Sohini's and Sean's wedding in Boston, August 16-18, 2007
Sohini's wedding to Sean in Wakefield north of Boston was a major event. Sohini's family flew in from Kenya, India, England, and around the U.S. We missed the first two events: henna painting of the women's hands and feet on Thursday evening and a ceremony to bless the bride Friday morning.
Friday evening was Indian dancing. It started with some demonstration dancing by girls and young women, then it was time for garba - about two hours of non-stop dancing in a big ring while twirling back and forth. Then a ten minute break and it was time for two hours of raas - playing out a battle between the goddess Durga and the demon-king Mahishasura with two short sticks each; strike the sticks downwards in front of you, then strike your partner's sticks counter-clockwise, then strike them clockwise, then strike your own sticks downwards in front of you again, then strike your partner's right stick with your right stick; then everyone shifts down by one partner. Yes, we both participated, but not the whole time!
Saturday afternoon was the complex and beautiful wedding ceremony with many symbolic elements, including pouring of water, washing feet with four auspicious liquids, four walks around fire, offering of gifts, and much more. Then off with the wedded couple (who crush a coconut under the wheel of their car) before everyone returns for the evening's dinner and DJ dance to mostly American music of the seventies and eighties.
Afterwards we had time to visit the very impressive Museum of Fine Arts and stroll along the Charles River before heading home.
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