The Indian wedding has been as magnificent as foreseen, with dancers, orchestras, henna on the hands and feet, toe rings, brilliant saris and even cows in the street. I am not exactly having an ordinary trip to India. We were met at the airport by a former officer in the Indian army who brought his driver and put a garland of marigolds and tuberoses over our heads and a bindi on our foreheads. The hotel has marble floors and servants everywhere-- one just brought me coffee as I sit at the internet station. Very different from D's last trip to India when he traveled by second-class train and spent one night with two Indian princesses in a treehouse.
The wedding guests seem to receive more presents than the married couple. So far I have received a large silver-and-gold padlocked box of bonbons, 
an incense burner with "Om" in Hindi, several smaller boxes of candy and pastries, and a silver saucer with a swastika engraved in it. I knew the swastika had always been an auspicious sign in India, so I asked a gentleman I met last night, who was wearing a silver one around his neck. He said that a swastika represented escape from the endless cycle of birth and rebirth in the four lives: plants, insects, animals and people. (I didn't know you could theoretically be reborn as a plant! I wonder what category of plant a Venus flytrap is.) The silver saucer was beautiful, although I don't really see how I can put it out for a diner en ville in Paris.
The wedding itself is today, so I have to go now. I am wearing my first Indian clothes.
It all sounds so incredible! I hope we'll see some pictures from this trip. :)
Posted by: Vivi | 18 November 2005 at 15:44
Little Prince whats-his-name might like that saucer!
Posted by: Coffeedog | 21 November 2005 at 14:06
Your stories are enchanting. Encore.
Posted by: R William Z | 22 November 2005 at 12:37
ahhh - indian sweets - I am very jealous of you! Hope you're having a fabulous time and yes, we have to see photos at the end!!
Posted by: oiseau | 22 November 2005 at 13:11