I was pleasantly surprised to see the message from my niece that her daughter's marriage was fixed for February,1,2017! We were in UK visiting our grand daughter and her family! From there we visited our son’s family at Fremont in California. We left UK in the month of August, 2016 after a stay of about 4 months and came to Fremont in September. It was a hectic time there with celebrations for the fiftieth birthday of my son. Sai bhajans, discourses and Rudrabhishekam were organized for the entire month that kept us agile, active and fully engaged. We were visiting after two years and he wanted us to remain with him for the entire period of six months. When we told him about the marriage in February which we wanted to attend he refused to entertain our desire. We were in a dilemma.
He had booked our tickets for India late in the month of February,2017. We had a wonderful time visiting the Fremont Hindu Temple and others in the vicinity. It was a real spiritual experience with bhajans and abhishekams to Lord Someswara at the temple.Navaratri and the month of Karthik made us busy with guests and we also visited a few friends. Meanwhile we were very happy to know that my brother’s grand daughter is to be married on February 9, 2017. That made us insist on leaving for India sufficiently early so that we can attend both the weddings to the satisfaction of all our relatives eagerly awaiting our arrival from America. My son had to give in and we left for India on January 21,2017 by direct flight from San Francisco to Delhi and from there to Chennai by Air India domestic flight! What a great difference in weather between California and Chennai!! The chill, rainy, and winter conditions that we dreaded were totally replaced by the warm and stuffy weather in Chennai! We were under house arrest in Fremont because of the climate and could not stir out!
What intrigued us very much was the timing of the wedding! It was on the night of February 1, at 1.30 am after midnight! We were a little surprised at the timing of the wedding since it was night and the guests and relations would be more interested in having a good sleep rather than witnessing a marriage! Usually we conduct weddings during early morning hours or a few hours later before noon. A section of people in Andhra Pradesh are particular of having the marriage during the night hours! The groom’s party insisting, the wedding was fixed for the night! So we reconciled to the ordeal of enjoying the marriage with semi sleepy or sleepy eyes! There was an Upanayanam on 30th of January for the son of my niece. We reached Hyderabad on 30th morning and joined the celebrations. It went off very well with a select band of invitees closely related.
After a stay with my nephew overnight, we left in the morning for Maruti Gardens, Lakdikapul, the venue of marriage in Hyderabad! It is a vast area beautifully decorated with permanent festoons and arches and carpeted to receive a royal guest! The arrangements and decorations reflected a cinematic taste and touch! The pathway was elegantly illuminated with a splash of bright and blinking lights! There was soft music inside the hall. Servants were ready to receive us and lead us to our allotted rooms! The path between the rooms was tastefully illuminated! The dais for the wedding was simply grand and beautiful! Flower decoration was superb! A large screen placed by the side of the stage enlarged the proceedings of the marriage and the rituals! We were warmly received at the entrance of the Gardens and taken to the room allotted to us.It was a big room with a double cot and other facilities. There was a TV and an air conditioner that did not work!
By 10am the groom’s preliminary rituals were over! Breakfast, rather heavy, with upma, idly, vada, pesarat- an Andhra Special, were served with coffee or tea. There was no event until the evening. Kasi Yatra was over in the morning itself! After lunch we had good rest and sleep! By about six in the evening the bride and the groom met each other and exchanged garlands amid tumultuous noise and shouts! The groom was a six footer and his friends lifted him up! The bride’s party was equally resourceful and lifted her up to garland him! It was great fun and enjoyable! The real ordeal started at 11pm! A few had already slept! The others woke them up and when the Thali was tied barely a hundred were present to see the event! Many were sleepy and had to be awakened! Coffee was served at 2 am along with some snacks! We returned to the room at 3am but could not sleep! The other rituals continued till 6am on the following day that is on 2nd February, 2017! It was really an interesting experience for us as well as to those who attended the wedding!
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