6/4/11

Tonight we went to the wedding! We got back to the house at about five, and I headed over to the festivities at about 5:30. Vedant tagged along. As we approached the entrance, AJ popped out and said, "Ah! Just in time!" We walked in as the evening's religious ceremonies were commencing. AJ made sure I got a front row seat and said I should take lots and lots of photos. Obviously that wasn't a problem for me. (A front row seat to a Hindu wedding in Mauritius? HECK YES.) The ceremony was fascinating. The groom, a friend of mine by now, sat on a small stage with his sister and mother (I think.) A religious leader of some sort sat across from them, criss cross on the ground. Between them sat all sorts of incense, flower petals, leaves, and little bowls full of yellow and orange plants and herbs. The leader chanted in Hindu while the other three prayed, ate specific things, and bowed their heads. Eventually began the final part of the ceremony where, after lighting a big fire, all of the guests at the wedding entered the stage one at a time to dip a handful of green grass in a bowl of yellow herbs with which to bless the betrothed. They dabbed the soaked grass on each ear, each shoulder, and each knee of the groom. By the time the ceremony finished 45 minutes later, the groom was soaked in yellow. COVERED. He then moved to a back room where he was greeted by all of the male guests.

In the meantime, I went back over the house and found that all of the Eli Africa girls had borrowed authentic Indian garb from a friend to wear to the wedding! We made grand entrance into the wedding tent, walking down the aisle and fitting right in with the craziness of the event. By now the place was packed--people dressed in extravagant robes and fabrics all pack under the tent, bustling about and sitting in rows of plastic chairs to watch the ceremony. We snuck to the side porch space, where we found a series of long tables for food. The table was full, but we eventually found seats as the crowds kept shifting. We ate the same food they let me sample last night--fried flat bread with INCREDIBLE indian EVERYTHING. Male waiters in white shirts kept coming and coming with more and more food, each as absurdly delicious as the last. The food is not eaten with utensils. Instead, everyone eats with their fingers, which is sort of unsettling at first. All of us Americans were trying carefully to use the bread as a makeshift utensil, but most of us ended up failing at that and using our fingers a bit too. In any case, the food was the best Indian food I've ever had.

Eventually two Hindu singers started entertaining the crowd as we walked around socializing and congratulating the family. A crazy drunk man danced HILARIOUSLY on the stage (his entire body was literally vibrating at points) and the singers kept singing popular tunes from Indian films. Guests kept piling up outside and cramming in through the doors, adding to the ridiculously colorful atmosphere. The lights hanging from above set a fun tone, and a cameraman with a CRAZILY BRIGHT flash walked around shining his light in everyone's faces as he filmed them. (Thank heavens--it was perfect for my camera.)

One Hindu wedding down. A pleasant Mauritian surprise. :)

[mckay]