On Thursday morning, the Mehndi night was still ringing in my ears, with all the memories of the great performances. Ashish’s dance was just amazing, he can even cartwheel! And Amee was just graceful and divine. Ashish’s sister performed her dances with gusto in no small measure, as did the bridesmaids…thank you all for such a great evening.
The theme for the men was yellow and Pankaj saved my bacon by having purchased just the shirt I needed.
On the coach to Beverley Hills with the brides team side, I reflected on the Easter Sunday gone when we had Vishal from Mumbai visiting us. I took him to Stratford-Upon-Avon, to see Shakespeare’s birthplace and his associated houses etc. Did you know that the bard had introduced at least three thousand words in the English language? However, even he would be shaking in his pants at the number that Americans have introduced.
For example, on boarding the bus Americans say line, we say queue, the route is pronounced ‘root’ not ‘rout’, sidewalk, crosswalk, broad walk etc. Trying to be smart, I knew that Main Street was in most cities, and that certain street names are commonly used almost in all US cities, as I assume that perhaps they eventually interconnect. So for a while I thought that there is a street called Ped Xing, named after an Imperial Chinaman. There is always a zebra crossing near the road sign.
My renal function is relatively high, so I had quickly mastered the words washroom and bathroom, both of which would be be inappropriate in English, English, and be deemed as idioms in American English. Then there is trash, for bin. Diversity is fun, and if one is so concerned about the variances to the lingo, go to India. It’s rapidly turning into Hinglish. For example, there they don’t eat food, they take it, and coming from the rear of a building is described as coming from the backside!
The Coach journey was a party and a half. Antakshari, was initiated by Samir and a British team vs a US team were formed. The songs were flowing from Mukesh, Asha, Lata, Kavita Krisnamurthy, and even Sonu Nigam. Best coach trip I have had in years, with so much laughter, and banter. One of the bridesmaids is a brilliant singer, and I believe that she should give up this medical lark, and devote herself to this talent. Most of us tried to ‘sing’, but must admit some of them started with the chorus, and turned to solos by line two, and humming by three. Three cheers to all.
Informed sources tell me that the Pithi Ceremony is about beautifying the bride, and preparing her for marriage. The earlier part was a religious ceremony, with Vinu, Ushabhabi, and family and friends sitting with the priest on the floor in the lounge, surrounded by all the women.
The Hindu priest was a white American from the Hare Krishna Sampradaya who conducted it in Sanskrit and English. He also made it into fun, starting with the usual Ganesh Puja to protect the bride, groom and families.The extent of my mastery of Sanskrit in this ceremony starts at OM and ends with Swaha….intermingled with the Gayatri Mantra. The youngsters were watching with avid interest, and the sense that our Amee was getting married becoming all too real. Toward the end, there were tears in many an eye, and Amee’s were delicately wiped by both Ushabhabhi, Trina and Sushma. There was a lot of mixed emotions, and the sense of It all was palpable around the room.
Witnessing all this were the elders, of course, including a lovely elderly couple, and including Sanjeev’s father provided a sense of comfort, particularly for Vinu. Niru and Sanjeev’s mum got busy in the kitchen, the priest went across to the next ceremony, and we all sat in the Courtyard and had a hearty Gujrati meal. Undhiu was a favourite, and combined with some cuchories, and Coca Cola.
Amee was surrounded by folk putting the Pithi on her face, and an occasional gal or nose pinch, and she would respond by putting some Pithi on her beautiful friends. We wrote a message on a piece of cloth, and I managed some Gujrati wishes from Anand who had sadly missed this wedding due to exams.
In the afternoon, we driven on the coach from Beverley Hills, through Rodeo Drive, onto Hollywood , and walked all over the famous stars. Neel is a great guide, and gave us a lot of obscure miscellany, and his pride for LA and California is obvious. We then went across to the oldest farmers market in the area and whilst Meena was not looking I felt prey to my fetish, another hat! Nick bought a great sign which said something to effect ‘ Elderly Persons Parking’.
Neel then took us to the Hare Krishna temple where Niruben, Yogini and Druv were perfect hosts. We went into the temple paid our respects, and had a short session on the floor doing the Maha Mantra, ‘Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare, Hare, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare’. The prayers were for Amee and Ashish to have a very happy long marriage….I added In a few nippers!
The symbolism and meaning of this part cannot be underestimated, and I challenge anybody who cannot find inner peace and harmony doing this or any Maha Mantra.
Niruben, and Druv distributed the Bhagavad Gita to all, and I had occasion to sit next to Harriet, and explained to her a very brief essence of this chapter of the Mahabharata and gave my BG to her.
In the evening, back at the hotul (spelt as pronounced) a one to one with some of the guests! including Sanjeev’s dad, Sudhirbhai. He was siting cross legged in the hotel lounge and answering e-mails. He is so involved in charitable works, including in Varodara, and at home on the East Coast. His two and a half hour daily yoga and meditation sessions are remarkable, and no wonder at 70 he is so full of life. We had some friendly chats with some of Ashish’s friends who had just arrived for the wedding, and Sudhir Bhai made the banter fun.
The evening ended with an arm wrestle with a youngster half my age, and I like the expression win by hook or crook.