and finally the 'dulahi bhitrauney' (bringing home the bride) day. mainly pictures... many of them also taken by cholu, rehna and sandaji... (the pics will be a bit fuzzy as i have enlarged them)
kamalaji is ready with the arati savali platter
the stage all set for the sasu and buhari tussle, that is yet to see a lot of action an hour later!
the lamps for paila also all ready to be lit and stepped on by the bride's feet
mami went to meet deviji .. and she responded with a grin..
waiting for the janti to come back with the bride from the hotel
flowers from the last night's reception adorn the premises
deviji joins the team in the sun.. mumu greeting her samdhini
getting the paan masala ready
milan cranes to see the arrival of the bridal entourage
and there they are.. led by the jyapu ensemble once more... again playing rajamati kumati
on the home stretch...
deviji's also waiting for her natini buhari
... and so is bandana putra...
and they come dancing...
the groom and his bride
miku hangs on to laura's sari pallu...
...under the chanduwa...
the sister train chugs around the couple to welcome them home
they put tika...
...garlands...
...fed them yogurt...
... and bananas...
.. and then the arati...
... the sisters then get the favour back.. from the groom....
... and then the bride....
time for griha pravesh (entering the home).. but not before the couple crosses the hurdle of sisters (and a surprising brother!)
a lot of noisy negotiation ensues
many mediators intervene...
.. and the deal is reached. to the couple's relief...
...then they are let through.. and laura then has to step on burning lamps
'kashto ramro gar!' (what a lovely home!) exclaims the blurrily happy bride!
mana pathi ritual
a little bit of cheating and a whole lot of fun and laughter!
taking the grain to the store.. and thus introducing the bride to take over responsibility of the household...
next is the mookh herney (looking at the face of the bride)
starts with the senior most member of the household.. dada and deviji here... and trickles down to family dixit and rimal side... laura gets piled with goodies...
dhog for deviji
and now a whole lot of pictures where the family on both sides look at laura's 'face' and she and miku pay respect to them.. and also get a lot of hugs in return...
miku helps to explain complicated relationships.. and buludidi guides from the back...
laura and miku get the lesson on long and happy conjugal life (the mouth-full-of-water-when-you-are-upset technique) from mami
'express your anger only when your partner is smiling like this'.. she advises them
even the 'fortnight away from induction' family member gets to greet the couple
aside from being blessed by the elders, the couple get to bless the youngsters
.. and last but not the lest... the youngest dewar (brother in law) to be introduced.. kuirey!
he gives a sniff of approval
while the dhog bhet is going on , everybody looked on .. or waited for their turn...
by the end of it.. laura's bag of goodies had grown pretty big!
.. a big load that had the the old phupu-sasu huffing and puffing
next was time for bhundey bhaag... the bride gets to eat double of the groom's portion.. probably because she needs double to calories to do all the housework as a buhari (daughter in law) !
.. but she needs to be bribed to agree to eat...
and miku grumbingly agrees to tempt her with some money...
so they start eating with more food being served .. and everyone else watching for some time
kaka sasura joins into give company...
and the numero uno amaju too
the rest are outside, eating too
the chokho (kosher) deviji's maiti club goes to deviji's for their meal
shanta still ferrying plates for the bhundey bhaag (deviji had bought them especially with the wedding of her grandkids in mind!)
queueing for the food...
.. and there was also an impromptu protest erupts 'चाहिँदैन! पाइँदैन !" (dont' need! can't) for no cause at all !
then the great actor joins to lend his voice to the protest too
and so does the sasu!
to everyone's amusement
nanda bhauju
with billy...
biggy's pup
brothers in law
.. and the would-be bhanji-jwain
just a fortnight away before these two become bride and groom
ah.. wedding's over! jethani and deurani
nanda bhaujus
... with bandana and suksari who carried the wedding on their shoulders...
finally at the end of the day.. when most have gone home.. the younsters get together to play pictionary!
iti miku evum lahara bibaha....
