Gramma Mini Snugglies

Legend holds that my parents made a pact when they were first married.  My mother, who loves infants, agreed to take kids for the first year and then my dad (remember an aversion to wee things?) would take over.

Gramma Mini was in heaven with this small creature.  It loved, cuddled, and smelled good most of the time.  Quite different from 'the other one'.  It was also during this couple of days that Celisse started to laugh, and smile more.  Yeah!

The Deed

Remember tradition?  Well, then, remember that this should have been an arranged marriage.  Up until now, the bride and groom have not yet met.  The wedding begins with Scott's family taking him down the isle, and our parent sitting up on stage with him.  Yes, I said stage.  The Sruthi is escorted down the isle by her parents, and a veil is held between them so that they can't see what they are about to do.

Now, it is at this point that I want to interject with my own issues.  My issues could have included a little lack of planning, but I'm sure that was not the case.  Just before Sruthi was to enter, my beloved youngest daughter had one of her most impressive blowouts.  I spent a good amount of time in the bathroom trying to rinse out my sari, and just gave up on Celisse's outfit.  She came back in in just a diaper.  Darn, we are just classy.

I don't think any of us figured out when the actual point of union was (such as "I now pronounce you man and wife"), but I believe it is when the veil is dropped.  After that, you are just stuck with what you got!  My Dad, in an ever effort to be supportive, leaned over to my brother and wondered if he was going to end up with the right woman.

Ah, relief!

There was big screens on either side, so that the people in the back got in on the action, as well.

Mila wanted to take a picture; she was fascinated with these floating flowers.

It was a beautiful ceremony to watch, visually.  So fascinating to see the background tradition so interlaced in a modern world, and then with all the white people that had no idea what they were doing.  I feel so blessed to be there, and participate with my brother, my family.  And also be there with Sruthi's family.  Our family.

He Comes Riding In On A White Horse

In reading up a little about what a Hindu wedding would entail, there was a description about the groom riding in from his town to the brides on an elephant, or possibly a horse.  I thought it was cute, then moved on.

Well, imagine my surprise when I walked outside for some fresh air and there was a magnificent white horse awaiting my brother?  As tradition dictates, Scott was followed by singing, dancing, drumming, music, and festivities.  Done!   

An idea came about to include Amelia in the ride.  Up until this point, I think she'd really only seen ponies, so this was a definite upgrade!  I heard about this ride for quite awhile afterwards.  It pleased her greatly.  Also in an act of defiance, or possibly claiming a little of is own heritage, Scott donned a cowboy hat.  It was a little more his style.

The drummin' man

The procession.

My dad was so fun to watch.  He thought this was all so great, and he was so proud.

But his shoes, acquired especially for this occasion, were not kind to him.

My mom's cousin Judy took great pictures of the wedding, while Gina's kids looked on.

I bet she had something important to say . . . . 

Betcha it was about a horse . . . . 

A Sorry Sight of White People in Sari's

The actual day had come!!!  There was going to be a wedding!  There was one final issue with the white people.  We'd been given these amazing sari's, with no idea how to get them on.  We'd been asked ahead of time for our measurements so that a bodice could be fitted, there was a petticoat, and then about six yards of fabric.  The white people needed help!

One of Sruthi's aunties was willing to take on the job.  She gets special blessings.

I was interested to see how I was going to be outfitted and still be able to breastfeed.  It was tricky!

Look who looked stunning?!  This is Janet, my grandmother's sister.  The fabric of her sari was just sensual.

We went down to take a few family pictures, and Celisse just wouldn't wake up for them!  To be fair, we were all pretty exhausted by this point. 

Appetizer And A Show. And Dinner.

I have had very little authentic Indian food in my lifetime.  Okay, probably not that much inauthentic Indian food, either.  That has all changed!  There was food at every turn, and I was up for experimenting.  I am not a fan of hot foods, so I was constantly asking for a 'tour' of the food.  There was so much plain yogurt used (thank you!!) that it was being made by Sruthi's family.  Oooohhh, rich and creamy goodness . . . .   There is a point to me telling you all this, so just wait.

The evening after Sruthi's puja was a Sanjeet.  One of my tour guides (Sruthi family member) told me that sanjeet actually means dancing, and it was good times.  The white people all showed up and started wolfing down the food.  Some of Sruthi's cousins showed off some dance skills, and then dinner was served.  Dinner?  I'd like to remind you that all the white people had already had their fill!  Turns out, that was just an appetizer.

After dinner, it was an evening of dancing.  This was also the night that all of Scott's friends from high school and college started to trickle in.  People started tapping my shoulder, and then played 'remember me?'  One thing about Scott and I that are very different is our retention of friends.  Me?  I really enjoy being around the people that I'm around, but once I've move, I typically don't keep an active friendship.    Scott, on the other hand, has built up an incredibly devout set up friends.  They came from everywhere, literally.  Japan, Brazil, Arizona, Utah . . . . . Apparently there was a battle cry - Scott is getting married, OF COURSE we'll be there.  I think that really they just wanted to see if Scott would seriously do it.  

It was really, really, great to see all of Scott's buddies, who now are married, have kids, have lives, etc.  Stupid young kids all grown up.

There are very few pictures of this evening, 'cause it was dark and people were dancing.  But, here is Stever and Chris (who were shaking some serious tail feathers, by the way)

The potentials . . . 

Scott is a great dancer.  Sruthi seems more content to watch,

And, to top off the evening with a nerdy moment.  People!  Put the phones down!

Sruthi's Puja

Well, if Scott was going to get a nice cleansing, one can only assume that Sruthi was not going to escape.  Unfortunately, we missed it.  This whole wedding, and its many rituals, have all been timed with the expertise of a priest.  Scotts and Sruthi's exact birth times were consulted to determine the precise times that the stars, moons, or planets would be best aligned, and subsequently when everything would take place.  Sruthi's puja was earlier.  It seemed just too much to fill the rented 16-passenger van to bring Scotts groupies on time.  Probably more likely Scott's sister.  Details.

So, we arrived for 'breakfast'.  We were told it was breakfast, but it may have been last nights leftovers; we wouldn't have known the difference.  Still tasty!

As part of Sruthi's puja, they had a priests blessing.  Mila was mesmerized watching him set up.  Over an hour, if memory serves . . . . 

Sruthi sat between her parents, and, well, I'm not sure what happened . . . . . 

We watched,

Stever napped (although he claims otherwise!).

 

Mommy Fellini on the left (obviously), and her sister Gina.  Thomas, Gina's youngest, tried his best to stay interested.

To be fair, I think Sruthi was in the same boat!  The whole thing was rather engaging, but it also went on for quite awhile, and not in English.

Isn't she ravishing?

Keeping with old school tradition, the family of Sruthi's parents brought gifts; pretend they hadn't seen them in a while as they lived in the next village.  Being that I'm rather petty, it gave me a chance to see a line up of amazing sari's.  I just sat back and beheld.

Somewhere within Sruthi's henna was the name of her beloved betrothed.  Scott had to find it to make sure it was him!