Dec 112013
This is wedding season in India. Weddings are not necessarily on a Saturday like we think of them in the US, astrologers are called in and an optimal day is chosen, so it could be any day of the week. However, this is the Season for weddings. We have been seeing elaborate set ups for weddings everywhere we go.
Today at the Maharaja’s Palace in Jaipur we came upon people setting up for one of the largest affairs we have seen to date. Our guide mentioned that renting the Maharaja’s palace was about 1 million rupees, that translates to $16,000 U.S..
Then flowers – they are EVERYWHERE, the guide joked that we buy flowers by the stem in India they buy them by the kilo.
Also the guests, there were buffet tables being set up that would make a major hotel blush, I cannot even imagine how many guests this particular wedding is going to feed.
Brides change their saris throughout the ceremony. The bridal colors vary between regions, but primarily they wear a white sari edged in red to signify their virginity. Then after the ceremony they will change to a colored sari to show their change in status.
The ceremony takes place under a canopy-like structure called a mandap. A Hindu priest will officiate and numerous relatives perform specific roles under the guidance of the priest. The bride and groom sit in front of the priest for most of the ceremony who recites verses in Sanskrit.
While exchanging rings is not a traditional part of the Indian ceremony some couples choose to do so. The groom will also give the bride a mangalsutra, or sacred necklace, as a symbol of their marriage. There are seven vows taken during the ceremony, but you won’t see kissing.
So why did I title this elephants?, Typically, the groom arrives at the wedding hall with a dancing entourage and seated in a fancy car, on a horse, or most often, at least in Rajastan (the state we are in) on an elephant. We saw a few horses, but what we really saw were elephants.
You can ride elephants in India, but we will not be doing so. We have been told they are mistreated in the North and the tour company does not want to be responsible should they turn on anyone. However, today I was standing alone and was able to pet one and get some fun photos.
A note…We stayed at the Raas Hotel in Jodhpur, and no finer hotel can one find. It is a restoration dream. Here are a few small photos.
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