Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Our apartment's gate

Today is a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day in the neighborhood... OK so I'll stop with the Mr. Roger's references!  But today was truly a beautiful day with bright, blue skies and crisp, chilly air.  One that I will have to document and reminisce about in the midst of the heat that's just about a month away.  Today was a great day for a walk to get to know the ole neighborhood a little better.

Almost every house in Delhi is "gated" - meaning there is a gate (and usually a guard) in front of the house.  Walking around our neighborhood today, I was surprised that not a single gate looked the same as any other one.  It makes sense... this IS a country where many things are custom or hand-made.  To give you an idea of some different gates (and guards) around our 'hood, I took my camera out with me on my walk today.  Enjoy!

With a view into their garden.

Very ornate gate!

A modern wooden gate

Guard (in typical uniform) was happy to be photographed (next he asked me to photograph him with his friend).

Beautiful detail

Typical "guard house" outside many of the gates.  These guards were smiling and laughing before I took the picture!  There was also a fourth man inside the guard house.

Cool shadows

Rustic charm

Lazy Sunday afternoon card game (notice the man sleeping)

Finally back at our gate (with a view of our guard house).  Our guard works part-time, mostly in the evenings.

I often wonder what's going on behind many of the gates in Delhi... if these gates could only talk, what a story they would tell!

Wedding Season

As we sit in our living room, the sounds of a saxophone playing Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" waft through our living room... and that's how we know it's wedding season.  Winter is wedding season in Delhi, maybe because of the cooler weather, and today seems to be an auspicious day.  For good luck, Hindu weddings are planned to take place on auspicious days (according to the Hindu and lunar calendars).  The music will only get louder and louder... now our windows are rattling.  It's going to be a long night!

On the drive home recently, the subject of marriages came up in my conversation with my taxi driver.  He noted that Western marriages often end in divorce, while Indian marriages usually last forever.  This is his explanation why:  In India, families pay so much money for a wedding.  If the marriage doesn't last for the rest of their lives, it's a big waste of money.  I can think of a few better reasons to stay married, but who am I to judge...

Typical Indian Bride - BLING!!!

Mehendi hand designs

We haven't totally grasped the entire cultural aspect of Indian weddings yet, but we know they are lavish affairs which reflect on the wealth of the families involved.  There is no expense spared.  We have a few photos from a wedding last year to give you an idea of what they look like.

Wedding tent from afar

Wedding party dancing with marching band - love the shades cool daddy!

The groom arrives by horse-drawn carriage, yes, the groom!

Wedding party and family dances to the beats coming from a large truck with an amplifier in the back

Most Indian marriages are still arranged, but I've been told the brides now get a little more say in the process.  Talking with an Indian coworker, she said the culture of arranged marriages means the husband and wife learn to respect each other early on in the marriage and both understand they need to compromise in order to build a life together.  Here's a TV commercial for an online matrimony service that struck my funny bone.  Enjoy!