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I love attending weddings: the hunt for that
perfect saree, the painstaking process of choosing jewelry, the
agony of sweating in the pattu saree, the fun, the energy and
the tensions that run in any marriage hall across Tamil Nadu is
awesome.
Weddings are not the straight, formal
affairs; they are noisy with confusion all around. I try to
absorb and save all the colors and details when I am at one and
come back home and run them over my head and smile. Weddings are
cheerful events and just thoughts of them make your day
cheerful. Unfortunately, I remember nothing of my wedding. All I
remember was smiling, smiling and smiling and just wishing for
the day to be over. And then I realized wedding confusions are
great if you are not the to-be-wed couple.
But if you observe carefully, weddings have
become a big game for the by-looker. Crossing barriers of
religion and caste, these games are played all over, no not the
ritualistic games but other ones. And here are a couple of
interesting games,
Location: any wedding hall
Main characters: newly married couple, some far off
relative (also known as a stranger) X
Others: well meaning relatives who seem to know the whole
world
Background music: Anything loud enough to tear your
eardrums played by the local band
Props: garlands, big, big gift boxes, cash envelopes dyed
yellow at the corners, flashy jewelry, excessive flowers, kids
running around, balloons and what not
Game 1 – Who am I?
X: Congrats! Do you remember me?
The couple : (look at each other to assess if it is
someone related to the other person smile sheepishly and turn to
the help of the well meaning relatives who are busy chatting
with someone else and cannot help you out).
X: (ah! this is my chance let me feed on the couple
before feeding on the feast below. I hope they made vengaya
sambhar and added lots of ghee to the cooking, you never know
these stingy people) Come on, you know me!
The couple:
scenario 1: oh! I am sorry! It has been a while since I
met you... and get ready for a lecture and really embarrassing
story of what you did eons ago at X's house in front of your new
spouse.
scenario 2: yeah, we remember how are you? Life is good
thanks... please go and eat and enjoy yourself. Pass our regards
to your family...
generally people accept scenario 2 and pose for photos and leave
for the dining hall, the smells enticing them but the worst is
when scenario 2 backfires,
X: Okie, tell who I am?
The couple: (oh crap! will he never let us sit down for a
minute) more sheepish smiles and ribbing, till the next in line
pushes him off and comes to talk to the couple!
Game 2 – Fishing and Hunting:
Main characters: Guests at the wedding
(X and Y and they are typical of the fairer sex)
X: So do you know how much jewels they
put for the girl? I heard they were really tight in their money
(and she starts fishing)
Y: Aiyo! Appadiya. I really did not know that. Looks like
the kasumala she is wearing is from Kalyani Covering
(And there is the rumor spreading all over! Just takes a couple
of creative people from the fairer sex!)!
- V
http://poohsden.blogspot.com/
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