The family came to the hotel and picked me up. It has really turned colder, in the 40's F this evening. Since the homes are open to the air, they were all concerned that I should stay warm. I was wearing multiple layers, a sweat outfit, and my heavy jacket sweater. I was fine.
I chatted with Krishna, Sujeet's dad for a while. He explained the school system to me and how 90% of the children go to public schools and perhaps 10% go to private schools, and why India uses 220 volts instead of 110.
After a bit, a tractor (of some type of heavy farm equipment) pulled up with a trailer on the back full of furniture and gifts for the young couple.
I noticed at the same time a rolled up bed mat (like the ones used in the hotel) was brought in and carried up the stairs.
I was reminded of the Bible story where Jesus healed the crippled man, then told him to take up his mat and follow Jesus.
Then the ladies gathered in the parking area of the house and began to sing and bring offerings to their gods. The bridal car had arrived. Sujeet and Jyoti began getting out of the car very slowly.
Jyoti's face was covered. She clung to Sujeet and followed behind him as they went through another ceremony. Sujeet would walk forward very slowly, stepping into a shallow basket. Jyoti would step with him into the same basket. Once they were both in the basket, then another basket was placed ahead of them (like a stepping stone) by one of the ladies, so they could step into that one next. When the couple stepped out of one basket to step into the next, the former basket was placed before them on the ground for their next step. That continued until they entered the house.
Sujeet was annointed before walking into the house, having finished the basket ritual. Jyoti, with her head still covered, continues to cling to him.
Sujeet is receiving an annointing for blessing from a family memeber.
Candles were lit one at a time (perhaps 4 ?), waved around Sujeet's head, then placed in the clay pot. After all the candles had been lit, then the lady waved the clay pot around Sujeet's head.
Finally the couple stepped into the entry porch of the house, and were ushered in by many ladies in saris.
The couple was taken to Mona and Krishna's bedroom which was set up for the festivities with these murals made by Swati. The couple sat on a mat before this wall with pots and baskets of offerings to the gods before them on the floor.
Some of the items on this tray were for offerings, blessings, and some were for eating.
After some rituals were performed, Sujeet's maternal grandmother sat on the floor with the couple, Sujeet moved in front of her (almost like sitting in her lap), and Jyoti sat in front of Sujeet. A lady placed the clothe below over the 3 of them. Then different ladies came forth and spoke and took small handfuls of grain, waved it over the blanket where Jyoti then Sujeet 's heads were, then sprinkled them with the grain. After some time of rituals, the blanket was removed and the grandma got up.
Jyoti -- Sujeet -- Sujeet's Grandmother under the cover.
The grain blessing/ offering being performed by a family member.
Grandmother speaking after being under the blanket with the young couple.
Sujeet's neck clothe was then extended across Jyoti.
The ladies sang for joy and for worship to their gods as the blanket ritual was ended. In the center is Mona, Sujeet's mother.
Next all of the ladies were annointed with oil scented with jasmine.
When all the joint rituals were over, Sujeet was released to freshen up. Jyoti stayed alone on the floor mat. Sujeet's female family members each in turn sat with her and spoke to her, adjusted her head covering, put their arms around her and hugged her, and showed other such forms of welcoming into the family.
We shared some sweet hand made pastry together (tasted like a donut). Some of the sweets had sticky sugar syrup on them. The different ladies would wipe Jyoti's fingers over the sweet syrup, then lick off her fingers. Everyone would laugh and seemed very joyful.
At one point Swati reached under Jyoti's head covering and untied a red triangle shaped purse from around her waste. She and another family member emptied the purse of its gifts and laughed and teased about the money in the purse.
Removing the money gifts from the bride's purse.
Swati brought in a white handbag for Jyoti and removed little jewelry boxes with gift items that they presented to Jyoti. (necklaces, earrings, and such)
When all the ladies in Sujeet's family were done welcoming her, I sat on the mat with Jyoti and chatted with her briefly. She was completing her traditional rituals tonight. She had fasted for 4 days performing many rituals, slept little, and was now sitting on a very cold floor. I think this little bride was happy that the ritual wedding traditions were coming to a close!
I know Sujeet was! Look at that tired but happy face!
Now the couple will stay at Sujeet's family's house.
On Monday, Dec 12, Sujeet's family is throwing a big reception for the couple at the hotel. This will bring the official celebrations to a close.
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