An IndianIsraeli Wedding Alice Shalabh 2004 David Rashty

An Indian-Israeli Wedding Alice & Shalabh 2004 © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 1

The groom - Shalabh © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 2

The bride - Alice © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 3

The mehandi (henna) party – Second day professional mehandiwali (henna artist) © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 4

The henna is made of green leave that are grounded together with Tea, Coffee, sugar, lemon juice, eucalyptus oil. There are many ways of mixing henna depending on the skin color. professional mehandiwali (henna artist) © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 5

It is mandatory for the bride-to-be to have henna on her hands and feet. The henna is sent by the future mother-in-law of the bride-to-be. A relative, friend or a professional mehandiwali (henna artist) applies henna for the bride-to-be. The ritual is marked by festivity. The girl friends and close female relatives of the bride-to-be sing and dance joyously while the mehandi is being applied to her. The henna is usually left on overnight so that it leaves behind a rich dark hue. After the application ceremony, delicious snacks and meals are served to all present. Alice feet © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 6

If the mehandi (henna) mixture for the Mehandi ceremony has already been prepared, at least a small amount of the henna sent by the prospective mother-in-law of the bride-to-be must be added to it. © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 7

© David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 8

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Mehandi on guests hands © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 11

The groom mother © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 12

Mehandi (henna) and kwar dhoti from the groom's family. The kwar dhoti is a ceremonial gift that must contain gifts for the prospective bride. The gifts include a sari or shawl, a white dhoti for the pandit (priest), makhaana, almonds, dried dates, misri or sugar, mithai, bindi (a stick-on dot to adorn the forehead) , oil and cosmetics The bride mother © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 13

The mahindi party © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 14

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More henna at the party © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 16

Indian and Israeli © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 17

© David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 18

Elush © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 19

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Shalabh mother and relatives © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 21

One of the Shalabh’s uncles © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 22

Shalabh at the Mahindi Puja © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 23

© David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 24

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Shalabh father © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 26

The wedding – 3 rd day Welcoming the bride’s relatives © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 27

© David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 28

All the Israeli Sari © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 29

Alice father with Shaked © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 30

Alice brother © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 31

Shalabh mother © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 32

Dancing at the wedding before the ceremony © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 33

© David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 34

Shalabh father © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 35

Shalabh sister © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 36

© David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 37

The “Rabbai” © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 38

A young dancer © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 39

© David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 40

© David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 41

A drumist © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 42

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The father and the “Rabbai” © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 44

The milni ceremony takes place when the groom's procession reaches the wedding venue. The groom and his relatives are welcomed with flower garlands by the bride's close relatives. The chief aim of this ceremony is to help both sides to get acquainted with each other. The girl's relatives give shagoon to the groom's close relatives, beginning with his grandfather, uncles and brothers. The shagoon usually consists of cash and is given to honour the relatives. Welcoming Shalabh © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 45

Shalabh and Alice in the wedding ceremony © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 46

The most important ritual in every Hindu wedding is the Saat Pheras (seven rounds/steps), As per the law, no Hindu wedding is considered complete without the bride and groom taking the seven rounds © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 47

The bride and groom exchange garlands during this ceremony. Those present indulge in much teasing and festivity to mark this happy occasion. Often, this ceremony acts as an effective icebreaker for the nervous bride and her groom © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 48

The mahurat or auspicious time for the wedding ceremony is usually set after dinner. When the mahurat approaches, the purohit first performs a puja for the groom. The groom chants a few mantras. This is when the girl's young relatives grab the groom's untended shoes and hide it away to be returned after the ceremony for a fee. The fee - kalecharis - gold for the bride's sisters and silver for her cousins. Once the groom's puja is over, the purohit performs another puja with the couple and their parents. The bride is given away by her father in a ceremony called the kanyadaan. © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 49

the pheras (rounds). The bride and groom go around the sacred fire with the bride's sari tied to the groom's pagdi with the help of the red chunni used in the ghara ghardoli ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, the newly-weds touch the feet of the groom's parents and the elders present to take their blessings. The bride changes into the clothes presented by her in-laws, while her relatives apply tilak on the groom's forehead © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 50

A red chunni, saree or ribbon to be gifted to the bride-to-be by the groom's family along with jewellery. The groom's family presents the bride with gifts like a sari or salwar kameez, footwear, handbag, jewellery, a vanity case containing all her cosmetic requirements, a comb, red paranda (traditional hair decoration), mithai, fruits and dry fruit Alice’s parents © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 51

The “Rabbai” reading and chanting… © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 52

The red color represents shakti (strength), love as well as blood ! In the ancient Aryan society, a groom used to apply his blood on his bride’s forehead to signify their wedlock. The existing practice among married Indian women of applying a red Bindi on their forehead could be a throwback to this ancient custom. © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 53

puja is performed after the groom dons his wedding attire. His sehra or turban is blessed by his relatives, as is the silver mukut or crown that goes on top of the turban. At the end of the ceremony, those present bless the groom and give him gifts or, more commonly, cash © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 54

The bride is dressed by her mother, female relatives and friends amid much gaiety. She may wear a sari or a lehenga in traditional colors like red, orange or magenta. She is adorned with traditional gold jewellery like a nose ring, etc © David Rashty 2004 rashty@addwise. com 55