Soundarya's bangle function
Friday, May 29, 2009 at 6:21PM ;)
Just before the function begins, Soundarya gets a little touch-up from her mother.
Now, I will try a bit of an experiment. I wish that as I prepare this, Sandy, or one of my other Indian relatives, was right here beside me, to guide me through, to tell me the meaning behind each and every happening pictured in my photographs.
Once Melanie and I reached India, everything happened very fast; we were always on the move and I never had time to back up to anything that had already taken place to get a better explanation of it.
So, although it is a given that the ceremony is meant to bless Soundarya as she is about to become a bride, and to help bind her more closely to the man who, in just hours, will be her husband, I am not going to try to explain the meaning behind the events in the pictures. I will surely make some mistakes if I do. Instead, I invite my Indian friends and relatives who might look at this to explain properly.
I will later add in any explanations that I receive.*
;)
Soundarya with her mother-in-law to be.
;)
As she kneels at his feet, Soundarya both shows her respect for her maternal grandfather and receives blessings from him.
;)
She does the same for her parents...
;)
...and her aunt and uncle...
;)
Her face is painted and her forehead marked.
;)
Sandy is blessed by her soon-to-be mother-in-law.
;)
Mother-in-law blessing continues.
;)
Now she is cared for by her own mother.
;)
Soundarya and her mother.
;)
Her mother loves her greatly.
;)
She touches fruit that is held before her.
;)
Her sister and mother-in-law to be present coconuts.
;)
As the function draws toward its end. Elsewhere, the groom is going through a ceremony of his own.
*06/03/09 - Soundarya has sent an explanation:
"And about the bangles function, 'turmeric' is considered very auspicious anywhere in India. They say that a woman, right from her childhood has to apply turmeric paste on her body. Medical views - it keeps yor skin soft & glows & also prevents a lot of hair growth on the body. Belief - turmeric & kumkum (the red powder we put on her fore head?) is considered to very auspicious & when ladies bless the bride with it, it's said that she lives with her husband happily for many years. This fuction is more to do with the Groom as he is blessed to live longer. I don't know how well to put this across but in simple words, 'The married couple should live longer & with each other.' Here in India, a widow shouldn't wear bangles or any ornaments, she is not allowed to decorate her forehead with kumkum & is also asked to wear a white saree to indicate that she's a widow.
"So, now I guess you understand why we have that fuction...to bless the bride, praying for her forever happiness with -bangles, kumkum & turmeric?"
Reader Comments (2)
Khena didn't do this either. This looks as though it was lovely
This is an auspicious one. More of belief & blessings... I'll write to you about this in detail.
The pics are too good!