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

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

 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 12^th 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

Figure 4 groom and bride ready for the wedding

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

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.