Countless little stories weave around Hanshinee and Yogesh's wedding; the engagement, the preparations, the planning, the organization, the hurdles, the hindrances, the crossing of an ocean to harvest the needed funds, the sighs of relief, the tears of joys and the underlying stress which comes with bundle, all this with hope that the event be a successful one pleasing both families and making guests feel welcome. Within the blink of an eye, the shaadi finally takes place and tears of both joy and sorrow flow freely as the newlyweds bid farewell to the wedding hall, marking the beginning of their shared life journey. In the midst of the whirlwind of emotions, the parents stood in a daze, their exhaustion palpable as they complete the final rites of kanyadaan, a mixture of pride and fatigue etched on their faces.
The whole week preceding the wedding, Antish's bright eyes had been dampened with tears; that of pride, relief, happiness and melancholy. His duty as a brother was being fulfilled and though he was confident in the success of the event, a lingering anxiety persisted, a silent prayer that everything would unfold seamlessly. With that many mantras of protection and auspiciousness uttered, I could hardly foresee what would have landed them into any situation of extreme stress.
The whole nine yard itself was classic and traditional: kathaa, geet gawai, tilak, haldi, shaadi, chawtaree... my favorite part being to watch a beautiful veil being unfolded to hide the groom as he went on applying sindoor at the parting of the bride's hair. With all the glitter around, this intimate part where modesty and purity reclaim their role is always a refreshing reminder of how sacred the union of two souls is. Symbolism is incorporated into every rituals and rites in Hindu weddings and this is probably why people like attending them, just so to be reconnected with ancient customs and traditions and for some, maybe, to acknowledge their part to a lineage. From the fire which is kept as a witness of the vows taken to the flowers showered over the couple as a blessing, from the handful of rice thrown by the bride over her head to symbolize the repayment to her parents for all that they have given her throughout the years to the washing of her feet by her brother as she departs, symbolism is everywhere. One cannot remain insensitive to the meaning given to express ideas or qualities. As the wedding music filled the air, the actual act of walking away from her family to join a new one must have been quite overwhelming for Hanshinee (this is why ceremonial weeping to me is something completely natural).
Days have passed and everyone is adjusting to a new routine now, the smiles are back and life has resumed to its peaceful rhythm. All the lavish and celebrations surrounding the wedding are slowly starting to fade out. Not totally though...there is still the soon-to-come release of the super production 'film mariaz' where immediately the collective joyful vibes will kick in again. Once more all family members will gather to recall and comment each and every moment, to laugh and, needless to say, to add a pinch of massala gossip and ensure that the whole curry is stirred to perfection, a real testament to the enduring spirit of celebration and togetherness.
