THE WEDDING A pair of drummers in pink turbans and gold-fringed kurtas greeted me as I arrived at the lavish Sangeet Wedding Reception, a palm tree-filled outdoor venue decorated with flowers galore. As is the custom, an astrologer had selected an auspicious day for the wedding after making sure the couple’s astrological charts were compatible. Food stations lined the football field-sized perimeter offering every cuisine from India and beyond. Guests sported a dazzling bouquet of red, blue, pink, orange and gold outfits as glamorous as a fashion show and I fit in perfectly with my fashionable lehenga. Mother of the bride, lovely Meenakshi clad in a mint green sari, treated me like an honored guest and introduced me as a friend from New York. Everyone was impressed, warm and chatty. Intricate Mehendi henna designs adorned the bride’s hands and feet. Tradition says the longer the bride retains her Mehendi, the more love she receives from her husband. My new friends, bride Freyan and groom Anup, held hands under a veil as guests showered them with rose petals, a ritual bestowing our blessings. Then a spectacular celebration began with the bride and groom’s families followed by all their respective family members putting on a Bollywood-style show with choreographed song and dance numbers they had rehearsed, many themed around the happy couple. The whole place then erupted into a massive joyous Bollywood dance fest. I danced for hours with everyone, including the newlyweds, their parents, relatives, and friends. Earlier, the happy couple had participated in traditional Tilak Ceremony. First, the groom’s family entered, and the bride’s family showered them with flower petals. The bride’s mother placed vermillion powder in a tika or dot on the groom’s forehead and performed an aarti, circling him seven times with a tray containing rice grains, a ghee lamp, flowers and a coconut (which is broken open at the door to ward off evil spirits and give an auspicious blessing). Offering tika on the forehead of the groom ensures a loving husband. Next, the bride entered, clad in a traditional red sari and exchanged garlands with the groom. The groom’s mother placed a shawl over the bride’s head, and various rituals ensued: a Hindu priest chanted mantras repeated by the couple who walked around the flame in the center of the altar while repeating vows and were tied together with a string. Groom Anup washed bride Freyan’s feet in milk symbolizing how she is now the Lakshmi of his life—the Hindu Goddess of fortune and prosperity. The Big Fat Indian Wedding exceeded my very high expectations. It was both exhilarating and touching to be an active participant, to be treated like family at their wedding and learn the importance of family in this fascinating land. •
Happy Couple
How To Plan The Trip India expert Cox & Kings, specialists in creating the finest, authentic customized experiences, did an extraordinary job arranging my trip. This prestigious travel company provided top guides, impressive food experiences, transfers, VIP no waiting at the crowded airports plus a remarkable itinerary in Delhi and Mumbai including the grand wedding. Info: coxandkings.com.
Leela Palce Lobby
For Personal Travel Around Mumbai and Delhi It’s key to use a car service with a good reputation and Kalka Travels is excellent. Info: kalkatravelindia.com. MAY 2019 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 41