WHAT TO WEAR FOR A HINDU WEDDING?
When my dear friend Shobna invited me to her sons wedding. I thought, ” I have a beautiful sari I was given as a gift by another friend a few years ago. Yipee! I have a chance to wear this lovely garment.”
At the time, the gift giver showed me how to drape the sari, but it doesn’t look right .So I go to google and find youtube videos. but several ways to drape a sari so I am even more confused!
Despite my best efforts, on the day it still doesn’t look right so I try and try for about an hour and this is the result.
Oh!but wearing a sari make you feel feminine, makes you feel elegant and covers a LOT of sin. I want to wear one all the time. I LOVE it.
So off we go to Stockport town hall. An elegant Victorian buliding
The place is crowded when we arrive on time. Lots of happy people anticipating a happy event. All dressed up in their finery and greeting friends. and of course ALL the ladies are wearing saris.
Young girls chatting
Aunties gosipping
Eagerly awaiting the start of the ceremony
There is music playing and more and more people arriving, eventually there must be around 700 people.
We wait an hour and a half and still nothing happens. So eventually I ask “what is going on” and am told “we are waiting for the bridegroom.
the drummers
Suddenly drums play and we hear chanting, some excitement at the back of the hall. It is the groom. Apparently the chanting is the older ladies of each family chanting insults at him, “for fun,” to introduce the families to each other!!
The groom
Then the men, joyfully dance, accompanied by the drums, to the stage where the priest is waiting, followed by the groom and his family entourage.
Then followed prayers and rituals for the parents and the groom and a question for the groom “will you look after the bride? he says “yes” and a cheer goes up.
All this time the audience are chatting, walking about, greeting each other and not really taking much notice of what goes on under the canopy on the stage.
The preist appeals for quiet for the entry of the bride. The groom is covered by a shawl so the bride cannot see him.
here comes the bride.
The bride takes her place on the stage, shimmering and resplendent in her cream, red and gold, clothes.Then the marriage ceremony begins. Again more payers and rituals for the bride and a great cheer when SHE answers “yes to the question “will you look after the groom,? and another cheer when the scarf is dropped and she sees the groom for the “first” time. ( even though they have been living together for a while!)
So the ceremony continues, on the stage with rituals and prayers. Including a small coin, which is the dowry. Then to my friends amazement, people start getting up and forming long queues for food.
at last a picture of them happy.
Eventually hunger overcomes us and we also join the queue for food…700 people take a lot of feeding! The food is delicious and the organisation well choreographed, we are ushered along the line and to our seats to eat. Meanwhile the ceremony is still going on on the stage under the canopy attended by close family.
I discuss sari fashion with a woman from London. Apparantly sari goes in fashions like western clothes, so for a function like this you cn choose to wear the latest fashion or a classic look “like yours”.she said! I confessed it had taken me an hour to drape my sari and the girl on the other side said. “so did I, I don’t usually wear a sari. took me ages!” and she complimented me on my work.
Even grandma looks very elegant in this lovely classic sari.
Two very fashionable girls.
The colours are amazing!
….and here I am with the mother of the groom, who looked incredible! You would never know that she had her 50th birthday last week!
Thanks Shobna for a wonderful day.
Denise
Love from Bolton
COMMENTS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME.
PEOPLE TELL ME THEY HAVE DIFFICULTY POSTING. I THINK YOU NEED A GOOGLE ACCOUNT.
IF YOU HOVER OVER THE RIGHT HAND MARGIN OF THE HOME PAGE, IT WILL GIVE YOU A MENU. CLICK ON “FOLLOWERS” OR “SUBSCRIBE” AT THE BOTTOM AND SEE IF THAT WORKS
denisefrombolton 
What an absolutely wonderful post, Denise. It's so fascinating to read about another culture's wedding ceremony and traditions. You did the whole day proud and your descriptions and photos made it very real to me.You looked absolutely stunning, my dear. Kudos to you and thanks so much for sharing this day with us.Congratulations to the bride and groom, may they live in peace and happiness for the rest of their lives.Jo
LikeLike
Thanks for taking us along to the wedding with you, Denise. I join Jo in wishing the newly married couple a lifetime of joy and happiness together. They certainly look very pleased to be united in the last photo!I haven't seen very many Western women who look good in a sari, but you look stunning! Your friend made an excellent choice and I love the finishing touch of the flower on your shoulder.
LikeLike
You look terrific! You hard work really paid off, and I really like your color choice.This is such a beautiful event. You captured such a lovely array of gowns. And that photo of the food is making me hungry!
LikeLike
Thanks nycgirl…with hindsight I should have pulled the sari tighter. I realised this after studying all the ladies at the wedding. It was also interesting to see the different ways of tying the sari. I never realised there were different ways. I believe it varies with different regions of India or Asia.LOve Denise
LikeLike
This is a great picture of you two ladies – you both look so happy and stunning in your sari's – glad you had such a good time at the wedding! Must have been a very interesting experience!
LikeLike
Pingback: WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A DIRTY OLD MAN?…… | denisefrombolton