BY JANET STEINBERG
NAMASTE! I have been to India twice, and
both times I returned home with many unforgettable experiences.
both times I returned home with many unforgettable experiences.
In Agra, I hired an elephant named
Lakshmi and his mahout (elephant driver) to give me an unforgettable
1.5-mile ride from my hotel to the Taj Mahal. Lakshmi stopped for veggies at
her favorite food stands; elderly bystanders clasped their hands in the traditional
namaste greeting; and children screamed with delight when they saw me
sitting in a rickety howdah atop the lumbering pachyderm.
Lakshmi and his mahout (elephant driver) to give me an unforgettable
1.5-mile ride from my hotel to the Taj Mahal. Lakshmi stopped for veggies at
her favorite food stands; elderly bystanders clasped their hands in the traditional
namaste greeting; and children screamed with delight when they saw me
sitting in a rickety howdah atop the lumbering pachyderm.
That was a fun experience not to be
forgotten.
forgotten.
On the western bank of the Ganges, in
the ancient city of Varanasi, I witnessed shrouded bodies being washed in the
Ganges River in preparation for the riverbank cremations that are thought to
liberate their souls from their bodies.
the ancient city of Varanasi, I witnessed shrouded bodies being washed in the
Ganges River in preparation for the riverbank cremations that are thought to
liberate their souls from their bodies.
That was a sobering experience not to be
forgotten.
forgotten.
However, there was one Indian tradition
I had missed. I never had the pleasure of witnessing an Indian
wedding. That is until now. Only this time I did not have to
fly half way around the world for that memorable experience. I merely had
to be in the right place at the right time. And, believe it or not,
that right time and right place was 11 AM on a Saturday morning in the lobby of
the Downtown Hilton Hotel in Columbus, Ohio. I began to suspect
something was about to happen when the first group of exquisitely dressed
Indian women, wearing a maharani’s ransom in
jewels, descended the spiral staircase into the hotel lobby.
I had missed. I never had the pleasure of witnessing an Indian
wedding. That is until now. Only this time I did not have to
fly half way around the world for that memorable experience. I merely had
to be in the right place at the right time. And, believe it or not,
that right time and right place was 11 AM on a Saturday morning in the lobby of
the Downtown Hilton Hotel in Columbus, Ohio. I began to suspect
something was about to happen when the first group of exquisitely dressed
Indian women, wearing a maharani’s ransom in
jewels, descended the spiral staircase into the hotel lobby.
 |
| INDIAN BEAUTIES DESCEND INTO THE HOTEL LOBBY |
Female guests continued to arrive in
colorful saris or traditional Anarkali Suits. Gentlemen appeared
in sherwanis or kurta pyjamas. And beautiful Indian
children emulated the traditional outfits of their parents.
colorful saris or traditional Anarkali Suits. Gentlemen appeared
in sherwanis or kurta pyjamas. And beautiful Indian
children emulated the traditional outfits of their parents.
 |
| CHILDREN DRESS ELEGANTLY LIKE THEIR PARENTS |
After a while of socializing, the noise
level reached a feverish pitch. People started rushing out the front door
of the hotel onto High Street. I noticed that part of High Street had
been blocked off. The young man standing next to me explained to me
that it was time for the baraat, or groom’s procession.Minutes later,
the groom arrived on a decorated white horse. The groom was wearing the
traditional safa (wedding turban) and sherwani (groom’s
outfit). Cameras snapped, people clapped, a little child was hoisted onto
the horse with the groom, and guests began to dance around him.
level reached a feverish pitch. People started rushing out the front door
of the hotel onto High Street. I noticed that part of High Street had
been blocked off. The young man standing next to me explained to me
that it was time for the baraat, or groom’s procession.Minutes later,
the groom arrived on a decorated white horse. The groom was wearing the
traditional safa (wedding turban) and sherwani (groom’s
outfit). Cameras snapped, people clapped, a little child was hoisted onto
the horse with the groom, and guests began to dance around him.
 |
| GROOM, CHILD, AND HORSE, ALL DRESSED FOR THE OCCASION |
After a bit, a disc jockey in the back
of a van, struck up the band. A drummer appeared and began to march.
Throngs of women started dancing, and the procession was underway.
Musicians, photographers, and dancers led the groom, atop his
red-and-gold-attired horse into the Hilton Hotel. From there hundreds of
guests followed into the lower level of the hotel where the ceremony was to
take place.
of a van, struck up the band. A drummer appeared and began to march.
Throngs of women started dancing, and the procession was underway.
Musicians, photographers, and dancers led the groom, atop his
red-and-gold-attired horse into the Hilton Hotel. From there hundreds of
guests followed into the lower level of the hotel where the ceremony was to
take place.
 |
| DRUMMER LEAD PROCESSION BACK INTO THE HOTEL |
A round table, aglow with candles, and
center-pieced with the elephant-headed deity Ganesh, was the favorite spot
where guests chose to be photographed.
center-pieced with the elephant-headed deity Ganesh, was the favorite spot
where guests chose to be photographed.
 |
| GUESTS POSE BY GANESH |
Upon entering the ceremonial ballroom,
guests passed under a gilded arch dripping with crystals. They proceeded
down the aisle on a red runner strewn with rose petals. Gold and crystal
pillars held candles and red flowers. The elaborate wedding canopy was reminiscent
of chuppahs used at Jewish weddings.
guests passed under a gilded arch dripping with crystals. They proceeded
down the aisle on a red runner strewn with rose petals. Gold and crystal
pillars held candles and red flowers. The elaborate wedding canopy was reminiscent
of chuppahs used at Jewish weddings.
 |
| GILDED SCENE OF THE WEDDING |
While the ceremony was
underway, the catering staff from Gokul
Café was busy setting up an Indian
buffet. Specializing in fine Indian vegetarian cuisine,
the servers adorned the table with trays filled with foods like
Vegetable Biriyani (a spiced veggie and Basmati rice dish), Dahi Vada
(dumplings dunked in a creamy whipped yogurt), and desserts like
Badam Puri (crispy delicacies drenched in sugar syrup).
underway, the catering staff from Gokul
Café was busy setting up an Indian
buffet. Specializing in fine Indian vegetarian cuisine,
the servers adorned the table with trays filled with foods like
Vegetable Biriyani (a spiced veggie and Basmati rice dish), Dahi Vada
(dumplings dunked in a creamy whipped yogurt), and desserts like
Badam Puri (crispy delicacies drenched in sugar syrup).
 |
| DAHI VADA (DUMPLINGS IN CREAMY YOGURT) |
This best wedding, to which I was not
invited, (but to which I was welcomed as an observer) was a gala affair replete
with pomp, show, and color. It was a beautiful day with a
sweet ending. And it took a trip to Columbus, Ohio to let me experience
what I had missed on two trips to India.
invited, (but to which I was welcomed as an observer) was a gala affair replete
with pomp, show, and color. It was a beautiful day with a
sweet ending. And it took a trip to Columbus, Ohio to let me experience
what I had missed on two trips to India.
 |
| A SWEET ENDING WITH BADAM PURI (CRISPY DELICACIES IN SUGRY SYRUP |
That was a joyous experience not to be
forgotten.
forgotten.
NAMASTE!
JANET STEINBERG is an award-winning
Travel Writer/Editor and International Travel Consultant with THE TRAVEL
AUTHORITY in Mariemont
Travel Writer/Editor and International Travel Consultant with THE TRAVEL
AUTHORITY in Mariemont