Jewellery

I am not the type that wears jewellery.

Today I am wearing gold. Round the neck, fingers etc.

She is not the type to wear lots of make up!

Today, there is no excuse for individuality! They say marriage is a family affair.. I agree... Good to see so many happy faces.. :)

Reminds me, I havent seen her in the morning yet... Feeling a little hungry too... Will try and sneak out to get some food..

Arranged Marriage!

We are a Madhwa Marathi family (yes, we are part of the great Marathi community which moved to the South around 1707.. led by Venkoji Rao) and this is indeed, quite a traditional wedding.

Sandhya and I were introduced through family connections, diligently searched for by my parents, through their extensive social and familial networks.

We met up at the Brindavan Restaurant (a little break from tradition!), both families, with some extended family relatives, had a long discussion about Life, the Universe and Everything. She learnt that I have done river rafting. And I think I knew that she would like to go to the Himalayas.

Wonderful beginnings!

Then we decided to meet again, and I proposed to her at the beach. We were driving and I stopped the car for a moment, right in the middle of the road, and asked her if she wanted to marry me. She said "Um, yes, I would like to!"

Yes, that moment. The beginning.

Reached the marriage hall

Since this is a very traditional wedding, the usual garlanding, the trumpets (nadaswaram), kumkum and priests chanting holy slokas...

Havent seen the bride yet.. (for today, that is.. Against usual tradition, we have already bought kadalai at the beach :)

I have to fast for today, apparently.. Hmm... A long journey ahead!

Sandhya and I are getting married.

April 22.

Tomorrow is the wedding day, and I leave for the wedding hall in Saligramam.

Earlier... I woke up at 6 am. Dad had set the alarm in his new Walkman Phone, and has not turned it off. It has beeped 3 times now.

Little Adithri is still asleep. Everybody is just waking up.

And then, we are all in a hurry. The bags are already packed from yesterday. Six or seven boxes of gifts to be taken to the marriage hall. Marriages have become expensive affairs, even in the conservative South.

Dad is leaving for the marriage hall with Mom in the van, with all the boxes. I am bringing my sisters along.

Guru came in at the right time, in his friend's car, with the bellowing sirens.. :)

We leave in the car for the first of the blaring ceremonies..

and ofcourse I drive!