Weddings & White Horses

It's not unusual to see a white horse and a marching band just walking down the streets in Delhi (I often see marching band members in full white suits napping in grassy spots along the road).  That's how you know it's wedding season.  With wedding season coming to an end this year, we attend our very first Indian wedding!  It was the wedding of a co-worker of mine and his beautiful Bride.

We were excited to find out we would be arriving with the Groom (on a white horse, of course) and his marching band.  We danced in the procession and finally arrived.  There were some ceremonies at the entrance that involved bargaining and money being given to the bride's family.  Then we were officially welcomed with a tikka (red powder mark on forehead) and flower garland.  The Bride arrived in a beautifully adorned orange & pink Lehenga Choli (skirt and fitted blouse).  They took photographs and then the ceremony began.

This song was stuck in our heads for days!

Groom ready to go on his white horse!

The marching band & notice the large lights they are hand-carrying.  All of this was hooked up to large batteries in the back of a small truck.

This guy motioned for me to come closer and then blew that tuba with all his might!!

Dancing with the Groom's party

We arrive and are greeted by the Bride's family for some ceremonial events (all of us westerners were a bit confused about this part).

The Bride arrives with her family

They included a western ring ceremony - in Indian weddings this is usually done at the Engagement ceremony. 

Beautiful Bride & Groom

Lookin' sharp in your linen suit!

"Vintage" pink & blue sari

Hindu ceremony

Seven Vows - Bride & Groom walk around the sacred fire 7 times to make the bond of marriage eternal

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!