After a full day of some good ol’ Indian shopping, my roommates and I were making our usual walk back to our apartment when we came across this huge flowery sign being put up. Curious, we stopped and asked the men what it was for and they simply replied “wedding”. My heart jumped! An Indian wedding is exactly on my to-do list for this trip! Is this for real?? Excitedly we began pestering him for more information with three specific questions; When is it? Where? And….. Can we come?!
While exact details were still unclear, that “Indian head bobble” of a response was enough to send us rushing home, change into our Indian attire, and head back just as the sun began to set. Only when we returned, it wasn’t at all what I was expecting. It was an empty street.
Where were the crowds of people? Where was the bride and groom all decked out in gold jewelry? And where was Julia Roberts observing from afar?
Note to self: Do not watch movies like Eat, Pray, Love for pre-trip research
Minorly disappointed and a bit confused, we optimistically continued down the path and came to this beautiful, tall, white building with lights strung all up the stairs. Loud Indian music was coming from inside and many of the Indian people walking by gave us strange stares as we stood staring at the building debating whether or not we should attempt to go in. Finally we decided to take a vote and send one of us in to get the “low down” on the situation. So, unanimously, we nominated our tiny little blonde roommate, Kaitlyn, to take one for the team. Within minutes she was up the stairs and waving us in.
Once inside we were greeted by a chubby man in a gold shirt with something painted across his forehead-it basically looked like a band aid with a red dot in the center. He welcomed us in and brought us to our seats. Inside the music was even louder, the colors were even brighter, and we were even giddier.
A lady (who turned out to be the groom’s sister) came over to us and explained what was going on. Apparently the wedding is about a three day event, and tonight was the blessing/reception ceremony. People could come in and give gifts and blessings, eat and leave. As we were talking, this beautiful old wrinkly woman covered and pierced with gold jewelry walked over to us and began speaking Hindi. The groom’s sister translated saying “This is my grandmother and she wants you all to have dinner before you leave”. We felt honored and graciously accepted. So after watching the bride and groom make their rounds throughout the building, we were guided to the basement where there were rows and rows of tables with a banana leaf and cup of water placed at each seat. Then the food came…and came... and came and did not stop coming. Men continuously were walking by with buckets full of food, plopping huge amounts of each onto our leaf.
All I can say is thank goodness Jacob had taught us proper banana leaf etiquette the day before. We knew to sprinkle water onto the leaf to wash it and then to eat only with our right hand. People from all the tables were staring at us as we ate and the lady next to me helped me through by gesturing what to eat next.
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| Us with the father of the groom |
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| The grandmother (on the right) and her sister |
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| Dinner time! |
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| She helped me survive the dinner with as much grace as possible. |
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| The huge announcement outside the building |
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