to another area with a basin of water where the groom proceeded to wash the bride's feet. I couldn't see very well, but according to the program, he also placed two toe-rings on her feet - one to symbolize the strength of their marriage and the other her integrity and faithfulness.
They then returned to their bridal rug for the blessing of the thali. This, in the past, was a saffron string, but it has since been replaced with a gold chain. After a blessing from the priest, it is placed around the bride's neck. I was told that the thali functions similarly to our wedding bands - a reminder of the vows pledged. The wife will wear it until the death of her husband. Apparently the husband needs no such reminder. Oh, and as she was donning her thali, the band played enthusiastically, apparently because this is a crucial and auspicious moment in their union and any extraneous sounds (such as negative comments or sneezing) would be deemed a bad omen and could taint their marriage.
Finally, the deal was sealed, and the groom painted a red dot on the bride's forehead to denote that she was now a married woman. Lastly, the couple exchanged their enormous jasmine garlands three times to symbolize their enduring partnership, and received an abundance of blessings and kisses from their families to supply them with a lifetime of good fortune and happiness. Thanks Lindsey!!! Wasn't that wonderful insight? So, as she said, it was an incredible experience. I've posted dozens of photos because I thought they were all amazing. I hope you enjoy them. More thumbnails ...
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