miss to missus, mr to ??? Wedidng part 2

The much awaited wedding day came, I had knots in my stomach, all my 26 years came back like a quick trailer of a boring movie. I liked being single. It meant lazy life to me but then I was excited about the company that I will always have, so my face lit up. I had flowers all over me, that just weighed a ton on my head and shoulders and I loved it.

Kanoonjal ( bride and groom are treated as Krishna and rukmani and are seated in a swing,given banana and milk by important lady relatives , don't know why!) DNA kept whining about the mushy stuff on his hands.

Since the muhurtham couldn't start till after an hour, we just sat there. At least people could have left the two kids alone, no they wouldn't! We greeted and welcomed all the guests as we were trying to kill time, our rear ends slept off as we were not supposed to get up from the swing for over an hour.
Finally the vadhiyar(priest) released us from our immobilized state, thanks to DNA, he cried and hugged the priest's legs until he would let us go.

When we re-entered the marriage hall for the actual wedding muhurtam, every one was looking at us, I have never gotten so much attention from such a big crowd,I was debating between if I should smile at every one or just make a quick run and let DNA suffer. I was really conscious now of my every movement.

But everything happened so fast, my heart would have actually popped out my chest. There was this small ritual performed by all DNA family ladies. I can never forget, I was surrounded by all of them and they were dancing around me, clapping and singing some kind of welcome song for the new daughter in law who is going to light up the lamp of their house. Before that,the same group ganged up on me to tie a 9 yards saree, why did they make it so complicated? I would nt know. The real picture if one can imagine was so funny, I was in the middle and there were so many hands flying around me, trying to tuck in pieces of saree in every possible corner of the outfit, I was crying to myself, and asking someone to save me from a major wardrobe malfunction. But it turned out well though. I was finally so glad when it was done.

Then I was asked to sit down on my father's lap. I agree that in the olden days, the brides were kids so the father was actually giving away a kid to a new family, but a fully grown 120 lbs person sitting on someone's lap is not a pretty picture, but who will listen to me. I was hoping not to slide down my father's lap. I was still nervous about my 9 yards saree, I was waiting to change into some comfortable outfit. I was able to do that very soon after 5 days in the US.

It was an unforgettable moment when the three knots landed on my neck and suddenly I liked myself being called Mrs. DNA.

The flowers and akshadai ( rice +turmeric) showered on us, it was truly a emotional moment, I could hear Srinivasan singing Mangalyam thandunane, endrendum punnagai from alaipayuthe.. hehe
after that we were on our own, sobbing infront of the fire with more rituals. I was nt too tired of pictures as I expected it to be, atleaset there was some reward for the many hours I spent grooming myself and I generally a kind of person, who enjoys posing and taking other's pics.

We had a small gahapravesam,where I stepped into my in law's place for the first time after marriage, then we headed to the registration office. Thanks to the Ms whoever worked there and the officer(we had to donate some dakshinai to him too!!),we got the application done. We had a scaled down version of Nalangu, the groom refused to sing, I should have persisted on it just to let the world know of my secret tortures that I go through occasionally when DNA tries translate tamil songs to English. Reception was filled with dance and music both old and new gigs. DNA was soaked in his sweat doing his kuthu dance. He was out of control. This is what wedding is all about, people change in to new personalities, they all became small kids again let their innocent fun age spill out in colors. After standing 4 hours on a high stool, I wanted to be in the spa but no, I had to get out of dream. The next day was kattu sada koodai program, they make parcels of food and distribute it to relatives for their journey back home, there was an exchange of vote of thanks from both sides which was touching too.

I literally don't even remember how many times I changed sarees and Salwars, it was laborious, for every costume, there is hair styling, there is makeup and then the sweating, then re applying it was a never ending loop. So many sarees that one can wear for an entire span of life.Phewww!!!

It was a fantastic trip and a perfect wedding, a true Tamil iyer kalyanam (wedding). Right from the relatives grouping every corner of the house preparing for each event.The endless agendas, un manageable menu of unbelievabel tasty food, the family gathering with mamas, mamis sisters and neices, nephews and cousins. Its was a big mela. Everything was memorable. Exhausting but exhilarating. Every calorie filled meal was one month worth of sugar!!

The essence of being an Indian if felt at few times, would be those 3 weeks for me. I do miss the tradition, though its in our hearts, it remains dormant overseas. Our culture is so beautiful, I appreciate and also hate its flaws and silly superstitious beliefs. It adds a wonderful flavour to my life. I am now what my iyer culture has taught me and I don't regret it.

I think I got a good deal so far. I will wait to see whats ahead!!