Travel Tips

Like any typical Indian wedding our's was a riot of colors, music and ceremonies! One day before our wedding we had some interesting ceremonies, the photo is of the ceremony where my mother-in-law (to be, then) is giving me a whole lot of jewelry, make up items and clothes!! I sure was thrilled! :)
She was ensuring I was ready for the wedding :)

After the pooja to Goddess Gowri praying for the strength to undertake the responsibilities of marriage, my uncle leads me to the diaz for more ceremonies.... I sure missed my mom here! I did wear some of her jewelry and thats her brother leading me up to the mantap for the wedding. A lot of emotions and tears here....

AJ helps me wear the metti/toe ring, most of the ceremonies that we observe during these 2 days are symbolic in nature. For instance they spread seven handsful of rice on the floor and AJ leads me on the same to symbolise his promise to stand by me thru the next seven stages of life together.

As I vow to follow my husband thru the 7 stages of life....this was so funny we were literally running instead of walking as AJ was psyched his dhoti was coming undone!! =)) Everyone thought he was in a hurry to get married :D

We are now husband and wife!! :) Even as he ties the mangal sutra (A neck chain that symbolises marriage for a woman) he was asked to apply some sindhur/kumkum to my forehead. AJ sure was thrilled to be doing it and I suddenly felt very married!! :D

In those days(though nowadays most of us have our own space/home), once the girl is married she is taken to the husband's house where he would normally live with his family/parents. They give the girla a warm welcome and try and make her feel comfortable in the new surroundings. So this ceremony was also 'symbolically' set up in his room in the mantap.
As I enter his house, I kick a paav of rice and jaggery into his house symbolising that I bring prosperity(rice) and happiness (jaggery) to him and his family! :) (That is what I am doin in the foto.

We refused to sit on thrones and have ourselves photographed with people around us! So we just freely walked around the mantap, meeting up with friends and family who attended.

Same here, no diaz, no thrones and no repetitive photos :D Infact people felt we were so simply dressed that they din realize we were the bride and groom here :)) that was fun!