Recounting a joyful gathering of the year

By Soumya Sharma

Me and my family visited my cousin’s wedding in December. The engagement ceremony was planned for the day we reached there. Me and my cousins helped our elders in all the possible ways. We learnt many things such as native traditions and rituals. My father also took me to his childhood school. After the ceremony was over, we returned to the house. In these types of ceremonies, all the relatives come together. 

Adults share their daily life routines and on the other hand, children share their school and college routines.

The next day, a puja was organised. We performed the ritual with all the family members. After that, we visited a nearby temple, Balkeshwar Temple. My father used to visit this temple almost every day when he was young. It was a beautiful temple. In the evening a beautiful aarti takes place. 

The weather there was very chilly. We had to carry a lot of woolens with us. Then the next ritual that was scheduled was the wedding ceremony which was one week later. In this one week, we met our other relatives and cousins on my mother’s side

All the cousins of mine spent their time with me.  After this week, we again reached my cousin’s house and helped others with the preparation for the wedding. The wedding was scheduled somewhere else. So, we went there by bus and on the way we talked and played many games.

Once we reached there, we got into our rooms which were booked earlier, and started getting ready. I wore a traditional dress and many types of jewelry with it. But it was very cold there. So, a coffee maker was arranged there so that it could provide some warmth to our bodies. 

There were many delicacies prepared. We ate some food as we did not eat much on the way. All of us were eagerly waiting for the bride to enter. The stage was all ready for the bride and the groom. When the bride entered the stage, all were praising her. Once they came, all of our relatives entered the stage and started clicking the photos. Me and my family also clicked a picture with the beautiful couple. Once all this was over, the ritual began. For the first time, I saw a wedding ritual. The pandit narrated many mantras and stories in front of us. We listened to him with great interest all night. We did not sleep that night. After that, the bride was sent off. The couple sat in a car and left for the house. The house was well decorated. But I and my family had to leave as I had an exam.

The next day, a close friend of my father called him and asked him to come over. We planned to go there. Once we reached there they welcomed us with a very tasty juice. My parents talked a lot with my uncle and aunt. They recalled their old memories. Meanwhile, I also listened to it with great interest. Then they served us lunch. It was the famous Rajasthani dish. I always wanted to eat it. We enjoyed ourselves a lot there and my uncle gave me a lot of chips and chocolates. 

Later, they dropped us off at the railway station. We bid them a goodbye and we left to catch our train.

This trip was a memorable one. I learned a lot about rituals performed at a wedding. I got to meet my all cousins. These rituals unite the whole family in the year. I also got to see my father’s childhood school and his favourite destination the temple. I enjoyed a lot in the ceremony.