To those who have been asking me  “so, how was India?” and especially to those who repeatedly told me “you are crazy” (for going to India) I devote this and probably two more posts.

Mumbai

My main reason for coming to India was my friend Abhiraj’s wedding. Since I am coming all the way to India, I added a vacation to the wedding part.

 My first day in Mumbai I spend soaking up Indian matrimonial festivities surrounded with some men but mainly women wearing their gorgeous sarees and finest jewelry, family members exchanging gifts, food blessing ceremonies which you probably get to see only in India, pre-wedding lunch (before the wedding family members are on a vegetarian diet only)  and a mehendi ritual which was a highlight for me.

Mumbai as a city is a beehive of millions, crazy traffic, no traffic rules with a survival on the road managed by horn honking. I only spent 2 days in Mumbai and that was enough for me, however, I am sure, for someone who goes to Mumbai for a longer period, they will discover things that are fascinating. 

Pune

I had to come to Pune because my friend’s wedding actually took place here – the bride is from Pune. The city is nicer, greener, more manageable, known for its universities, Osho’s meditation resort and a good night life (for those who care).

Indian weddings are set on a day considered to be auspicious by a guruji (friendly neighborhood priest) and usually start in the morning around 7:30-8 am. Yes, that early! The weddings end around 2-3pm.  Wedding rituals take place on a stage (so everyone can see) and are the longest part of the wedding. There was a part of the ceremony (as I was told a typical Maharashtrian  thing) in which every guest had to greet the newlyweds personally. I don’t know how many guests came to the wedding (maybe 300?) but the queue was long. My Indian friends did not feel like queuing and used my foreigner-ignorant-of-local-traditions status to cut in front of others from another end of stage :)))

Wedding photos

 

Pune photos