Well, John and Sneha (pronounced Snay-ah) are in Tahiti on their honeymoon. The wedding was simply spectacular, truly a pageant.
The guests were from all over the place - London, India, New York, Chicago... A small and short wedding by Gujarati standards - only 350 people and just three days. (The recent wedding of one of Sneha's friends had 1100 in attendance and lasted five days.)
My DIL Josie took some pictures from her seat in the audience. Here are a couple.
In the first, Sneha is being carried to the Mandap by two of her many, many cousins. An uncle is standing by.
In this next pic they're beginning their four walks around the fire. (I'm behind the right front Mandap pillar.) Isn't John splendid in his turban? We were teasing him - calling him the Maharajah of Laguna Beach.
Sohini (Sneha's Mom) sent me the outfit. Beautiful royal blue silk with silver embroidery. Full billowing skirt, tunic-like overdress and fringed shawl. I guess she liked it better than the first one she sent!
We all had a glorious time. I've never seen a wedding so elaborate and as much fun. There were even dancing girls at the reception.
How beautiful! The bride is certainly lovely! How wonderful for you. I love the different cultures and how they celebrate things. Greek weddings are fun as well!
Cheryl
. . .if you still try to defend the infamies and horrors perpetrated by that Antichrist- I really believe he is Antichrist- I will have nothing more to do with you and you are no longer my friend.. . - War and Peace, Tolstoy
posted on August 3, 2004 12:34:38 PM
Lucy the pictures are lovely, how interesting, what a joyous family time. How long did the ceremony take? Glad to have you back.
reenie
I don't get even....I get even better Jimmy Hoffa
posted on August 3, 2004 12:56:08 PM
The ceremony took about an hour and a half.
It was very, very interesting. The acharya (priest) spoke impeccable English. He translated and explained what was happening as he went along. Which was nice for us non-Indians.
posted on August 3, 2004 04:58:53 PM
My family just grew by about 100! I'm not kidding... This wasn't simply the wedding of two people, it was the joining of two families.
Sneha's mom, Sohini, has implored me and my mother, probably 15 times to "Please take care of my Sneha." Which we will, of course, do. John knows if he so much as looks at her the wrong way we'll tear his face off! Okay, I'm kidding now. Don't flame me too badly!
Yes, Sneha is quite beautiful. She's an amazing young woman, barely 25 and has two Bachelor's degrees and one Master's.
posted on August 3, 2004 05:49:32 PM
Thanks, Sue...
She has a wonderful family. Great values, well-educated, very intelligent, all that good stuff. Pinakin, her Dad, is a dentist. Sohini, her Mom, is a three-specialty doctor. Cardiac surgery, Ob/Gyn and Psychiatry.
I'm simply delighted! (Did you guess that?)
Lucy
P.S. John the Butterfly is a middle-school teacher. Sneha is a college career counselor.
posted on August 3, 2004 06:08:48 PM
Yes I was wondering how the wedding went. So did you get to keep both outfits?
As I said the first time, the Hindu wedding I saw one the Wedding Channel was just outstanding! One of the prettiest and most spiritual ones I've ever seen.
posted on August 3, 2004 07:20:00 PM
Well, both outfits are still here. Unless Sapna (Sneha's sister, who is exactly my size) wants them for some occasion, I guess they're mine. Not that I have a clue in the world where I might wear them...
Oh, I know! I'll wear them to the thrift where I volunteer! Of course I'm kidding now...
Both outfits are certainly beautiful and it was very sweet of Sohini to send them to me. She, like her daughter, is a treasure.
posted on August 3, 2004 07:36:30 PM
Lucy, I liked the 1st dress better... but thats just my taste. Glad you had a good time!
Has your son converted to Hinduism now? I never could figure out how that worked...between inter-religious marriages. I know my brother married a jewish girl and they were married in a chapel at the UN. How they pulled that off, I dont know...but it was a long time ago. It was pretty neat. Had a cross on one side and a star of david on the other side of the alter. If I remember right both a priest and a rabbi spoke a few words but it I thought it was pretty much a civil ceremony afterall. Neither of them changed their religion, though.
So far, he hasn't converted from Lutheran to Hindu. Not quite sure how that would happen. Is it like a non-Catholic marrying a Catholic? They have to do all those classes and such?
I don't know if they will raise their kids Hindu or Christian. Whichever they choose is fine with me. In my mind, there is one God with many different faces.
The ceremony was completely Hindu. No Lutheran pastor or anything like that.
Just for grins, here's Dress #2:
I like it better than Dress #1. Silky, drapey, VERY comfortable to wear. Besides, the deep blue is a GREAT color with my red hair!
posted on August 3, 2004 08:31:30 PM
Hi Lucy! Well, okay, seeing it on the clothes dummy gives a way better view. (I think for myself I just like pastels better. )
But yeah. I dont know how that works either. I think its up to the individuals to decide what will make them happy, and what makes their own family unit work.
