Friday, December 16, 2005

Shoots, eats and leaves

Nope, I didn't get the book title all mixed up. This is the exact sequence of events at the average I-know-you-barely-but-must-attend-your-wedding scenario.

The invitation came from a supplier whom we have dealt with closely over the last 10 years. So had he not invited us for his son's wedding thoda bura bhi lagta. And having been invited we had to turn up. Knowing fully well we will know not a single soul at the event.

So what do you do? Land up, stand in line, wish the happy couple, hand over the bouquet and get the mandatory picture clicked. Then, you head straight for the food and boy - was it great!

This was one of those classy Gujju weddings held in an open air ground off Marine Drive. So while there opulence was definitely in the air, unlike the similar weddings I've seen in Delhi and Punjab, everything was pleasantly understated.

Yes, there were some 25 different food counters - including pasta, stir dry, chaat, salad, crostini, north Indian, south Indian, Gujarati and what have you. Plus a separate 'without onion/ garlic' counter. But the best part was the portions - everything had been made in mini-size servings so you could try 10 different things but end up wasting very little.

As for the dessert counter - it had a 'chocolate fountain'! OK, not as grand as the kind you'd see in 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'. This was basically a variation of the fondue pot. Dipping bits of fruit or bread or whatever into the chocolate was fun though it didn't taste all that great.

But all put together... Mmm, it was good.

Shaadi ke prakaar

Weddings are like sentences - they come in three forms:

* 'First person' : When you are the one getting married
I am sure many people have memorable, perfect weddings. Mine - crammed with relatives and rituals - passed by in a blur. Years later you look at your ghastly pics in a photo album with a ghastlier red rose on it and vaguely recall "this happened"

* 'Second person': When someone close to you is gets married
This is the best kind of wedding. You get an excuse to shop for sequinned outfits and matching purse/ footwear without worrying about in laws, joint accounts and 'shall I change my surname or not?'

Of course, if the one getting married is too close to you - like a brother, favourite cousin or best friend - you may have to volunteer for some of the 'work' as well. Such as ferrying people from railway stations and airports, keeping track of gifts and envelopes or minding the bride's suitcase filled with jewellery... Grin and bear it!

* 'Third person': When someone barely known to you is getting married
This can be the most boring of all events. Or extremely interesting.

The fact that you know very few people there means you don't have pressure to dress up too much and look your best. But you have every right to check out what the others are wearing and pass judgement without feeling guilty.

But like I said, the real deciding factor is the food... Aisa nahin hai ki we are now starved hostellers magar phir bhi. A great wedding feast has a charm all its own.

Enjoy the next one that comes your way!

10 comments:

  1. Enjoyed the post. LOL at the title. Of course you must be familiar with delhi weddings.The other day we attended one with seven cuisines, so we first took a tour of the entire thing, so as to decide what to sample. At the end of the tour my Punjabi friend said in a carrying voice---"Magar pet tho ek hi hai!"

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  2. Great Rashmi,

    I am old lover of JAM! My college was at northen part of Gujarat and and I was the only subsciber of JAM in entire region! Mumbai now! Gujjus have such marriage common, let see what type of my marriage will be? (its near!)

    -- Kartik

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  3. And what about when your daughter/son is getting married?

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  4. The food is definitely an incentive. But so is the idea of getting to see some good looking men. Hope I never get too old for this bit.

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  5. Hi Rashmi,
    That is a good writing about marriages :)
    I agree... marriages have more or less become venues to flaunt the wealth one has... yes, heard of gujju and Delhi weddings... Here in South, The Chettiyars are supposed to exhibit whatever they pass on to the marrying couples. They stack hundreds of big vessels, old cauldrons etc (of all sizes, numbers, types :)) ) in a separate room. Their food is also too good..
    If I have to tell why I would go for a marriage, it is not food (surprising is it? :) ). I take it as on occassion to meet old friends or people whom we don't meet in our daily times. It is also time to see well-clad girls in traditional outfits (when else do they wear traditional outfits??!! :) )
    And, the next nitty gritty is about the gift :) How big someone brings a gift has been made into a rib-tickling comedy into one of the tamil movies...
    Do write more about marriage Rashmi :))

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  6. As I can understand from your post, you like the 'second person' marriages the most. I agree with that. Though I haven't experienced the first person yet, I have heard that having a flashlight on your face for 3-4 hours continuously makes it hellish. Even the part of smiling and pretending to recognize relatives you haven't even heard of.

    Anyways, good post. Keep writing.

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  7. i have to admit that i have attended very few marriages ... that's specially when i was at school and we were dragged by parents to alien marriage parties. Protocol followed - wish, eat and come back ;)

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  8. " * 'Second person': When someone close to you is gets married "

    dont you think there is something wrong with this sentence...........yes a small gramatical mistake.

    Corrections suggested ;)

    * Delete 'is' in the underlined portion
    * Replace it by 'is getting'

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  9. hey great post, n it is true what u say about the food, the only reason i allow myself to be dragged along to every distant relative's wedding is the food :P
    kruosis

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