Wedding in Bangalore

Wedding in Bangalore, India May 6 to 10, 2004

The hassle of applying for India visa and 4hours transit at Bangkok are nothing compared to the joy & fun of attending the wedding of Catherine and Sanjay in Bangalore.

Getting ready for the wedding is great fun for Catherine’s siblings and I. The girl’s looking pretty in Salwar with dozens of bangles, bindi on forehead and mehendi (ancient Indian art of temporary tattoo using Henna) drawn on palms and arms. The guy’s walking tall in Kurta.

Wedding ceremony is a 2hours sit-on-the-floor session with bride & groom facing a Hindu priest with family members on each side, all forming a square with trays of sacred necessities for the ritual – betel leaves, coconuts, rice grains, oil etc. Though I didn’t understand what was spoken, at one point I noticed the priest was, what looked to me ‘lecturing’. A close relative later told me the priest was dishing out advice like a counselor – explaining the importance & responsibilities of marriage to the newly weds.

Wedding banquet is certainly hosted in a very efficient way. Newly weds & families stand on one spot. Guests queue up to give their well wishes, present gifts, exchange small talks and have their photo taken before tucking into the buffet dinner. And this goes on for hours! When the guests have left which is past midnight, it’s time for a sit down dinner for the newly weds & families.

Prior to the wedding, several other rituals are carried out. There are thread ceremony (equivalent to Chinese custom ‘out of garden’?) and wedding fixation at the temple, anointing on the forehead with oil (equivalent to Chinese custom ‘combing of hair’?) and putting on pillow cover! The last is humorous – created out of misunderstanding of wedding custom in this mixed marriage!

It’s my first trip to India. Bangalore city and its people certainly leave a good impression.

Bangalore – also known as Garden City, is the capital of the southern Indian state of Karnataka. Many fully bloomed beautiful flames of the forest trees line the clean streets. Look out for the coconut trees growing out of / leaning on houses! The big cotton trees at Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens are impressive. Climate is moderate as the city is elevated (1000m).

The streets can be jam-packed with traffic especially during peak hours when the wait for change of light is a 2-3minutes affair and motorists switch off their engine while waiting. Certain streets are dusty and full of potholes. It is particularly interesting to see all modes of transportation sharing the streets harmoniously – bull/horse/donkey pulled carts alongside with bicycles, motorcycles, cars (many old vintage cars!) and ‘tuk-tuk’ with meter! Also look out for the guy who irons clothes on the street! Shopping on Commercial Street is like Serangoon Road magnified.

Besides the Indian food (tosai, prata, dal) I eat in Singapore, I get to taste other traditional food – idli, vada, rice in yogurt, pickles (also call ‘achar’) etc. Most food are coconut/milk base and very rich but delicious I must say! And yes, not forgetting the delectable Alphonso mango now in season!

Indians are very hospitable people and have very close family ties. Extended family of great-grandparents/uncles/aunties/cousins/nephews/nieces often gather. A typical Indian, I understand, speak/read at least 2-3 languages excluding English – Hindi, Sindhi, Tamil, Kannada etc. Certainly a race with the gift of gab! And I’m totally confused with the tongue twisting Indian name of people and places!