My son’s Wedding Bell. (December 27, 2014)
Saturday, December 27, 2014 was the big day for my son Jibesh
Advani and his fiancée Rachna Khetri as they
had been planning for the last one year. No doubt this is the big day
for all the family members too, because all had come to Toronto from all over
the state to attend the wedding.
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Figure 1A Meera, Jyoti, Jamuna
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I arrived at Toronto two weeks earlier and
stayed at my son and his fiancée Rachna’s new home which they recently
purchased. It was cute and manageable house which could accommodate my two
grandsons when they visit on alternate weekends, other rooms for Shaaya, Rachna’s daughter from
her previous marriage and Jyoti her mom. It was a comfortable cute moderately
big house.
Figure 2 Jamuna with Lata, Jibesh,
Shobha
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Finally, our out of town guests, family
members have arrived one day before the wedding and they were accommodated at
Hotel Marriot. Saboos and Dutts were my sister-in-law, Meera’s children and their families. Jaivardhan(Tinu)
Meera’s sono-in-law was asked to speak and to perform as MC. Since he was ready
to speak but not to be MC my daughter Lata took over the responsibility of
being MC. Tinu’s wife Pallavi (Meera’s daughter) was all ready to dance after
the wedding. Their daughter Shivani, now
in 12th grade along with her cousins Maya, Ella, Alex were having
good time. My second daughter Shobha’s sons Dev, Leon and Lucas were also able
to attend as they all had Christmas vacation time. So it was a big crowd of cousins when my other
grandsons Gavin and Brayden joined the crowd. Saaiya was a part of the cousins’
crowd. At my son and Rachna’s home all
the cousins had fun at the basement with the wide screen TV on the wall.
The mini bus took all the guests to the Elite Bouquet Hall at
1850 Albion Road. The decoration along with the setup of the hall was
superb and done very artistically.
Jyoti, Meera and I were there earlier as my son the groom had to be there
before everyone turns up. The kids Gavin, Brayden and Saaya also came with us.
The bride’s make up room was too small and hence we all were trying to
accommodate at the hall way and around it, taking seats at the available chairs
at the entrance.
The decoration at the hall and the wedding pandal was beyond
imagination. A bit of cream color touch and shiny ingrates made it more
decorative and elegant. All the guests were to be ushered to their assigned
tables by Bianca and Saaya at the entrance to the hall. Brayden also helped the
guests to enjoy the snacks and drinks arranged at the corner of the hall. The Pandal
(where the priests performs rituals for the wedding} an enclosure at the end of
the hall’s right hand side was artistically decorated with white lacy fabrics and in the middle of it,
the two chairs for the bride and the groom.
The other side was for the groom and bride’s mothers and aunt. At the
opposite side was for the three kids and the priest who conducted the rituals
for the wedding.
Figure 3Jibesh putting garland on
Rachna
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Figure 4 groom and bride ready for
the wedding
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Two professional
camera men came ahead of the ceremony and started clicking pictures for all who
were already present there. As the bramhin/priest came in the ritual started
with groom sitting at the assigned chair while we all took our seats. The
guests started arriving in time while the photographers clicked pictures for all the arriving guests. Lata my
oldest daughter, the MC for the occasion started introducing the wedding plan
step by step. When the ritual was ready for the bride to come inside, Lata
announced and requested the audience to welcome the bride. Once the bride came
in and exchange of garlands between the bride and groom took place as seen
here.
The oath was taken by both groom and bride in
front of the lighted fire by going around it three times. Then later both had
to step on seven pan petals declaring their live in health and sickness
together until death.
Once the ceremony was
over the priest took out the official court paper to be signed by
witnesses. Jyoti bride’s mom and I
Jamuna, groom’s mom signed the paper.
Then they both were pronounced as husband and wife, Rachna was now Mrs
Advani.
Figure 5groom's mom welcoming the
bride
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Lata announced the
offer of drinks and lassi while groom’s mother was asked to give her speech. So
I was a bit surprised as I didn’t realize I had to speak first. I got up and
welcomed Rachna into our Advani frmily. Then Betu/ Subir Dutt spoke followed by
Tinu/Jai Saboo spoke in different languages. Lastly bride Rachna spoke as she
remembered her dad who passed away one and half year back and she was missing
him. Finally when the MC announced for drinks and also dinner at their assigned
tables. Everyone enjoyed the drinks
followed by dinner. Once the dinner was over and tables were cleared the
music was on. Then both groom and bride came to the dance floor and danced and
later joined by all who enjoyed dancing. The dance floor was full and everyone
was enjoying to heart’s content.
I was also
dragged to the floor and hence joined the group. My second daughter Shobha was
initiating for the dance and I followed her to join the group of dancers
already on the floor. My son’s friends, some of them who were
Canadians wearing Indian outfits for the occasion were having
fun. As a mother, my heart swelled with happiness. Most of the guests stayed
till 12 midnight which was the time limit allowed for the wedding at the venue.
Almost everyone left and our family members only were waiting for the limousine
to come and pick us all back to the hotel and home. One of my son’s friend was
not leaving as he was excited talking to Jibesh after few drinks. Finally we
could say good night to him and we could get back home in our vehicle.
A poem
for the newly married couple:
The second chance of love and happiness
Now found in my son’s life,
The broken string of vows of a married life
Which laid shattered, and scattered, while
The threads
connecting lives of their
Innocent kids hanging loose,
Revealing in their eyes, trauma and sadness
Now healed with time and love.
As the universe embraces them
Into a future of eternal hope and love
Holding
hands together
Vows taken
to the spirit of life
“The Fire”
A promise
for their future live,
A new year
and a new oath taken on this day,
While their
kids and all others ring the bell of happiness.
A mother’s cry of happiness can be reckoned
As her only son now relieved from the
Four walls
of grief and sorrow
His broken heart now healed
A newly
found love in his life
Tying a
fresh new knot
For a family
life filled with peace and happiness.
As a mother,
I breathe in the echoes of it
Then breath
out eternal blessings
To the newly
married couple.
