When Indians Get Together!

I got back last weekend from a wonderful trip to California! It was the most girlie fun I've had in years! The "excuse" for the trip was my cousin, Maya's wedding. Family came from all over to attend the wedding so I was able to see people I hadn't seen for far too long! I had lots of quality time with my sister and my parents for the first couple of days, but the real celebrating started on Friday night.

That night we had the mehndi ceremony where the bride and and all other female guests have henna applied to their hands (and sometimes feet). (The first picture shows the next-day results of Roopa's, my cousins' and my hands.) As the henna is drying, we stood around helpless, saying, "Mom, can you take a picture? Mom can you scratch my arm? Dad, I'm thirsty!" It was pretty funny to revert back to childhood!

We started to get more wild when our wedding-day plotting began. For the type of Indian ceremony Maya was having, it is customary for the female cousins of the bride to steal the groom's shoes and then only give them back for a price! This was supposed to take place as he and his family are seated on a stage, waiting for the ceremony to begin. Obviously, we needed to plan for such a public spectacle! (Ladoos are good brain food.)

On the day of the wedding, we followed the groom's procession into the hotel garden and all the guests were seated. All except for me, Roopa and my cousins, who are crouched on either side of the stage, hiding in the bushes. (I know, I know. Every hope you've ever had for me ever being poised has gone out the window.)

We waited for 10 minutes before being told that they had canceled that part of the ceremony due to time constraints! (I had multi-pinned my sari for nothing!)

(Sherrene, you are the only one wearing that sari like a pro. And, Marissa, you are laughing not crying!)

...So, we decided to "revamp" the tradition and steal the shoes during the reception. This involved money, after all! We found our perfect opportunity during the cake cutting. Maya and her new husband, Haseeb, were seated at their table up on a platform. My sister and cousin were going to sneak under the table cloth while I distracted them by taking a picture. We're walking up there when, suddenly, Haseeb stands up and starts looking around. Someone else stole his shoes! It took us several minutes to realize that his aunt had taken them. (Not allowed!) I thought all was lost, but Roopa, being the most determined, starts a tug-of-war with this woman! We all join the fray and rip them out of her hands. And yes, we were able to talk Haseeb's brother into giving us a decent price. (We now love this custom!)

Some of these pics were taken from the photographer's blog, in case you'd like to see more wedding pics.

So, with the money in our purses, we felt free to dance the night away!