{Travel} India - Wrapping Up Our Amazing Trip!

 This was the final day of wedding events on our trip. It was the actual wedding ceremony called Vivaha.

We had to be there at 6:00AM. Luckily it was in the hotel where we were staying.  I have my bindi on (from our welcome bag).  I think we set our alarms for 4:45.

{Housekeeping always left us cute & creative decorations}

Getting ready for this event was going to take longer because the dress code was Indian Traditional.  I practiced my sari wrapping the night before. I found this Youtube video that showed me how to pre-pin the pleats.  

It was a huge help but I was still nervous about getting it right!  I think I did ok.

Heading into the Grand Ballroom was another stunning display (she's pretty stunning too!).

It was all jaw-droppingly-incredible!

The service was inside the main ballroom and was already in progress.  We could go in and out of the room and there were light breakfast treats and a coffee bar(thank goodness!) out in the impressive corridor.

At times during the ceremony, they'd usher us all outside to follow the priests and the bride and groom.  We were able to snap some pics of us too.

This is the hallway where the entrance to the ceremony was and where they served the food and drinks. The musicians played the entire time.

The Vivaha in Sansksrit means marriage.  It is the traditional Hindu wedding ceremony joining the couple and their families.

Some of the rituals performed are:

1. 

   A traditional painting of Shiva and Parvati, whose wedding ceremony was performed by Brahma.

   Welcoming the bridegroom

2. Exchanging flower garlands
3. The daughter being given in marriage
4. Sacred fire ceremony
5. Holding of hands
6. Circumambulation of the sacred fire
7. Marking the bride’s hair-parting with kum-kum
8. Taking seven steps together
9. Tying the knot (the garments of bride and groom)
10. Viewing the Pole Star
11. Receiving the elders’ blessings
12. Exchanging presents

{source}

I loved seeing all of the vibrant clothing people wore to the wedding.

The altar was decorated with more stunning flowers.  The ceremony took about 5 or 6 hours in total.

After the ceremony, everyone lines up for a photo with the bride and groom.

There was a short break before lunch and this was another sweet message from housekeeping in our room.

Lunch was so cool. We were seating at long tables in a rectangle formation and each of us had a leaf at our place.  We were to wipe it down with a wet wipe and then then started coming around with the food and drinks.  They'd give you a scoop of everything right onto your leaf.

There was so much and I didn't know what I was getting but it was all vegetarian so I wasn't worried. It was all amazing!

The bride's family came around and told us what some of the things were. It was a mix of sweet and savory items. It was the most incredible meal experience I ever had!

We had the evening to relax and got to have dinner with the bride and groom that night and one other couple (after taking a much needed nap). It was so special to have that one on one time!

The next morning we took and uber to Commercial Street to check out shopping.

It is full of stores and outdoor vendors for absolutely anything and everything you'd want.

I'm glad we got to experience it and a buy a few things.

There's a mansion (looks like The White House) on top of this high rise!  This was our last day and we had an evening flight so we had to finish packing and make our way to the Bangalore Airport.

This was such a beautiful airport!

Our flights home were uneventful (the way I like them) and again we were in business class which was so lovely.

The menu was amazing and not typical to what I'm used to when I'm flying.  We got in at JFK in the morning after two overnight flights and Mr. Click picked us up. It was truly a magical and unforgettable trip with my daughter!    Thanks for coming along!

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{Travel} India Trip Day 5- Bridal Mehndi

 This was our 5th day in Bangalore... 

...and this was the view from our hotel room.

We walked around the hotel grounds to capture some of the beauty.

This courtyard was so pretty.

This afternoon's wedding activity was the Bridal Mehndi.  Dress code was casual.

This was held at the gorgeous Bangalore Club. The flowers were so vibrant and lush.

I mean..I can't even with these displays!

We were at another indoor/outdoor location at the club. This was the Brigadier's Annex.

Mehndi is a form of temporary skin decoration, using a paste created with henna.

Everyone at the event could get a design. The ladies went first which was so nice.

You can't use your hand for awhile to allow it to dry and not to smudge it.  I should have thought about that before I chose which hand to get done.   It made it hard to eat some of the lovely appetizers at the event.  

The bride and groom had their own mehndi artists.  The bride's feet and calves were also covered in the designs. She had the groom's name within her mehndi.

The other side of my hand. I was obsessed.

Some more of the amazing artistry!

Of course I found another kitty friend to talk to!

Did I say I was obsessed?  Eventually the paste dries and flakes off, leaving a lighter version of the design on your skin.

After the event a bunch of us went to dinner at this incredible spot called Sodabottleopenerwala.  Yes, that's the name.

We were sitting at the table and this car parked right up against the window where we were sitting.

I loved the rules of the restaurant.

It was such a fun night (and day) and I'll always dream about those curry leaf fries I had there!

to be continued...

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