The night after our first wedding, we went to a Sikh pre-wedding celebration. Mounted video cameras projected all the action, including traditional dancing, on giant screens.
Thankfully, we skipped another pre-wedding party the following night so we could have a low-key dinner with our host families (it was a Monday night after all). Dinner typically isn't served until about 10 p.m. here. It was nice to go to bed around midnight instead of 2 a.m. for a change. Busy days followed by nonstop parties has started to take its toll on me.
On Tuesday night I went to my third wedding held at a farmhouse just outside of the city. This time of year is known as "wedding season" as it's considered an auspicious time to get married. Consulting astrological charts to determine what month and even what day to get married is very mystical and goes far beyond just picking a favorite season or a date that works well with everyone's schedule.
The stars also influence how parents choose a mate for their children. Most marriages here are still arraigned, however, it seems (at least in urban and affluent India) there is great value placed on the child's opinion and preference. In other words, if the child objects a replacement mate can be found.
Once a match has been made, a wedding date is set. Traditionally, the groom will ride a white horse to the bride's house as dancers surround him. A three-hour ceremony follows with reciting vows, sprinkling flowers and walking around a fire. Here are some photos from the first wedding we attended (the close-up shot is the bride and groom).
Our nights may have been spent attending weddings, but our days also remain active. We visited the Rotary Vidya Kendra, a preschool dedicated to educating underprivileged children. We then went in the basement of the school where women create handmade crafts that are sold to benefit her and her family. We bought all kinds of goodies to support them. This photo shows the women working behind a stack of bags made from old newspapers.
Other visits include meeting with management at The Indian Express newspaper and touring one of Delhi's most famous structures, the Qutab Minar (see photos below). Scott is now out of the hospital and we reunited at the Qutab Minar. He and I are actually staying together at our new host club, the Rotary Club of Delhi Midtown.
The first activity we did with Delhi Midtown was visit the Akshardham Temple, a modern temple that appears as if it's thousands of years old. The most memorable part of this temple was reading all the stories on plaques surrounding it. They are filled with sound-bite, or take-home, quotes such as, "Nature worship is an expression of gratitude towards all forms of life," and "The language of love is understood by all." I also made a wish before tossing my rupee into a water fountain.
Following a dinner party the other night, we all sat around in a circle while songs were sung in Hindi. Scott and I were pressured into singing John Denver's "Country Roads" in front of everyone. The Indians at the party actually knew the lyrics better than we did. There's something about being in India — sitting on a leather sofa underneath a crystal chandelier — and having a roomful of people sing the words, "West Virginia, mountain mama." Just the thought of it makes me smile.
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