Wedding at Timbaktu

For those who weren't able to attend it, here is a report from Binu about how the wedding ceremony unfolded.

Binu showing off his "mehndi" hand

It all started from the eve of the marriage where they tried to purify me by applying turmeric all over the body (11 members including Kalpana and Mary). My family too was surprised by this as it was fully Andhra tradition. When the whole stuff was over, I was asked to take a bath using the remaining turmeric.

I dressed up in a dhoti and my khaki shirt (which tempted the Sri Lankan traveler to offer me some coins). They told me I had become pure and that ghosts could occupy me. I was then given a knife enveloped with a yellow cloth and a lemon pierced at the top. The instruction was that I should be carrying the knife whenever I go out of the house and I should not be moving alone. I of course forgot the knife here and there and was given it again and again. My family members by this time started teasing me for this. They too had their part of fun.

Mary applying turmeric

Sashi akka applied henna on my left hand and with an unfinished line on the middle finger which was Bablu's idea.

Morning was interesting. Woke up very early and was the last member of the hut to get ready. My sister helped me to wear the Dhoti properly. I liked the shirt for its correct size and stiffness. Lathika's brother and sister (cousins) came to our palace to put the garland and my bro-in-law (sister's husband - long live English) tied a flag on my forehead (what they called “basingam”).

Bablu was my “sarathi” to take us to Kona. A few of the women folk were in the car including my mother and sister. There was a music band walking in front leading me to the temple courtyard. I was made to sit there for a quite a while. Real Centre of Attraction. I tried cracking jokes with my sister to ease the situation.



Lathika too was then brought with some more music. She and her relatives sat on the other side. They held a towel in between both of us as we were not to see each other. Then its all there in the pics. Lots of colours. Milk, coconut, rice, etc etc. Before tying the mangal sutra they asked me to show it around, three times and then tie it. I also repeated a few Telugu words that the priest told me to say. Done. There were a few more exchanges of clothes and getting elder's blessings.


We were then persuaded to see the clear sky. The priest asked me to show her the sky and ask her if she could see the Arundhati star (under the sun-lit sky!!!). I showed her some branches and electric wires and asked if she could see the star and she said yes. Astrologonomy.

We were then taken to our hut to be received by our sister. “Right leg first” stuff. The stage was slowly emptied. Of course there was a Mayasabha lunch session and then some video photo sessions. A few relatives and friends remained. When most of them left, Lathika slept for a while in “Saregama.” For the evening we had my parents, sister, Kalpana and Pradi my friend. Moonlit Timbaktu.

Lathika slept inside the hut, I put my cot outside, under the wide sky and slept off.

Oops... I can still write more. Hope this gives an idea.