Last Sunday, I attended a very special wedding. It's an interracial marriage between a Chinese and Indian. It's a once in a lifetime experience to attend this kind of wedding, not to mention, it's happening in our family. To be more precise, it's my mother's cousin but since they are my grandmother's neighbour as well, we are quite close. So, in this post, I'm going to share with you photos and my thoughts about this wedding. Since I have zero knowledge about Indian wedding, I will only share those that I can look up in the net (Therefore, the information here may not be accurate, so don't use it for any educational or research purposes). For others that I couldn't look up, there will be photos and a brief description. Hope you don't mind this shallow post.
Early in the morning, as in 3 am from what I heard from my aunt, the bride's husband's family (the ladies only, let's call them “bridesmaids") went to the bride's house to help prepare for the wedding ceremony. Preparation should be including wearing the sari, drawing henna, tying hair and making up. Well, that's what I saw the difference before and after she was dressed up. I supposed the preparation included the bridesmaids who will be involved in the wedding later. We reached the bride's house at about 6.30 am and TADA the pretty bride (and their final touching up).
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| The bride!! |
At around 7.00 am, the preparation was done, and we were ready to depart to the where the wedding ceremony was going to take place - Batu Caves - a perfect wedding venue for Hindus. Since it was a Sunday, it took only about 30 minutes to arrive there. As we arrived, the bridesmaids helped the bride to wear a piece of hairpiece on her forehead.
And this is the temple where the ceremony took place.
The bride was welcomed with wedding song, I supposed, played using their traditional instrument, which is definitely an eye opener. After waiting for quite sometime, the bridegroom together with my uncle, the bride's youngest brother, appeared, sitting side by side. This is the interesting part of this wedding.
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| Apparently, the youngest of the opposite family will be the one who does the wedding ceremony together |
After the bridegroom, then was the bride's turn. They pretty much repeat the same procedures. The bride was accompanied by the groom's youngest sister.
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| Applying red powder, I supposed, to her forehead |
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| Bridesmaid put garland onto the bride |
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| Rituals done by groom's sister-in-law |
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| A picture before entrance |
After so many procedures, they were finally sitting together!
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| More rituals.... |
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Tying of necklace to the bride.
The guests were throwing rice |
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| Before this, the groom applied sindoor, a red powder, onto the bride's forehead |
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The priest, bride and bridegroom offered rice to the fire.
It was done 4 times after each round of encircling the holy fire.
(Mangal Phere) |
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| This time the groom put the ring onto the bride's toe |
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| Jai Mala (Exchanging of flower garlands) |
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Aashirvaad (blessing for the married couples) - the couples received blessing from their relatives and friends
The couple took off their garland and their friends and family put it back on.
Then, the couples bowed to the them by touching their feet.
And, the process continue. I supposed they do it to the elderly only. |
After all this tedious ceremony (which was done around 10 am), it was now time to eat. They prepared some simple food for the guests. Knowing that this is an interracial marriage, they prepared forks and spoons for the bride's relatives and friends, which they were really thoughtful to the non-Indians. Although I know that "when in Rome, do as the Romans do", I couldn't thank them enough for what they prepared for us.
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| To be honest, some of the food were really spicy, but they were quite delicious |
So, this is all about the wedding. It was a wedding full with colours, interesting things, lots of repetitive rituals and chanting. It was done with formality. In some area, it was quite similar to the Chinese wedding. For example, Aashirvaad is similar to serving tea to the elderly, where they have the similar purpose of receiving blessing.
After the brunch, my sister, cousin and I took this chance to climb the legendary stairs and gave the cave a visit.
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The must-take photo
The infamous trio - 272 steps, Lord Murugan statue and the limestone cave |
When we arrived, they are renovating - widening the steps to cater to the increasing of tourists. And so, they asked for help from the tourists to help them with carrying the cement up, which a lot of them did. The foreign tourists, especially, were not hesitating to help at all. Most of them even carried 2 buckets!! But, do what you can, they will not force you.
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| Almost there! |
As I arrived at the top, I saw this really interesting board, which I don't seem to understand. "No exercise", it said. Yes, climbing stairs is not exercise, it's just climbing stairs!! XD
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| TADA!! The beautiful limestone cave!! Look at the formation |
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| The interior of the cave |
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| Taking from posterior of the cave |
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| The second steps |
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Imagine lying down while looking up to the sky
Couldn't ask for anything more |
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| The "second cave" |
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| More beautiful limestone |
Batu caves is home to the monkeys - my childhood enemy.
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| The "guardians" of the cave |
There is also another cave - Dark cave which seems really interesting to explore but a tour fee is needed.
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