An Intercaste Punjabi-Marathi Wedding

The next morning was the chooda (seen all those Punjabi brides wear a broad set of red and white bangles? that!) and the haldi ki rasam.

It was to start at 9 in the morning because we had early pheras. Everybody put in their bit to get things ready in time. The bride and I had to keep reminding aunty that I was the photographer and would not be able to help around too much with her chores. Though I did, off and on.

This was an inter-caste wedding and following the Marathi custom the boy's mother, sister and aunts came with the haldi (turmeric-gram flour mix) to the bride's house.
 

Curious Chrisanthi

Between all this, I locked myself up in a secluded room for some time to capture the bride's wedding dress and jewelry. 

What a lovely, dazzling neck piece, you must think? Call me or write to me and I'll tell you where she picked it up

After all the ceremonies were done with, it was time for us (the bride, 2 of her close friends and the photographer) to leave for the hotel because the make-up artist was going to reach there soon and it would take the bride 2-3 hours to get ready for the evening.

 

She didn't look like her usual self all decked-up in that bridal attire, even though what she chose to wear was very simple and light as compared to what we see most Punjabi brides in.
 

 

 "Is that really you?" was the question everybody kept posing

 

Come the wedding day and Santa sent all the fog he could in a single shot, along with heavy cold winds (thank God, we were done with the pheras in the evening!). If you have experienced Dilli ki Sardi (Delhi winter),  you know what I'm talking about. The dance floor, the entire chaat (snacks) section and the 'stage' were set up outdoor, which was a fiasco, thanks to the wind.

The bride and the groom, finally, had to be called inside the dining hall, where their couch was moved, and, where the studio guy had to manage rest of those conventional photographs with the guests had to be taken. The only person that wouldn't come in was this little 3 and a 1/2 year old girl, who just couldn't stop dancing to 'Radha teri chunri…' and kept running back to the dance floor in the freezing cold.

It was a long day and everyone was tired. Plus the weather. The groom's family left the venue to get to their hotel as soon as possible because they had a flight to catch the next morning; the couple was spending the night at the Marriott Courtyard itself. It was now time for the family to eat dinner after all the guests had left. I was forced to leave too because the fog was only getting more and more dense. There was no Bidai (send-off ceremony) as such.

V & A's Engagement

 

V & A's engagement evening was here. And, Delhi was cold!

On the engagement night, I played the make-up artist before I picked up my camera because our dear bride-to-be wouldn't let the parlor lady touch her face (and make her look like Hanuman!). She just went there to get her curls. The best part was that all the other close family members got ready at the beauty salon that had just opened in the vicinity.

All those ceremonies were new to this little girl who had come down for her cousin's wedding

Kids find their own way to have fun when what's happening around is of no interest to them

  

The Engagement Cake - It was as delicious as it looks!

For beautiful theme cakes in Delhi connect with OCakesions. Check out their delectable preparations made with love. Order fresh-baked yummies here!

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ocakesions/600674883295333

Done for the day, we were all happy that it wasn't foggy yet and the wedding would go smooth.

**********************************************************************************

Vipra's Mehandi

This time the bride was special to me; I've known her for some 15 years now - my besty hired me for her sister's wedding shoot. Once again, a winter wedding in the extreme temperature of Delhi.

The mehandi ceremony happened the night before the engagement. It was a fun, cozy affair at home with close friends and immediate family.

She didn't want any on her feet; we convinced her for a small something because she was getting married

Getting mehandi put is never so 'cozy' for the bride on a winter evening

Did I mention that this bride HATES the smell mehandi; well, I guess she got that from her mom (again a lot of persuasion went in to get a teeny tiny flower done on aunty's hand. phew!)

I, usually, am engrossed in my job and forget about food when I'm shooting (it can be tough doing that at weddings though). This time my sweet friend was around to take care of me; she was literally running around me to feed me paneer tikka and wine to keep me warm. "DG, eaaaaat. You need some energy… I want you to enjoy as well." How was I to explain to her that I didn't want to miss a moment while I was munching on food; not to forget I was getting paid for it? She saw I wouldn't budge and she picked up another plate for me and started following me just like she had to keep chasing her little daughter.

Friends will be friends; photographers will be photographers.


****************************************************

Punju Weddings

I had the chance to shoot a Sikh Wedding early this year. Here are some images I made in Jalandhar (Punjab). It was a great experience. Like all Punjabi weddings, this one too was full of laughter, frolic, negotiations between the groom and his sisters-in-law, dance, music, food and 'Lovely' sweets (from the most popular 'Lovely' sweet house of Jalandhar).

The Chunni ceremony was held two days before the wedding day at Hotel Radisson, Jalandhar.

In this Punjabi custom of 'Chunni', the boy's mother and sisters cover the girl's head with a chunni, which in this case was a lovely traditional Phulkari. Beautiful; very colorful! This symbolizes that the girl is now taken.

The mehandi ceremony happened the day after and this bride wanted to get it done quick because she just didn't have the patience to sit through hours getting her mehandi done.

It was a cold winter morning and henna can freeze you further; especially when it is all over your arms and feet. (Did you know, henna is used for its cooling property by many Indians in peak summer?) The electric heater was switched on for the bride while she got her mehandi put.
Do you see the orange light of the heater falling on her arm?

                                                         

The following day, the groom arrived with the baraat at the venue early morning (around 10a.m.) and received a welcome by the girl's sisters after he cut the ribbon and paid them a 'bribe' to enter. This is a fun custom and is usually a part of most Sikh and non-Sikh Punjabi weddings, especially the ones in Punjab.

 

The bride was escorted to the Gurudwara by her brother and sister after her family along with the baraat  reached there. After the Lawan Phere in the Gurudwara, that must be performed before 12 noon, everybody came back to the venue for photo ops, dance, drinks and the lavish food spread. It was a cold, cloudy winter morning. Obviously the Sun was 'out' but decided to stay behind the clouds throughout. Thank God, it was not freezing.  

 

 

The pretty bride loved being clicked. On the other hand, her groom was extremely camera-shy

She said loved her portraits and thought they captured the bride's moods and emotions very well.



**********************************************************************************************************************