Indian Weddings

So I went to my first Indian Wedding last night! It seems shocking that I could have been here this long and not actually go to a wedding. Although I've seen many, I never actually went in. My colleague, Chumpa, was getting married so I brought my friend Beth, borrowed her sari and to the wedding we went. The invite said 8pm but the groom didn't arrive until 9:30 and the bride at about 10:30. What Beth and I realized is that the wedding really isn't about the bride and groom (or even their parents, as it often is in the US) - it's really just an excuse to eat and dance. Even as the 'ceremony' was going on people (men) continued dancing up a storm in a corner.

Let me back up. How they do weddings here is erect enormous tents (like half the size of a football field in this case) where they serve food, have a dance floor and have various parts of the ceremony set up. The groom arrives on a white horse, and his friends and family lead the horse to the tent by dancing around it like it's their job - they also have a band in white and red uniforms (they are ALL ALWAYS in white and red, don't know why). They also put money around his neck. Then there's a pooja (blessing/prayer) ceremony for the groom which involves flowers and incense and bananas and giving of gifts to both the "preacher" (pantaji, I think) and the groom. There's something about feet too, as his sister had to take his socks off. Then he goes and sits on a big throne (there's another one empty next to him for the bride).

The bride comes in and walks down the aisle to the throne where many many pictures are taken. Audience is not paying any attention to any of this and continues to dance and eat. This is when we left. I understand that the ceremony goes until 5 or 6 in the morning with on-going poojas - and don't forget that this is like day 4 of the wedding ceremonies! The top picture is of Beth and I and some of my colleagues (dare you to find Borat!), then the bride and groom. The bride looked about that terrified the entire time I saw her (which admittedly was only about 10 minutes). It was an arranged marriage but they had met. Anyways, good excuse to wear a sari!