Maneesh: "I knew I wanted to marry Tina an hour after we met. I love her to the moon and back. Dheere Dheere Se Meri Mein Aana, Dheere Dheere Se Mere Dil Ko Churaana. Tum Se Pyaar Humein Kitna Hai Jaane Jaana, Tumse Milkar Tumko Hai Bataana."
If my calculations are correct, at the end of the day, the bride-to-be is going to be left with less than half of those kalires and they will be all over the greater Toronto area.
Meanwhile, Ella is at the groom's home, where a puja (Hindu religious ceremony) is about to take place:
The ritual ends with the donning of the turban:
The first wedding ceremony is the Anand Karaj - Blissful Union, so everybody heads to Gurdwara Sahib on Rivalda Road:
Joyful and animated, the baraat is slowly approaching.
The lobby is hosting a short welcoming ardas:
Some guests have been waiting for a while:
It's never easy to catch on camera the first look:
Maneesh has got this:
The Anand Karaj ends with gifts from the parents:
But wait! There's more. A fancier baraat follows soon, including a beautifully decorated white mare:
The horse seems to enjoy the little snack it's offered.
In an effort to ward away all evil, Maneesh's bhabi performs surma pawai, adorning him with kohl:
At this point, it's safe for everyone to start dancing and singing their way to the Grand Empire hall:
The dhol player's traditional attire and energy bring a lot of color to the celebrations:
The groom's dad puts the phone camera down for a second, so he can lift up the bride's father, as part of the welcoming games:
Like a confusing oxymoron, the ribbon that states 'welcome' is actually blocking the way:
Maneesh is a good negotiator, but he really wants to get married for the second time in less than a few hours, so he trades the golden envelope full of cash for the little scissors:
Worth it:
I'm not easily impressed, but I have to admit the Grand Empire Ballroom looks pretty spectacular:
The Vivaha Sanskar commences without the bride:
Which gives the groom enough time to enjoy some sweet yogurt:
Under the protective blessings of Lord Ganesha, Tina is brought in by her brothers and sisters:
More often than not, the varmala turns into a competition, and this time, the wife is winning:
Meanwhile, Maneesh's dad is back on video duties:
For the second time today, Tina's parents give her away to Maneesh, during the Kanyadaan:
The couple lights the Agni, the sacred fire acting as witness to the ceremony:
Walking the seven steps together is considered the most important part of the sacrament:
Helped by his mother, Maneesh puts a golden chain around his new wife's neck, representing blessings of the divine trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva:
Maneesh gets his juttis and offers a ring to his new sister-in-law:
Filled with emotions, the final goodbyes are accompanied by tears:
After no less than two weddings in one day, Maneesh is having second thoughts, but his friends are here to push him in the right direction:
Tina: "Maneesh is the best gift I have ever received. I am very humbled and grateful that he came into my life. Thanks to him for accepting me for who I am and not asking me to change a thing about myself. I firmly believe that God made us for each other. He is my dream come true and I'm sure he knows that."
Congratulations one more time, Tina and Maneesh! Thank you so much for inviting me to Toronto for your weddings!
love.more.cosmin
Vendors 'n' Things:
Anand Karaj (Sikh Wedding Ceremony) Venue - Ramgarhia Sikh Society, Toronto
Vivaha Sanskar (Hindu Wedding Ceremony) Venue - Grand Empire Banquet and Convention Centre
Hindu Marriage Officiant - Shastri Ji of Hindu Sabha
Bridal Makeup & Hair - Magnified Beauty
Mehndi Artist - P3 Henna
Decor - Gagan Kalsey
White Horse - Fairytale Horse and Carriage
Music for Hindu Ceremony - DJ Prodiigy
Dhol Player - Davi Layal Dholi
Videography - Nisarj Lakhmani
Second Shooter and Assistant - Ella Anderson
Toronto Sikh Wedding Photographer - Fusion Hindu Wedding Photography
You like? You want? Let's set things up:
cosmindanilaphoto@gmail.com
wow!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your visit!
DeleteLovely photos :)
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for stopping by, Marlenne! :)
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