Indian wedding

Yesterday I had the privilege, along with about 20 other Dalat staff, to attend a Hindu wedding. Sundram is one of the security guards here on campus, a very friendly, helpful man and his son was getting married. Sundram booked a bus to take us across to the mainland to the place of the wedding. A few weeks prior, Debbie and I decided this was a great excuse to purchase Punjabi dresses so Shama took us down into Little India. After about 20 dresses (some are one size fits all), we finally found what we were looking for although Debbie wanted a darker color and I wanted bright colors. I guess we'll just have to go back shopping another time.

The wedding itself was very interesting. Of course, as North Americans we were half an hour early but most Indians are usually about an hour late to weddings so for the first while we were about the only people in this large gym watching the festivities on stage. It was a very informal time with people coming and going, talking and walking, kids coming on and off stage. The priest seemed to be the only one sure of what to do so everyone was consulting him constantly. The groom was assisted by the bride's family and the bride was assisted by the groom's family and both had separate ceremonies with the priest in front of a fire on stage before seeing each other. (Sorry no pictures of the bride as my camera battery died.) People started lining up for the food before the ceremony was over.

One interesting thing is that it was constantly mentioned through the meal that the Dalat staff were in attendance. I asked an Indian friend from Dalat about that and she said it is a sign of status to know white people and to have foreigners attend the wedding.

Anyway, the women looked beautiful in gorgeous saris and Punjabi outfits and we especially enjoyed all the little girls in their dresses. The whole wedding was really about community and food not solemnity as our Western weddings. As fun as it was to wear my Punjabi outfit, it certainly does nothing for the figure and is quite awkward to wear so I was glad to get home and change out of it.

Debbie and I in our Punjabi outfits. The pants are absolutely hilarious - they look like clown pants and are large enough to fit two people! I went for the tight legs while Debbie opted for the wider ones. Her scarf goes around her neck while mine hangs off the left shoulder.
The groom sitting on the floor with the priest going through the pre-marriage rituals. The structure behind is covered in flowers and lights.
A couple darling Hindu girls.
Beautiful looking Dalat staff ladies.