मिकु-लहराको बिहे ... and now miku-laura's wedding day

these are images from yesterday, 18th january, the actual 'red' wedding day of miku and laura, or lahara, as she is known in nepali!

the janti comes to soaltee hotel venue.. where laura and her family are living! laura's father , escorted by suksari circle the groom's car...

other relatives from both sides are waiting for the janti

jyapu ensemble belts out rajamati kumati...

the procession...

with the father in law escorting his son in law to be into the hotel premises...

.. and there he reigns supreme!

the swayambar (engagement ) garlands and tika all ready on the side...

the brides' parents all aglow...

... and other relatives too... cousins galore...

older ones...

... and littler ones...

sanimas

bina and dijju

and "here comes the bride.. all dressed in red..."

close up of the beautiful bride

... and the handsome groom...

they stand with the garlands ...

as the priests chant the mantras on the side...

barmala on the groom's neck .. he's the chosen one...

relatives and friends look on

... an occasion to cheer!

... tika is next...

... and then the rings....

 a bit of a mix up over fingers!

.. after the swayambar...

saipata is next...

jim sprinkles flowers to accept the gifts from the groom's side

mantras once more...

and then he offers tika for the bride's would be amajus and the priest

a little bit of maithil chat jekar gharme charpi nahi okar ghar me shaadi nahi!!

now the wait for the goddhuwa and kanyadaan

godhuwa... jim washes his son law's feet..

as well as his daughter's

washing her 'henna-ed' hands too

and all the bride's side pose for pictures

.. and others wait in the side...

twinnies (by cap!)

.. and now outside .. waiting for the kanyadaan and jaggey

kanyadaan.. giving away of the bride...

lagan ko potey.. the auspicious beads

tying the lagan gaantho

.. and now the final rituals of the wedding with the fire agni as the witness...

the jaggey rituals begin

if the bride does not cry. .the smoke will make sure she tears up!!!

sindoor time

handing over the sindoor to laura

switching sides.. to become the bamangi (the left half of the whole!)

after bowing down to the lord and master!!!

playing pasa...

while the bride and groom's folks battle it out for a piece of cloth!

the groom's side finally 'fine.. take it!'

samdhis!

questioning theabsense of the  janti baakhro!

shanta with billy

... and thus the jaggey rituals end...

and the priests are given their dues by ellen

.. and then it is photo time.... all kinds of permutations and combinations of family and friends....  in various moods too!

.. late arrivals tyanu and husband  (along with kalpana) after their twins' pasni ceremony

the pasni twins

pictures from now on.. of the reception in the evening at the same venue

... dance time...

it was also miku's birthday.. so a surprise cake for him...

and that was miku's bihey with lahara.. more pictures from the mehdi ceremony and the ghar bhitrauney in the next blogs!