An Indian wedding in Marbella full of colour
As you can see in one of previous posts, the first thing that was celebrated at this Indian wedding in Marbella was the Mehndi party. On the second day, the bride had asked me to meet with her quite late in the day as she knew the Indian guests would be late, a common habit in her country.
When I arrived I was surprised to see all the guests were present and ready for the ceremony to begin! Even the bride and groom! There was no time to waste.
Everything had been decorated differently to the day before, with very bright colours. I couldn’t wait to get the camera out.
The first act. The Mandvo.
I was so excited to start taking photos but I was stopped short.
Before stepping onto the patio where everyone was waiting, the Hindi priest asked me to take off my shoes. You’re probably wondering why. It’s because in the presence of the god Ganesha, you have to be barefoot if you want to pass.
I will never forget that detail again, I’m sure.
During this part of the wedding, the priest officiates the ritual of the Mandvo, typical of the Gujarati community, and comprised of the Ganesha Puja, where blessings from Shri Ganesha are requested. The next part is the Navagraha Puja, which worships the nine planets in Hindi astronomy, to attract their positive influence over the ceremony.
To end, the Homa or ceremony of fire, where the bride and groom and their parents give offerings to the sacred fire.
Something really interesting about the ceremony is that it is performed in Sanskrit, the sacred language of Hinduism, but don’t worry, the priest explained everything in English.
Second act. The Haldi
Haldi is the Indian word for turmeric. Turmeric is a root that it dried and ground to obtain a bright yellow powder. It is often used for its healing and purifying properties.
In India, this part is done at the end of the ceremony, bathing the bride and groom in water and/or milk with turmeric, to purify them and prepare them for the new chapter of their lives.
It’s a lovely show of smiles, colour and perfume, where they mix the turmeric with rose water, sandalwood oil and other fragrances to create a paste.
Enjoy this experience of sensations and colour.
Don’t miss this Indian wedding in Marbella!
