[akaushik]

awesome piece of writeup and precise photography what a combination , I read and followed all threads in a single day!! It was so addictive , I think I might need few writing classes for one liners from you.

Hats off to you and your friends for doing so many trips together... waiting for your more pics..
AK

[SmartCat]

Thanks akaushik. Your agent47 (or is it agent27?) story is incomplete by the way.

Originally Posted by MX6

The Kashi yatra bit is the most depressing. Even now I tell all my goddamn relatives that I'd have been happier in Kashi.
Sometimes, my wife agrees as well.

Irrespective of where you are from, you always get stopped before going to Kashi and drag to the altar like a sacrificial lamb!

It was depressing for me too, but for altogether different reasons. I had a tough time finding Pallavi and they expected me to leave her and go to Kashi, on foot, with that umbrella? I was wondering what would happen if my Uncle forgets to stop me from going to the Yatra.

[MX6]

Originally Posted by smartcat

I was wondering what would happen if my Uncle forgets to stop me from going on the Yatra.

Instead of trying to run over your father in law, you'd have run over your uncle. That's all!

[ampere]

Cat Did you also vanish after marriage as MX?
Or is that is coming up next?

[MX6]

Originally Posted by ampere

Cat Did you also vanish after marriage as MX?
Or is that is coming up next?

Vanish? MX6 doesn't vanish. He's here. Right here.

[SmartCat]

Originally Posted by ampere

Cat Did you also vanish after marriage as MX?
Or is that is coming up next?

Well, we didn't vanish as such, but went to a resort that had no cellphone reception, no landline (in our cottage), no TV and no newspaper

BIG FAT GEEK WEDDING CONTD:

Pic 1: I'm led to the Mandapa, with the garland in my hand. They somehow find two guys who are taller than me, and they put up this Dhoti. I was quite suspicious of their motive - are they planning to switch the bride at the last moment?



Pic 2 & 3: Pallavi is literally carried by her uncles to the Mandapa. I think Pallavi's uncles did not want their little Princess to soil her feet. Either that, or they knew she was a "flight risk" - there has been lots of instances of the bride running away from the Mandapa.





Pic 4: The Dhoti goes down (Not my Dhoti, the other one), and before I can react, I'm bombarded with tiny rice projectiles from all sides. My cousins were especially brutal, aiming for my face.



Pic 5: I'm supposed to put the garland with only one hand (unlike what I had seen in the movies), because I have that "holy stick" (don't know what its called) in the other hand.



Pic 6: And then the traditional Saath Phere. In the third phere, my hands slipped a bit and I let go her hand. I quickly turned around and held her hand again - but the damage was done. Even now, whenever we have a fight, this incident comes up for discussion.



Pic 7: Next, Pallavi holds my hand and walks towards me, on these coins. Not exactly sure about this, because umm, I was busy looking at somebody when the Pujari was explaining. Any idea what this means?



Pic 8: And then I'm asked to tie the Mangalasutra. Unfortunately, the Mangalasutra does not come with an instruction manual - so I fumble with my hands as everybody looks on. But I remember the old adage try, try and try till you succeed.



Pic 9: Apparently, I was almost strangling her - that's why she's holding her neck in this pic. I don't remember well, but the aunt in the middle was probably yelling at me to let go!



Pic 10: But finally, I gave up. I outsourced the job of tying the Mangalasutra - my aunts took care of it. Oddly, Pallavi was pleased with my decision - she said she could breathe freely after I took my hands off her.

[Ranjan Sharma]

Hmmm....

I am kind of liking these rituals. Looks like I need to search a girl from Mangalore

[akaushik]

Originally Posted by smartcat

Thanks akaushik. Your agent47 (or is it agent27?) story is incomplete by the way.

O.T It was completed mate few days back check the thread. your 2 cents and a reply will work there... Starting with another one really soon!!

[StarVegabond]

Hi Smartcat,

your marriage photographs reminded me of my marriage with almost same rituals. Now in the 10th year, i sometimes wonder the ordeal one is put through during the marriage is a simulated version of the married life

Originally Posted by smartcat

Well, we didn't vanish as such, but went to a resort that had no cellphone reception, no landline (in our cottage), no TV and no newspaper

we also landed in a similar place, Agatti Island (part of Lakshdeep). it is a great place.

Originally Posted by smartcat

Pic 5: I'm supposed to put the garland with only one hand (unlike what I had seen in the movies), because I have that "holy stick" (don't know what its called) in the other hand.

it is called Bramha danda, you were a Bramhachari (bachelore) till then
after the rituals i think, that stick was taken away and rooted either in Tulasi vrindavan or in your garden.

