part 3 of ...
The main reason for visiting India this time was to celebrate Amjith's parents' wedding celebration. Typically, when a husband turns 60 years old, there is a renewal of wedding vows - a huge celebration!
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Getting there: Amjith's father rented a bus to take us to Thirukkadaiyur, a holy place of Saivism. The bus ride was 6 hours - a ride full of friends and family! We were supposed to get a luxury bus, but we got a regular bus instead. It made the bus ride more challenging, but I was impressed by the good spirits that everyone kept up during the entire journey!
The main reason for visiting India this time was to celebrate Amjith's parents' wedding celebration. Typically, when a husband turns 60 years old, there is a renewal of wedding vows - a huge celebration!
~ ~ ~
Getting there: Amjith's father rented a bus to take us to Thirukkadaiyur, a holy place of Saivism. The bus ride was 6 hours - a ride full of friends and family! We were supposed to get a luxury bus, but we got a regular bus instead. It made the bus ride more challenging, but I was impressed by the good spirits that everyone kept up during the entire journey!
Stopping for a lunch and tea break.
Stopping to change a tire.
We saw a goat herder, and had to get a picture of him with Amjith!
We also saw buffalo!
~ ~ ~
The wedding celebration lasted two days, and held in a special temple. As usual, we took off our shoes before entering. At the temple entrance: Amjith, me, Rohini, and Preethi, wearing matching sari designs!
The ceremony was led by priests who were constantly chanting and doing various actions, and having the couple perform certain hand and arm movements at specific times.
There were no ceiling lights, so lighting was provided by lamps and the camera man, who had a super bright light attached to his heavy-duty camera.
There were also different types of fruits, nuts, spices, and flower petals at the ceremony, used as offerings to the gods.
Paying respects to the god.
Little girls passed out various colored bangles for everyone during the ceremony.
The women in their brightly colored saris and the men in white dress shirts and light colored vaeshti, sat separately.
The ceremonious activities included: an elephant,
a cow,
and getting drenched in water by enthusiastic family and friends!
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Next stop, northern India!
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