Satu’s new arrival
Who would have thought that 7 months ago when Satu told us that he and his wife were expecting that we would be in Jodhpur at the time of their new arrival!
We were woken up by a phone call sharing the wonderful news of a new baby girl! Satu wanted to send a car to come get us so we could come to the hospital and share in their joy. This was not an opportunity we wanted to miss!!
Our driver whisked us across town to the hospital where we were met out front by a beaming new father! The hospital is more of what us American’s would think of as a clinic. Small, lots of people, sparce in detail, and furniture from the 50’s. We proceeded to pass the crowded pharmacy and through the short hallway to the elevator. It was the type of elevator that you see in the movies where there is a metal accordian screen on the floor side and then another on the elevator side, as in a building under construction or an industrial flat. As we walked into the hospital room, we were greeted with all smiles from the family and a beautiful baby girl lying on the bed next to her beautiful mother! Colorful sarees and veils on the women, large smiles on the men as they offered Randy sweets in celebration!
I was instantly handed the new baby and my heart filled with so much love. I am the US Grandmother, none-the-less!!! A baby is a baby no matter what your language, culture, or religion. Life experiences as childbirth and weddings have no barriers to happiness and joy. We have been so very blessed to have been befriended by so many wonderful people through our journeys that have opened their lives up to us and included us as family!!
I wish all the best to the Satu Deora family with their growing family, and, by the way, Linnea would make a wonderful Indian name!
The Wedding
Wow!!!! What an amazing life experience!! Words nor pictures can explain or do justice to the evening we were so honored to be apart of. The groom is the cousin of my Indian “son” Satu and we were excited to receive an invitation. Indian weddings go on for days and is full of culture, tradition and family. Where American wedding revolve around the bride, Indian weddings are all about the groom! Once Randy and I got dressed into our Indian dress clothes Satu whisked us to the venue. Upon arrival we were escorted into a large hall for the grooms family. Basically it was all the men but I was fortunate enough to be included. The hall was filled with mattresses and blankets where the men could relax. The grooms room, off to one side, was our first stop. We wished him congratulations and had MANY pictures taken. Somehow this white man and woman (Gora and Gori) were one of the highlights of the day. Paparazzi and Brangellina come to mind!!
Following the congratulations began the grooms parade. The beautifully dressed groom atop a horse led the procession to the brides home. This parade consisted of the groom on horseback being followed by a man carrying a green branch, a full marching band, a tuk tuk carrying a generator that powered lights held on the heads of many to light the way and hundreds of male friends and family members. Every few mintues the group would stop and the music would blare, dancing would begin and firecrackers would be set off. Neighbors out on their balconies and traffic watching every step of the way. The parade ended at the brides home where all the men sat on fabric in the street, brides men on one side and grooms men on the other. Randy and I felt like royalty as the only 2 chairs set up were for us and in the front row!! All were given a red blessing on their foreheads as individuals shook hands and introduced themselves around.
As the groom proceeded into the brides home for continued ceremony, we headed back to the party venue for dinner. Many of our drivers from our time in India were in attendance and continued to take care of us royally as they always do. The food was plentiful and delicious. Indian sweets and all the yummy staples of Indian cuisine. Daal, mixed veg, chipati, chilis, cucumbers, radish, delicious tomato soup and much much more.
As much as we were excited to be a part of such a lovely wedding, people were thrilled to see us!! Many hand shakes, introductions, special treatment, etc. They wanted to make sure that we experienced everything and would whisk us to the front of the Groom’s procession and had front row seats for us at the brides home, they cleared a table special for us at the dinner and even wanted to give us a ride home in the decorated car intended for the bride and groom!! Tomorrow evening continues the party with the reception that we look forward to.
AND, we thought American weddings were exhausting!!! …….