Originally Posted by smartcat

Pic 6: And then the traditional Saath Phere. In the third phere, my hands slipped a bit and I let go her hand. I quickly turned around and held her hand again - but the damage was done. Even now, whenever we have a fight, this incident comes up for discussion.

been there done that

Originally Posted by smartcat

Pic 7: Next, Pallavi holds my hand and walks towards me, on these coins. Not exactly sure about this, because umm, I was busy looking at somebody when the Pujari was explaining. Any idea what this means?

It has couple of mataphorical significance

1. She is Lakshmi putri (daughter of godess Lakshmi or money), she will bring in lots of luck, wealth to you, that is why she walks on the money

2. As a husband, you have to consider her to be more valueable than money/wealth, she is on top of the wealth, same is true for her also, through thick and thin, both of you should consider each other more important than wealth.

[SmartCat]

after the rituals i think, that stick was taken away

Yeah, they took away my Brahma Danda, just when I was developing an attachment to it. I wanted to take it home with me.

It has couple of mataphorical significance

1. She is Lakshmi putri (daughter of godess Lakshmi or money), she will bring in lots of luck, wealth to you, that is why she walks on the money

2. As a husband, you have to consider her to be more valueable than money/wealth, she is on top of the wealth, same is true for her also, through thick and thin, both of you should consider each other more important than wealth

Makes lot of sense! These customs although mostly symbolic, are very meaningful. But when the Pujari used to explain all this, my mind used to drift (like a rear wheel drive car driven hard).

[StarVegabond]

Originally Posted by smartcat

Yeah, they took away my Brahma Danda, just when I was developing an attachment to it. I wanted to take it home with me.

Good that they took it away, otherwise you would have continued to focus on Bramhadanda and the result (you are expecting now) would not have come through

[SmartCat]

THE BIG FAT GEEK WEDDING CONTD:

Pic 1 & 2: After tying the Mangalasutra, the Pujari goes back to reciting Sanskrit mantras. And then, we come to my favorite part of the ceremony - getting a free face and foot massage. I was already dreaming about the daily foot massages, but after marriage, I found out that the tables would be turned.





Pic 3 & 4: And then the Pujari asked Pallavi to sit on my lap. I'm not used to sitting in the Yoga position with my legs folded, and as she sits on one leg, the other one automatically goes up. And then I whispered the most romantic words ever uttered "Um! How much do you weigh?"





Pic 5 & 6: The Pujari turns towards Pallavi and says something like "You will need to forget your parents from now. You are no longer their daughter. Your husband and your new house is everything to you now". And she suddenly bursts into tears.





Pic 7: Since I have a pretty thick skull, I couldn't figure out why she was crying. I begin to wonder if it has got something to do with me. She had already seen all our trip photos on my laptop, and was probably wondering how she would spend the rest of her life with an oddball specimen like me? Hmm. Maybe I should NOT have shown her the Rajasthan trip photos.



Pic 8: Since I had never seen her cry, I was quite distraught too. But anyway, Pallavi quickly regains her composure and gives that wonderful smile I love so much.

[pramod]

Isnt this ritual done after lunch, at the end of the wedding?

This is getting really interesting Smartcat. Great gng.

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by smartcat

Pic 5 & 6: The Pujari turns towards Pallavi and says something like "You will need to forget your parents from now. You are no longer their daughter. Your husband and your new house is everything to you now". And she suddenly bursts into tears.

I have lost count of the weddings where I have seen this scene unfold (including mine) and still it never fails to move me every time! Though girls know this right from their early years, they remain mere words to them and does not hit home - till the actual moment of leaving their parental home looms large. And they do follow the words almost entirely in letter and spirit. Think of it man, it is akin to uprooting a fully grown plant and re-planting it in a different location and different soil. The plant not only takes root, it becomes a pillar of strength for the new family too! We have to doff our hats to our better halves for this alone, if for nothing else!

And oh, before I forget, the muhurat saree is worn differently in Tambrahm weddings!

[StarVegabond]

Originally Posted by smartcat

Pic 8: Since I had never seen her cry, I was quite distraught too. But anyway, Pallavi quickly regains her composure and gives that wonderful smile I love so much.

Attachment 324756

Hi Smartcat,

this photographs is the best one from your recent uploads.
the mixed emotions on the face of your better half and that on your face have been extreemly well captured

i wish that both of you take care of each other and share the continued love, affection, togetherness till the end.