Wanstrow 🇬🇧

A couple of dog walks, admiring the spring flowers and sunny day.

I was invited to a former colleague's wedding in India today. Unable to attend but have dialled into the live stream. Ive spent over 5hrs so far and I don't know how much longer before the ceremony is complete. It has been fascinating and I feel privileged to have been invited to join in Jihita's special day.   

The first part of the ceremony was between jihita and her parents. A range of symbolic steps including some religious sacrifice with flowers and fruit, joining of their hands, tied together, splashing water on each other. Each step is repeated for 10-15 minutes at a time. After about an hour they exit and then the groom appears and he has a series of steps to go through.

Then they are seated in front of each other with a curtain blocking their view. They held hands, passed what looked like a watermelon back and forth under the curtain. The curtain was released and they saw each other ❤️. Then all guests (must be over 200) sprinkle what looks like rice on their heads and appear to say a blessing and then posed for a photo with the bride and groom. 

Then the bride and groom light a candle and wave it around together. Groom paints brides forehead with ochre. Then they sprinkle rice on each other's heads, then continue showering each other with all sorts of 'toppings', finishing with rose petals. They they blow petals in each other's faces which caused quite a few giggles. Then lay wreaths over each other's heads.  

That's where I'm up to, 5.5hrs in!