And I have just discovered all the critical reasons why attending an Indian wedding in its full glory should be on each person's bucket list!!! Yes, I have recently returned from my cousin's wedding in Calcutta and it was a brilliant experience in more ways than one! Here you go.....
- You get to take at least 5 days off from work, that too guilt free!! After all, the wedding date is decided keeping various factors in mind and none of those are in your control. SO, if the wedding celebrations start on Monday and end on Friday - oh well....it was all written in the stars :)
- You get a whole new trousseau. Yep, its not just the bride who gets to shine in an Indian wedding!! Each of her sisters, sisters in law, aunts, aunts in law etc. have to get their fair share of attention and glory. I mean what can be more fun than purchasing saris and dresses in rich hues and textures with exquisite embroidery?
- The jewelry that you got when you were married, finally gets aired!! I mean come on, which one of us goes around wearing heavy, gold-diamond based jewelry sets on a regular basis?
- The bonhomie created by the gathering of family, friends, well-wishers is truly amazing and makes you re-think the depth of family ties. You re-discover the pleasures of hanging with your cousins - from borrowing make up, to doing each other's hair, to drinking together and ordering pizza at 2 a.m.! Simply put - endless fun!!!
- Getting beautifully patterned henna applied together is truly very soulful- it results in the family members singing and dancing as they await their turn; helping each other apply lemon juice and mustard oil on the henna designs (to increase the depth of the henna color) and usually ends with a comparison of the designs and the extent of color the next day as they tease each other about how the color showcases the depth of their spouse's love for them!
- Did I mention the dancing yet? Yes, from the time the first event starts till the time the bride comes to her new home - the dancing does not stop. I think we look for excuses to dance (or maybe it is just me!). All it takes is for someone to start some music and here we go....after all, some form of exercise is critical in consideration of our constant food consumption!!!
- Having an ironwallah on call, a shoe polisher on duty, multiple beauticians to tend to all your last minute needs is not too shabby either!
- Then there are the games!! Yes, the small ice-breaking games between the groom and the bride with the respective families cheering on makes it super fun to show our inner raucousness. I mean, how else will the new bride get to know her new family. These games (finding a coin in the midst of petals and saffron hued water; opening each other's wrist single-handedly; undoing a set of 7 knots tied super tight, while using 1 hand!!) makes one realize the purpose and depth in our traditional rituals and ceremonies.
- If you ever wanted to feel like a celebrity, you don't have to go too far. Just stay close to the bride and the groom and suddenly you will have the cameramen and the photographers going click happy. This will ensure a truly memorable coverage of your attendance in the picture albums and wedding videos.
- Saved the best for the last! Food, food and more food!! Honestly, there were almost 300+ types of food items tried by me over the last few days and not one of them were repeated!!! Yes, its true! From chaat parties, to barbeques, to Chinese meals, Bengali style veggies, Rajasthani thalis, Mexican fajitas, Sushi rolls, Appam with stew, Italian cuisine, Thai and Burmese dishes - you name it and it was all there. A trip around the world of cuisines in 5 days would be the best way to describe my experience!
Just to tempt your taste buds, I took some pictures of the food. This should provide some interesting inspiration when you start planning your next meal. From top left - dosa and puchka stands; potato tikki being prepared live; chanachur wala at the picnic; tawa vegetables; jalebis; paneer filled missi rotis and in the center live counter for pasta.
- You get to take at least 5 days off from work, that too guilt free!! After all, the wedding date is decided keeping various factors in mind and none of those are in your control. SO, if the wedding celebrations start on Monday and end on Friday - oh well....it was all written in the stars :)
- The bonhomie created by the gathering of family, friends, well-wishers is truly amazing and makes you re-think the depth of family ties. You re-discover the pleasures of hanging with your cousins - from borrowing make up, to doing each other's hair, to drinking together and ordering pizza at 2 a.m.! Simply put - endless fun!!!
- Getting beautifully patterned henna applied together is truly very soulful- it results in the family members singing and dancing as they await their turn; helping each other apply lemon juice and mustard oil on the henna designs (to increase the depth of the henna color) and usually ends with a comparison of the designs and the extent of color the next day as they tease each other about how the color showcases the depth of their spouse's love for them!
- Having an ironwallah on call, a shoe polisher on duty, multiple beauticians to tend to all your last minute needs is not too shabby either!
- Then there are the games!! Yes, the small ice-breaking games between the groom and the bride with the respective families cheering on makes it super fun to show our inner raucousness. I mean, how else will the new bride get to know her new family. These games (finding a coin in the midst of petals and saffron hued water; opening each other's wrist single-handedly; undoing a set of 7 knots tied super tight, while using 1 hand!!) makes one realize the purpose and depth in our traditional rituals and ceremonies.
- Saved the best for the last! Food, food and more food!! Honestly, there were almost 300+ types of food items tried by me over the last few days and not one of them were repeated!!! Yes, its true! From chaat parties, to barbeques, to Chinese meals, Bengali style veggies, Rajasthani thalis, Mexican fajitas, Sushi rolls, Appam with stew, Italian cuisine, Thai and Burmese dishes - you name it and it was all there. A trip around the world of cuisines in 5 days would be the best way to describe my experience!
A wedding in the family is a lot more than the marriage of two individuals. It is a merging of two families, a revisiting of family values and a realization that blood is thicker than water.
