Indische Hochzeit

Fruits, clothes, jewelry, cleaning supplies, and much more are piled up on stalls by the roadside. Crowds of people squeeze through the narrow lanes between the stalls, where the only option is to push through or flee into the street. Where cars and rickshaws jostle each other with a 2 inch gap, honking their horns.
We constantly expect accidents. But vehicles and creatures are miraculously spared.
The oriental music, spicy food. Open laughter and the irresistible, hearty head wiggle. The elegance and colorful dresses, the gold that suits Indians so well.

Welcome to Mumbai, my Friend!

Majestätisches Amdar Nivas, ein grosses Gebäude aus der Kolonialzeit. — Majestic Amdar Nivas, a large building from the colonial era.

Historisches Museum mit dem guten Namen Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya — Historical Museum with the good name Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

Sonnenuntergang, Wolkenkratzer, Wohnblocks, Mehrfamilien-Häuschen, Blechhütten — Sunset, skyscrapers, apartment blocks, multi-family houses, tin huts

Werbung für Schweizer Tourismus (in den Strassen Indiens!?) — Advertising Swiss tourism (in the streets of India!?)

We are in a hotel 20 rickshaw minutes away from the hotel palace where our friends are staying. We two cheapskates refused to pay that much to stay overnight. And we are glad of our decision. We don't feel comfortable in high society.

For a few visits to see our friends and the 60 or so Americans who flew in, however, the elegance is quite interesting. The Westin Hotel is situated on a lake in which water buffaloes wade leisurely from shore to shore, with the skyscraper panorama behind them. Inside, large gleaming halls rise up.

One of the halls offers space for our "Wedding Friends Dance"; a quite difficult three-minute dance because no movement is repeated. A week ago we received the practice video. How are we supposed to learn this in a few days? We were speechless - and went back to other things.

But the instructor is serious. And so here we are, one day before the wedding. First, she wants to see where we are standing. The music starts. Some move their arms to the right, others to the left, and others again walk forward. To put it mildly, it's absolute chaos.

"No, no." She shakes her head, laughs, and turns off the music. "All over again then." Laughter, chatter, fooling around. And then it gets quiet and we start. After two hours of practice, we dance better, and that should be enough. In any case, it will be fun for all the spectators!!!

Wedding

The welcome aperitif in the hotel garden takes place one day before the wedding. It could well be the main ceremony.

Emotional speeches and poems are recited, our hands painted with henna. A seven feet buffet fills the belly and people dance to the live band until the last minute.

The official event is held in the business park on a floor with a huge outdoor terrace and a spectacular view over the city. We are chauffeured to the banquet hall in two old rickety buses.

The decor is gorgeous and reminiscent of the Thousand and One Night, with all the glitter, the people dressed in saris, kurtis, and kurtas, the flowers in their hair, the serving waiters with silver trays, and the sweet and sour fermented drinks.

«Padaaaaaaaa»

it sounds deafening and elephant-like from the entrance of the hall. The people form an imaginary path, discreetly pushing forward to catch a glimpse of Ben, the groom. Shortly afterward, Shreya, the bride, also enters the hall, surrounded by her immediate family.

The ceremony on the stage, where the bride and groom go through a process of union with a Brahmin, is usually supposed to last around 3 hours. Our friend Ben thought that was too long. He asked if one hour wouldn't be enough. "Yes, of course, but that costs more" - "All right", Ben confirmed, somewhat confused by the illogic.

People spread out during the Indian ceremony. There is no need to pay attention every minute. Some chat, others enjoy themselves at the aperitif buffet. The loud trumpets serve to alert the guests to important moments.

The evening is magical. We watch the ceremony in amazement, hardly getting enough of the sounds, and the ceremonial procedure. If one were to imagine this in the open air under trees, it would truly be Mogli who marries his beautiful princess – with all the mysticism, the splendor, and the trumpeting of the elephants.