wedding wedding

throughout December it was wedding season - and across from the beach which is on my way to work there was a section where there would be about four weddings being set up each day. Radhika was off to a new one almost each weekend, so I was helping her get ready and buying clothes and jewellery with her. I was invited to one this weekend - the daughter of one of my aunt's classmates. I felt a little wierd about going as I didn't know them but when I reached the first event - it was buzzing with people - I'm sure they wouldn't have noticed. On Saturday it was the Mehndi, Monday was the ring ceremony and Sangeet and Tuesday was the actual ceremony and reception. Saturday - The Mehndi involved the women sitting and getting their hands decorated with henna - it was amazingly fast, I just sat on the floor next to two women and they took my hands and got on with it, constantly checking up on the others progress and design so the final was similar. the rest of the evening was filled with colours and lights and we enjoyed loads of music and dancing and of loads and loads of food with the hinderage of not being able to use your hands until the henna dried - and protecting it from crumbling so the colour could really come out. Monday - The ring ceremony is from western tradition and we didnt see that but the Sangeet was fantastic. A set of dances were performed by the bride's family and friends, the music and dances had been carefully chosen for Riddhi - and some were very amusing to say the least. Whereas Riddhi had clearly carefully choreographed her dances and knew every last detail - it seemed poor Siddharth was quite oblivious so when he was pulled on to the stage to dance he looked shocked and scared and didn't know what to do. After they had finished their programme the music carried on and everyone else joined in the dancing particularly around the bride and groom - although the groom isn't usually involved in this ceremony. Tuesday - Unfortunately due to annoying circumstances I missed the actual marriage which I would like to have seen - seeing as I've never been to a wedding before - but ma assured me they are very boring and i'd have got the gist of it from all the times I've seen weddings in Hindi films, I'm not sure I agree but anyway... we managed to get to the end when the sister's of the bride were negogiating a price for the groom's stolen shoes, they were asking for Rs.50,000! but his sister came to his aid and gave them back to him. again colours, lights and flowers were everywhere, unfortunately my camera seems to have broken so I can't upload the pictures I thought I took. My cousin has decided I am to have a traditional Indian wedding and she will simply just sign a register.