We arrived in India on our first visit, in early November 2017. After a fantastic three week tour of southern India, we flew to Delhi for a few days. Delhi is a vibrant city that is worth visiting, but sadly has a horrible pollution problem. The city is however working to improve the situation.
We hadn’t planned a long stay in Delhi, so to maximise our time we had booked an Old Delhi tour. We were picked up bright and early on our first morning, and took a fun tour of Old Delhi – a combination of walking and rickshaw – with India Arrival Tours. This was very well organized, and timings were adjusted to suit our last-minute need for changes. We took a rickshaw to the spice market and wedding market, and then enjoyed walking around, looking at the delicious looking foods available, and the beautiful fabrics and accessories for weddings.
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We visited the Raj Ghat, on the banks of the Yamuna river, where several prominent Indian politicians have been cremated. In particular, this is the memorial site for Mohandas (Mahatma) K. Gandhi, Indian independence activist, who was assassinated in 1948.
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While in Delhi, we caught up with some friends, who very kindly invited us to join them at the wedding celebration of a cousin. This was a wonderful opportunity for us to catch a glimpse of Delhi life. Everyone was very welcoming, and we so much enjoyed being a small part of this important event.
We learned a little about the traditions: first the groom’s family arrives, and dances and sings, typically for a long time, requesting entrance. In the meantime, the bride’s family has put a ribbon across the entrance, until negotiations have been completed. (In reality, negotiations have already taken place, this is just the symbolic enactment.)
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Before the groom and his family arrive, guests start arriving and enjoy the pre-wedding entertainment, the food, and chatting with family and friends.
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Once the groom has been allowed in, he waits on the stage for the bride to finish her preparations. Finally, she processes towards him, with her family.
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The bride and groom meet, and show themselves to family and friends on top of a revolving podium, complete with rose petals flung into the air, a mass of cameras, including an overhead drone.
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Photos are taken with the bride and groom and an endless array of family and friends.
After this, the most significant part of the ceremony occurs. The sacred fire is lit, and the bride and groom make seven circles around the fire, while uttering promises and taking seven vows to each other. We felt very honoured to be included in this special occasion, and wish the bride and groom much happiness together.
Delhi is a busy, bustling city, like all capitals. Despite the smog and other possible negatives, in my opinion it’s well worth a visit.
After Delhi, we travelled to Madhya Pradesh, to visit some of the national parks, scenery and animals (posts still to come!), and then continued north, to Royal India.
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The wedding must have been a wonderful experience. We did a tour of Delhi too around the Chandri Chowk area. In all we had about 9 days I Delhi I think. It’s an amazing city.
Alison
Hi Alison, thanks for your kind comments! Delhi is great fun, and the wedding was really the icing on the cake 🙂
Hi Danila , Lovely to see your wonderful pictures of the wedding.It reminds me of my time in India,albeit during the war. We toohad an invitation to a wedding but nothing so posh. It was our ‘bearer’ that is the manservant. His was an arranged marriage and he had not seen the bride before the day. She arrived on a Tonga, a two wheeled horsedrawn carriage. Immagine his relief when she turned out to be a most beautiful girl. A wonderful experience and one you’ll remember for a longtime.
Continue to enjoy your travels.
Love John
P.S We’ll try to show your mother your photos when next we see her.
Hi John, I bet the wedding you went to was just as memorable, even if not quite so posh! What a wonderful experience. I hope this post brought back happy memories for you 🙂