I arrived a bit late. The Engagement started at 6:30 and I wanted to be there at 6:30. But usual Indian Stretch Time (IST) was at work, and we did not arrive until about 7 - at the end of the ceremony - sigh
The lineup - Radha, her almost husband and family
The march to the wedding chariot
These 4 guys provided the marching music
A waiting chariot
Radha preparing to enter
Her entrance
Radha and Murugan
The chariot couple: Radha and Murugan
The chariot is on the move
And a smile from Radha to me :)
The marching band
The march with the chariot leading
Devi's family
And a happy Devi
Devi's husband and the oldest son
The sound of music - two oboes on steroids and two drums
Radha can really smile - what radiance
The gifts
The announcement
Alighting the chariot another radiant Radha-smile
The music men
Serious engagement
Smiling engagement
Dinner is served: Arpana and I will sit in front of the two waiting banana leaves
Serving dinner - some sort of tasty something
Serving me biryani
Serving me dahl
My dinner - some bread (forgot the name but tasty), curd and veges, vege-biryani, chips, some sort of beans, dahl and a cup of fruit. Yummy. The advantage of a banana leaf for serving is that it is not only green but its configuration can be altered to indicate you are finished and then the leaf and residual are recycled. One signifies "I'm done" by folding the leaf in half along the vein axis. Its universal and it works.
Good night :)
C. Frank Starmer