Forever alone No more- X

Clock shows: 9.45am / Date:03Feb13

Singlehood ends in: 03 hours 

Shakespeare Idioms Used: X-factor

I can hear the tune of nadaswarams and thakil (long wind-instruments). He has reached!

My family will now receive his at the entrance of the hall. He will now stand on a wooden plank while my cousin brother washes his feet. Normally, it is done by the bride’s elder brother, since I do not have one, my cousin got the ‘privilege’. I am never going to let him forget this moment. Another cousin would put on a haaram (flower garland) on him.

My aunts (wives of maternal uncles) would perform aarti for the groom with a platter on which are arranged wicks made of twisted cotton. He will now be escorted to the mandapam by the young girls, which would be my sister and my cousins. My sister and one of my aunts will have the sacred oil lamp and a platter with the ashtamangalyam (eight auspicious articles). The other girls will carry the taala poli (platters of rice, turmeric, and flowers on which oil lamps lit in the broken half of a coconut are placed).

With his parents on either side, the groom will follow the girls around the mandapam and will seat himself on the right side of the canopy, which is decorated by flowers, fabric, palm fronds, and banana stalks.

Varavelpu/Sweekaranam- Receiving the Groom and family

Now, since we have another 2 hours more to go for the wedding muhurtham, he would now be roaming around meeting friends and relatives. He has got that X-factor in him, can easily charm anyone with his smile and personality. I can expect his mom and sister into my room any time from now. My heart beats faster. It is considered a bad omen that if the jasmine flower worn by the bride droops, the mother-in-law would be pretty bad or strict or whatever! Though I do not usually believe in all these superstitions, who wouldn’t at this point of time especially if they say she will be a Monster-in-law!!

And it is considered a good omen to catch a glimpse of the groom before he sees the bride. And every time my dressing room door opens, I peep out. Guess what! After the hundredth time, I saw him! Clad in a white dhoti and kurta made from silk, he looked like my prince!

‘Written for the A-Z challenge 2015′