Golden Temple and Wedding

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Kim and I spent the first weekend of May in the Punjab region of India, in a town called Amritsar. Our friend Sagar, who is a designer of Indian Wedding dresses, invited us there to attend his Nieces’ wedding. We were able to visit the Golden Temple which is in the town of Amritsar. Here is a link about the temple: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Temple

We took the train to Amritsar early Saturday morning and flew back early Monday morning.

The wedding started on Saturday Night at 9pm and ended early Sunday morning at 4am. The wedding ceremony ended after the Bride and Groom finished the Jaimala ceremony (walk around the fire seven times). Later, our driver in New Delhi who is from Punjab, said that the seven circles around the fire represent the couple’s promise to be married again in each of their expected seven human reincarnations.

Between various stages of the ceremony, the Bride and Groom danced and ate with the guests. Most of the clothes you see worn by the woman at the wedding (including the Bride) were designed and manufactured by Sagar.

Sagar felt that 5am is the best time to see the sacred Golden Temple, so we immediately headed over there as soon as the Bride and Groom left the party at 4am. The feeling you get being at the temple is serene. We finally went to sleep at 6:30am Sunday morning.

Sagar’s girlfriend Ira is a princess from Nepal. She works at a non-profit in Katmandu that helps children from Nepal obtain K-6 educations.

Sagar’s family was very friendly and we enjoyed meeting them. We now know where Sagar gets his spunkiness; his father is a trouble maker also.

If you are curious about Indian wedding traditions, here is a link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_wedding

Kim joined myspace this week and here is the link in case you want to see what she is up to: http://www.myspace.com/kimdoubleoseven

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Photos

Kim and Dan
You have to cover your head to enter the golden temple.

Public Bath
We shot this pic from the train on the way to Punjab. Its 8am and the locals are bathing.

Arrival at Wedding
Sagar designed Kim's first Saree

Train
Another view from the train

Sagar and his crew
The red sash means we are from the Bride's side. In case violence breaks out, you know who has your back.

Ira and Kim
Sporting Sagar's designs

10pm Sat Night
Vishal and Parul had met only a few times before they married; traditional.

Ira and Kim
On the dance floor

Fire Ceremony
4am!

Parul and Vishal
Circle the fire seven times to end the wedding ceremony

Henna
A custom for special events

Ira and Sagar
Sunday night at reception (Yes, the day after the wedding the reception started Sunday night at 9pm.)

Sunday Night, Reception
We ate at 11pm and headed to the airport. Goodbye Punjab!

Comments

[Maggie]

Mom
The Saree is beautiful and looks great on Kim. Of course being such a beauty herself, it is understandable. This wedding looked like a lot of fun and, if nothing else, one has to acknowledge that kind of social stmina. Irish weddings sometimes go that long but not by design.

[Dan]

Irish Weddings
Yes, Irish weddings go that long by tradition but not design. Its usually about 4am that you have to go back to the hospital to pick up a few of the guests once their stitches are finished.

[Bubli Sagar]

Irish Weddings
It is so nice to see the wedding to take place with such beauty and spirit...