Vidhu & Karun - Hindu Wedding Rituals

Due to high wedding season, I'm trying to keep blog posts to a minimum, but last week I had again a beautiful 5 day Hindu wedding and I know there are a few hundred people waiting for some pictures, so here we go: Like most of Hindu wedding festivities, the Kurmai (engagement) ceremony involves a Pandit (priest):
And lots of flowers:
And grain:
The Chunni ceremony follows:
"Wow! That is nice!" :
Karun gets a big hug from his sister. That's what I thought first, but it's actually his mom:
Some day I'll post the Jaago song. I really like it!
Dads lead the way:
Reyha and Rohan are old friends of ours:
Their dad - Rahul - is Vidhu's brother, so that's how we got the chance to be here:
Next day we are at Vidhu's place for the Mehndi party:
Looks like we got a few minutes of Summer, so everyone is on the deck:
I've met Nusrat - the Mehndi artist - quite a few times already:
The evening ends with dancing. I'm not shocked:
The following day starts at Karun's place with a Puja - Hindu religious ceremony:
Pandit Pankaj Dixit begins by blowing a conch and ringing a cow bell:
Karun pays his way out and gets ready for the Maiya:
Ahhhh! Not the ears:
This looks a little extreme, but it doesn't seem to bother Karun that much:
Revenge is sweet:
The rangoli is waiting for me at Vidhu's place:
"Not the face, please! I need it for the wedding!":
Maiya doesn't hurt, but right after the wedding Vidhu is going to leave not only her home and family, but the continent, too! She's moving to an island with Karun, so feelings can hardly be contained:
The Choora ceremony starts:
I'm trying hard, but please don't expect me to know everything that's taking place. Even Pandit needs his book of mantras, which, by the way, is in Sanskrit:

I'm witnessing yet a new tradition! A victim is chosen randomly to bear Vidhu's hand print on his back:

A special Thank You! to Vidhu's brothers for making me and Ioana feel part of the family:

The wedding and reception pictures are coming soon! Stay with me!

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