Thursday, January 24, 2008

Global Volunteers India Team Journal - IND0801a1

Monday, January 21, 2008

Today has been a great day. In the morning Stephan 2 took Ginny and I to the museume There are 6 lovely buildings to the museum. We split up and went our own way.
Stephan 2 said it was his first visit to the museum. It was well worth the trip.

Then came the highlight of the day. Stephan 2 fetched Ginny and I for the wedding – a – a cousin of Stephan’s. First we went to his home where we had flowers put in our hair
A bindi on our foreheads, and lots of colourful bracelets to make us look more festive. Then there was a minute’s walk to the brides’s house, where we met the bride and her family. They all looked great in their finery. The bride had a lovely green sari, flowers in her hair and a long white veil held in place by a coronet of flowers. Then a drive to the church where we waited for the groom. He arrived looking very splendid in a smart white suit complete with buttonhole flower.

The couple walked down the centre of the church through 3 differently coloured archways to their chairs at the altar steps with a kneeler in front of them covered with a gold cloth. During Mass there was the wedding ceremony. Stephan’s mother had made sure Ginny and I had front row seats so we saw everything, including the putting of the thread round the bride’s neck. At the end of the wedding ceremony the congregation threw flower petals at the couple. They were also both adorned with long flower garlands and each got a bouquet to hold. During Mass there was a lot of cheerful music with a mixed choir of young people.

And then to the banquet. They had catered for 1,000 people, so it was in different sittings. A great feast on banana leaves and using our fingers of rice, chicken, onion
with yogurt and some other tasty things. All rounded off with ice cream. Delicious.

The bridal couple were in a different section where everyone went to give their presents (at Sheba’s suggestion money from Ginny and I) and and to pay our respects.

Home and the end of a lovely day.



Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

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