Tis the Season…

… to get married.

This is THE auspicious week for any available male or female to get married in India. The planets are aligned just right. As a result, we’ve been able to view a wedding every night (and day) for nearly a week now.

It started in Udaipur when we were attempting to watch a video of the James Bond flick Octopussy (part of the movie was shot in Udaipur). The street noise from below the rooftop restaurant cum video cafe was so loud that we could not hear the sound coming from the television so we decided to check out what was happening below.

Our first Indian wedding! These are famous for lasting over several days and I had always wanted to be invited to one. (Friends in Seattle have invited us to India on several occasions but, alas, the timing has not been auspicious for us.)

Now I feel weddinged out.

Here are pics from a few we’ve “attended” so far.

The groom mounts a decorated horse and then is paraded through the streets.

Women in beautiful saris walk behind the groom carrying electric lamps that are powered by a generator that is pushed on a cart behind the whole crowd.

The next day, the bride is surrounded by family on the lakefront.

The groom joins her, only to be distracted by… a cell phone call!

Elizabeth Hurley will be getting married on a private island in Udaipur in March to an Indian actor. Attendees have been invited to stay for two weeks and special arrangements have been made for the women to buy saris once they arrive and then men, turbans.

I guess I’ll have to wait to get back to Seattle to see if my invitation has arrived
Happy Travels!