just married
i fought, i cajoled, i pleaded, even threw tantrums, but nothing would stop my parents from making my marriage a purely ‘traditional’ south-indian one…
awake at 5:00 am
unending phone calls
panicky relatives
picky, sometimes
what, you haven’t had coffee yet!?
haldi session
blessings from everybody
waiting for someone
or for someone else
grannies want their stern say
don’t you forget a word of what i just said
already 7:00 am
who’s got the flowers?
(no confusion, no marriage)
giggly cousins
concerned friends
gulnar, mahesh, malini, prakash
even sanjeev, and deepak and saroj
experienced chittis
amma, composed and calm
ok, she’s ready!
flash, click, photographer’s here
tilt-a-little, smile, 1-2-3
CLICK!
CLICK!
happy nods
approving smiles
dakshina time!
relatives in queue
tear-choked blessings
you’ll be going so far…
light-hearted achchan
relieved, i think
of course, everyone’s happy
CLICK!
CLICK!
the bridegroom is waiting! leave quick!!
vehicle co-ordination
esteem, maruti or sumo?
careful! don’t mess your hair
at the temple hall
congratulations, congratulations!
the bride’s waiting room
brimming with do’s and dont’s
kashi yatra‘s over
bring her out now
the marriage begins…
endless chants
ponytailed pujaris
do loud voices
compensate lack of comprehension?
shh, that’s how marriages are
helpful chittappa
pours meaning into mantras
aha, that’s what it’s for
jhula-time…i’ve waited for the swing
they raise the groom
the mamas, four
my mama‘s strong too
i’m lifted high
garlands are exchanged
so are looks and laughter
they do this thrice
bride and groom
take place on the swing
marriage song sita-kalyanam…
fills the air
i see more tears
but not on my cheeks
aha, milk-and-banana
for the ‘would-be’ couple
yummmm….
more songs, a little light swing
back to the stage now
more chants and symbolic threads
nine-yard saree
five to drape, twenty to advise
giggly bride
nervous about the saree
and won’t i be?
will it come off? is it tight?
five minutes are up
the door opens
here comes the bride…
the marriage (act II) begins anew
more chants and mantras
the toe-ring slipped in
i take my place
on achchan’s lap
CLICK!
CLICK!
the bride looks sweet
i learn to be shy
the moment is here, auspicious
the yellow tali is around my neck
garlands, flowers
yellow rice grains
hands turn into temporary showers
people give way
smile, laugh, cry and hug
congratulations, congratulations!
CLICK!
CLICK!
we are now husband and wife.
…looking back, i guess i’m glad they won. just don’t ask me why.