My first India trip - part 3 videos

My 9th month cry

Football game with Samaahit

My First India Visit - Part 2

As I said earlier, this post is dedicated to Guru Chikkappa's wedding with Sandhyarashmi Chikkamma. The wedding was on Mar 2nd. Amma had thought so well and ordered a nice new dress for me. It was a traditional Indian dress. (I will come back to dress later). Everyone was up so early. Urva Dodda was up at 2 AM and rest of the folks were up by 4AM. I got up in my usual style wanting to create trouble to Appa and Amma at 4:00. Ooops! trouble was on me. Amma took that opportunity, took me to the shower and gave me a real early morning bath and the water in Mangalore has some magic. As soon as I am out of shower, I can't do anything but sleep. So I slept back.

After the initial hustle bustle, everyone was prepared. The dresses were really awesome. Ajja had kachhe, Dodda had a gorgeous Saree, Akshatha Maami was dressed up in special Sari and ornaments as she was the Kalasha bearer which is a special position in the marriage. Appa had a nice Jubba over silk panche and Amma had a green Saree. My top was bright colored and fit me easily. The bottom was a blooper. The tailor had not accounted for the diaper thickness and everyone fought hard to pull it up to my waist. UNSUCCESSFUL!. Amma as usual, came up with brilliant idea, replaced the bottom with a simple white paijama and put the kacche on top of it. It worked and I looked great.

Wedding was about 50miles from our home town. So we had hired a bus. Guru Chikkappa and Akshatha mami along with Ajja and Dodda were driven in a decorated car and rest of us traveled in the bus. We were at the marriage venue by 8:30AM and received a warm welcome from Chikkamma's side. (Don't ask me about the trip because I was sleeping again!!). We all had a nice breakfast and I was with Daya Ajja (My Ajja's youngest brother). I got hold of a tumbler and enjoyed banging it on the dinner table listening to the various voices until Amma came and relieved Daya Ajja to eat his breakfast (Where was Appa????)

The whole marriage ceremony took about 3 hours and there was lot of fun, lot of people. The marriage happens in three stages. First stage is parents of boy and girl sit face to face and announce the intention of marriage of their son/daughter and other party accepts. Second part is the garland exchange and Shiro Dhaare. Chikkappa and Chikkamma exchanged garlands. People made Chikkappa and Chikkamma's heads touch each other (hee hee..) and a small stream of water was allowed to drop through their bowed heads indicating that the two families have united. Third part is the fun filled part where almost every member of both families is introduced to groom/bride through a series of activities, games and religious actions. At the end of the ceremony a grand lunch was served.

As the marriage was happening on the stage, I went around, met everyone (or rather, they came and spoke to me, hugged me and took me around). Once the pictures come back, I will upload them to the albums. At lunch time, I felt really tired and went to sleep. When I woke up we were riding back in the bus back to our home.

We all came early and prepped the home for the first time arrival of Chikkamma. When Guru Chikkappa and Chikkamma's car came, everyone rushed to the front of the door and wished them. Then the realy fun part began. Asha Mami and Akshatha Mami just stood at the door and would not allow Guru Chikkappa or Chikkamma to enter the house. They were demanding money to let them inside. They got support from appa, amma as well. After about 5 minutes of fighting, Guru Chikkappa gave money and Chikkamma was allowed into the house.

After dinner, some more games. Appa had devised a crash quiz program where Chikkamma answered some questions about Chikkappa and vice versa. It was fun. Everyone had a lot of fun and I let them continue to have the fun and dozed away into sleep....

Legend:
Ajja - Grandfather
Dodda - Grandmother
Chikkappa/Mama - Uncle
Chikkamma/Mami - Aunt