In India, traditionally, weddings are ‘arranged’ by the families on the basis of ancestral history, social standing and astrological predictions. Often, the bride and the groom didn’t meet each other until the day of the wedding. In West Bengal, there is a special (and cute) ceremony for the bride and groom to ‘see’ each other for the first time known as Shubho drishti or literally ‘auspicious glance’.
This custom involves the resplendent bride being seated on a low wooden stool (pidi) and carried in by her brothers while she covers her face with betel leaves. The groom stands under the open sky while the brothers take the bride around the around the groom seven times (saatpaak) – binding her irrevocably to the groom.
Subsequently, the bride is turned to face the groom and is allowed to remove her ‘veil’ of leaves and they look at each other for the first time. There is a short story by Bonophul, that is worth a read.
Of course, in today’s time and era, this is not the ‘first’ time that the bride and groom ‘see’ each other. Nevertheless, the entire process, culminating in the meeting of eyes for the first time under public gaze (amongst hoots and catcalls) can still be a heart stopping exhilarating moment and remains one of my personal favorite memories.
Thought for the day: “As soon as I look up, his eyes click onto my face. The breath whooshes out of my body and everything freezes for a second, as though I’m looking at him through my camera lens, zoomed in all the way, the world pausing for that tiny span of time between the opening and closing of the shutter.” ― Lauren Oliver, Delirium
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For more information about the blog please click here and for the readers of Moonshine, here’s Chapter 51. Please note that, there will be no update of Moonshine on Friday as I am traveling. But do drop in for challenge posts will be up as per schedule :)
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