Today was the longest day! The day started with the Haldi ceremony on the rooftop of the hotel we were staying at. Sure enough everyone had shown up in yellow. The haldi ceremony was just for Pratik and all of his relatives were seated around him. First was the pooja where the priest performed a series of rituals and blessings of sweets and fruit which Pratik was then fed. Each relative then went up to Pratik to apply the haldi paste to his face and neck. As they took turns the application of the paste became more and more aggressive and the drummers struck up a beat for the aunties to have their fun. They went up to him their hands covered with the paste and lathered his face and neck leaving no blank space. Eventually they covered his neck too. Sonali, Daniel, and I also were given a turn to apply the paste on Pratik.
As the drummers beat their drums, everyone started dancing to the beat and beers were passed around. Pratik’s face was lathered so well with the paste, there was no more room so the aunties started tearing away at his yellow shirt. With one satisfying laugh, they ripped the fabric. He was wearing another shirt underneath and it was not long before that shirt was also ripped off by the aunties who were having way too much fun and liberty with Pratik. The aunties came for Daniel and Ishan next and smacked the paste onto their cheeks before rubbing it all over. Sonali and I luckily escaped from having the paste applied all over us.
It is customary after the haldi ceremony to find a well to fill a pot up with water for Pratik then to bathe in and wash off the paste. The entire party took to the streets by foot in search of a well in Gurgaon. We barely made it one or two blocks and did not find a well. We returned to the hotel and instead fill the large pot from a hose which I found very amusing. There we were looking everywhere for a well but settled on filling up the pot with a hose.
It was already afternoon by the time we sat down for lunch at the hotel and we had been told if we wanted our saree draped it had to be done at 4:30 pm. The baraat today was scheduled for 5 pm and Pratik had told us that we could not be late for the event today since Vidhi’s family was hosting it.
As Pratik’s family got ready, Sonali and I had our sarees draped by one of the makeup artists. I have draped a sari before on myself but the makeup artist did such a good job keeping every fold perfectly creased and pinned. I was wearing Maria’s sari which she had worn for Granny & Papa’s silver jubilee many years ago. It was a beautiful light green color with lots of floral embroidery and beading. I loved it very much! The other ladies in the room were getting their makeup and hair done very elaborately. Each one of them had put long hair extensions and were done up to such an extent I joked I hadn’t recognized them at breakfast in the morning.
Considering our sarees had been draped at 4:30 pm, it took forever for the rest of Pratik’s family to be ready. Sonali and I were losing our minds waiting so we started watching The Archies together. Daniel came back at some point wearing a suit and red turban for the ceremony. Pratik’s family was finally assembled and out of the hotel by 10 pm.
The Baraat is the procession of the groom and his family to meet the bride. Traditionally, the groom makes a grand entrance either on an elephant or more commonly these days on horseback. Pratik was coming in on neither and instead being driven in a BMW. Along with the groom there is usually a band and dancers. Pratik’s family had hired drummers and a band along with umbrella lights to go with the procession. However, the club the ceremony was hosted at prevented us from bringing our band inside and they had to remain on the street on the other side of the wall. It was a little sad I will admit not having the music right beside you as we processed. One Uncle informed me that I had to process in front of the car as that is what is customary. The only time you process in the back of a person is for a funeral because it is thought they are leading you out and for a wedding you are leading them in.
People were dancing a little bit here and there but for the most part everyone was just standing around and drinking. They kept joking with me as I bundled up that I just needed to drink more. At last the groom’s party reached the entrance where they were greeted by Vidhi’s family. Vidhi’s family was not impressed by our midnight arrival when the start time was given as 5 pm. Of course no one evers shows exactly on time either way but midnight was excessive. The DJ had gone home as no music was allowed after 11 pm so the whole evening was silent. By the time we arrived many of Vidhi’s family were heading out.
The first thing I did was head for the food as I was so hungry! The food was amazing and I even got to see the server make a paratha in a tandoori oven. Inside there were hot coals on the bottom and he stuck the paratha to the side and held it there. The food was rich but I enjoyed it so much I went back to take down the names of the dishes I had since I was trying new things. I had the kaju mattar makhana curry and rajasthani gutta curry.
By the time I finished eating under the warmth of the outdoor heater, the bride had made her grand entrance. She was decked out in a fancy light pink lehenga that was covered in work. I had never seen a light pink lehenga worn for a wedding but it fit with their color palette of neutral colors. She look absolutely gorgeous in the whole outfit combined with the jewelry, bangles, and flower garland around her neck. I was in full fan-girl mode! The bride and groom posed for photos before sitting down to eat with the family.
It had dawned upon all of us that the actual ceremony had yet to happen and it was past 2 am. The priest who had been anxiously waiting had set up and then left his set up. At last the ceremony began somewhere closer to 3. By this point most of the guests had vacated and only the immediate family remained. Several people had changed and everyone was exhausted. The priest chants cut through the cold winter night in Delhi as Sonali, Daniel, Ishan, and I huddled under the heater for warmth. No one knew what he was saying as it was in Sanskrit. Eventually we decided we were too cold sitting outside and moved indoors and an Uncle told us the ceremony would go on until about 6 am. It was already 4 am but there was no point in us staying so we left. T’was the end to the 3-day celebration of Pratik and Vidh! We did confirm with them in the morning about how late the ceremony lasted and they only slept at 8 am so let’s just say we left at the right time.
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