Sam, our taxi driver from yesterday and uncle of the groom, picks me up at 10.15am in the wedding taxi. We go to where the groom lives for the start of the wedding ceremony. There’s music and dancing in true Hindu style. The women are in beautiful traditional dress and the men and boys in smart suits. I’m not the only foreigner there. Others have been invited and it’s said that having foreigners at your wedding adds class! Then it’s a two kilometer procession through the streets to a shrine for the official wedding.
The wedding is entirely arranged. The groom only knew a week ago that he was to marry and he has only spoken to the bride for an hour prior to today’s ceremony. We walked about 2 km from his home to the wedding venue, led by a band through the streets. The proceedings will last all day. While the wedding is in process the food starts. There are hundreds of people lining up for a feast but we are given special treatment and taken to the front of the line. I feel embarrassed.
In contrast, my taxi driver taking me back to the hotel married for love and is now ‘unmarried’, though he hasn’t signed the papers. Under the present constitution, she doesn’t need his signature. He explains they were beaten by the caste system. He is lower caste while she is of high caste and even though they lasted 11 years together, the mother-in-law won out in the end. They have a young daughter. I guess arranged unions avoid the caste issue. Having your bride chosen for you ensures marriages only within your caste.
It’s been a privilege to be asked to be part of this special occasion.
Thunderstorms fill in the rest of the afternoon. There is serious lightening and thunder, and rain. It’s nice.
angusmccoll 