Aurangabad Trip -> Manjiri's Shadi - Day 2

Two days were passed within a blink of the eye and it was the third day of my small vacations. Day 3 started quite early. People woke me up at 7AM and none of the rooms were empty so I had to give my sweet sleep up. Though office's work was still troubling me (I do not have have much work in general but the week before my vacations was exceptional for me) but I had to care about more important things i.e. to get ready, have breakfast and if time permits then click few photos.

Vinay and Manjiri, who were looking magnificent in Marathi attires, were ready for to kick off the day. They were sitting next to the havan kund for the next round of Pooja.

The Bride.

Pandit Ji was chanting mantras. Along with his chanting, he was efficient enough to provide instructions, mostly in sign language, to the couple and the couple was following these instructions religiously. This mantro-uchcharan(chanting of the mantras) continued for four hours. Sitting in-front of nasty smoke for four hours was another incentive of marriage to the couple. Lot of rashms were completed in these hours but I could recall Mangal Sutra and pheres only.

Vinay is ready with Mangal Sutra. The Most important tradition of Hindu Marriages

After the pooja, couple took some rest before reception party. Reception took another 3 hours but even after in visible pain and tiredness both of them handled and welcomed all relatives and friends in enthusiastic manner. Neither Manjiri nor Vinay showed even one ounce of frustration or pain in standing at stage for so long.

Manjiri and Vinay@Reception

After the reception ceremony guests had the lunch and there were few more customs before calling the day off. After another short break, the tired couple was on the roll again. It was time for Kanya-Dan (Where all the relative of the girl release themselves from her responsibilities and delegate those responsibilities to her husband).

Kanyadan process

Kanya-dan was lengthier than kanya-dan in north Indian marriages. Once the Kanya-Dan was over, it was time for the girl's departure i.e. Vidai which, I think, is the saddest part of a marriage. ( In my childhood I always had one question, why does girl need to go? Why can't the guy can stay with the gal's family? Ham bhi khush vo bhi khush.) Everyone was heart broken and had wet eyes but none had the powers(rights now :) ) to stop Manjiri. After saying good bye to each and every one Manjiri and rest other baratis boarded the bus and left. We folks collected our stuffs and traveled back to home. This is how I spent my third day of my vacations, starting the day at high and ending it at low.

Next day was scheduled for Ajanta and Ellora Caves and my return to NCR.

Aurangabad Trip - Manjiri's Shadi - Day 1

Ashish called to inform Manjiri's, his younger sister, marriage date has been fixed. Wow it was a great news. I knew Manjiri in pictures and on chat but we had not met face to face. I was happy not only for her but also for two other reasons. Her marriage not only gave me opportunity of a vacation from boring office work but also gave me chance to meet lot of known people with unknown faces. So even before Ashish's formal invitations my plans were set from June 16th to June 19th.

First I planned to book flight tickets (Did not book for first 23 days and later it was too much to afford), later I decided to go with three tier AC(Indian Railways, carries millions of people across India but leaves millions behind as well) and finally I managed to get a sleeper class ticket. I was happy as I was going out of city after a long time. I boarded the train and settled myself. Within few minutes, malodorous smell started overpowering my thoughts but that smell was just a matter of few hours because one needy couple exchanged their seat with mine. So the rest 20 hours were away from smell and less painful due to my stock of magazines and books.


I got down on Chalisgaon and from there I took a state transport to reach Aurangabad ( What a tiny city, does not even have a junction. Shhhh). Reached Ashish's house at one o'clock in the night. I hoped for a nice and warm welcome from my new and old friends but hopes make man lazy... Instead of asking me to rest, I was asked to help in creating a pictorial for Manjiri. Shhh, kaise kaise dost hai mere. All of us put lot of efforts and these efforts resulted in a pictorial which was liked by everyone.

Pictorials which has all memories related to Manjiri

Next day started with Haldi Rashm (Turmeric program). According to Ayurveda, turmeric augments the skin's glow and in ancient time beauty parlour options were not available with brides so this tradition stuck to our marriages ;) (Haldi Rashm is one of main traditions in north as well). So Bride and bride's parents faces were colored with turmeric by aunts and other relatives whereas we all painted our faces without much assistance.

All of us with the color of turmeric

After coloring all, it was time to showcase the enhanced beauty. Bride and uncle/aunt were the honorable guest, so they were given wooden stool to sit and all senior ladies cooperated to rub their turmeric but we were left stranded ;).

Royal Bath

Above mentioned behaviour was not taken so lightly(Hee hee hee, I bet it was not :P) and unexpected idea clicked to one beast. That small idea turned out to be a devil act for 2 complete hours. We all wanted to give a royal bath to everyone so all of us took responsibility and opened the water tank which had at least 8000L clean water. First we took bath then all male member of the family were given water treat and at last all ladies met with the same fate. There was water all over the house except the kitchen and water tank with 8k L capacity, was now empty. Our satanic act was synchronized with awesome sangeet given by Shahnai Vadaks in the picture.

Musicians

After an unprecedented and extended session of Haldi, it was time for Chudi (Bangles). Manjiri had to chose bangles of a fix color and wear them as a marriage token but Madam was more interested in talk than concentrate on picking up the right set for her :).

Phone nahi mila baad mein tooo Manjiti ka kya hoga

Next was chalk (In north it is called as Chalk), where ladies taught her, how to grind wheat using grinding stone. I do not think this tradition signifies anything anymore.

Manjiri Learning tricks of the Trade.

Then she finished a few other customs and was asked to rest from all the tiring activities of the day. But her Aai and Baba were still involved in Pooja, which took more than 2 hours to complete.

Pooja's Material

There was plenty of time before actual ceremony so few of us went for shopping and eating. There I met one Marwadi bhai while buying a Pooja lamp. During the bargaining session he disclosed his native location. Even though we related so closely, Rajasthani Rajasthani Bhai Bhai, he did not give any more discount (700 Rs discount on 2200). On this shopping spree I got little more essence of Aurangabad and marathi cachories ;).

In Maharastra marriage is a two days affair. Both sides stay in the ceremony hall overnight and ceremonies go till first late night and complete in the next afternoon. People at bride side have to welcome the people from other side So we all packed our bags and marched to marriage hall. All the arrangements were checked and completed. Barat reached at the venue at 7PM. All the ladies, standing at gate for hours, were eager to welcome Dulhe Raja but Dulhe Raja was most comfortable in the bus. But finally the wait was over and he got off the bus :(

Show-Man

As soon as Mr. Vinay stepped out, ladies attacked him with their Pooja Thalis. After the warm welcome, light snacks were arranged which was followed by dinner. Dinner was a nice photo sessions for us.

Manjiri n Vinay waiting for their dinner and posing for photographers i.e. me

Whole Nautakni party with 2 elements missing Ashish n ..

Ashish got some time from his busy schedule

After the dinner it was long session for different sorts Poojas, Rashams and activities. Manjiri decided to wear South Indian attire for this night. She was getting ready where as Dulhe Miyan was waiting for Manjiri to join him in Mantap. Manjiri was looking pretty in south Indian sari and make up.

Manjiri: Mausiiii Something is missing

After her make up she came to mantap and took her place next to Vinay. Now you wonder why was Vinay so impatience to see her?

Here is our pretty gal.

After this I lost track of events because my camera's battery was over and everything was quite a family affair. Manjiri and Vinay were surrounded by all important relatives near the Agni. After hours of Pooja sessions, the day one came to an end at 1 o'clock in the night. It was quite a tiring and long day for each individual. But it was nice fun to be part of such a nice family and marriage.

I am sure I can not finish the entire shadi in one page so I will pause here and start the second day in next page.