I’m up and about, after finally getting a full night’s sleep, after a good few weeks.
Kids stayed put in their beds, we slept soundly as I’d changed the covers for summer weight ones finally (after all we’re meant to be getting a heatwave here!) And I had arranged to meet my in laws at the wedding late, so I wouldn’t have to sit around too much.
Well, as the post title states, this was another case of T.I.T.!!!!
I aimed to be at the temple by 11.30am, hopefully the ceremony would be in full swing… They were meant to start the ceremony by 11am.
I got here, with Lil Princess, and the boys side, who were local, were 1.5 hours late… So people were still eating the wedding breakfast! I wasn’t late… In fact we were early by all standards!!
Got upstairs and now things are happening, but we’ve just had the Kurmai, which is an engagement ceremony of sorts.
Wow! Engaged on your wedding day, now that’s quick!!
In our weddings there are several levels of engagement. The first, the Roka, where , effectively, you are putting your deposit down on the suitable candidate, then there is the Chunni, where the Boy’s side come to the girl to gift her with items to signify she is spoken for. Nowadays rings are exchanged here too. Then you have the Kurmai, which takes place in the temple, where the Girl’s side accept the boy formally in front of the Guru Granth Sahib. Usually thus,was done weeks or months before the wedding , but in recent years it had become more common to do this on the day, as no one has countless weekends free for all the ceremonies of one wedding. It’s like a ‘2 for 1’ deal!!
Anyway, that has just happened. Late of course, and now the bride has entered and the ceremony begins… At 12.30pm!!!
It is normally custom to get the Lawaan (the wedding rounds) done before 12pm, but that has become less and less followed over the years. The significance of the time? In days of old, back in the villages in Punjab, the Baraat, Boy’s side, would travel early in the morning to reach the girl’s home for the ceremony, and in order to get back home to finish the ceremonies, the wedding needed to be done by 12pm, to allow them time to eat, then get back home. Not the same now with fast cars and motorways!
Another little fact for you… Why do we have a Sarbala, or best man? Because these early morning journeys were treacherous and there were dacoits en route. If something unfortunate were to happen to the groom, the best man took his place!! So you never knee who you might end up marrying!!!
So the wedding is in full flow now, the rounds haven’t started yet, but hey, it is T.I.T.!!?
Here's me!
But I Smile Anyway... 
Jul 19, 2015 @ 22:31:59
Gorgeous. Was this your wedding photo?
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Jul 19, 2015 @ 22:41:44
Thank you Linda! No this was at my husband’s cousins wedding last month… November, when it’s our anniversary, I guess then I can give you a shot of what my wedding day was like!!!
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Jul 19, 2015 @ 23:13:38
I do hope so! My hubby and I will be 45 years in August. We were childhood sweethearts.
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Jul 19, 2015 @ 23:23:51
That is so lovely ! My parents are at 42 years now! 😊
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Jun 29, 2015 @ 17:31:43
You look lovely Ritu! Red suits you..
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Jun 29, 2015 @ 17:57:25
Thank you! 😊😊
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Jun 29, 2015 @ 06:44:52
Nice! How was the wedding?
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Jun 29, 2015 @ 06:45:45
It was lovely, but very long… A true purely religious affair, no reception after, and late!
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Jun 29, 2015 @ 01:42:33
Lovely Ritu, to read about the various stages…
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Jun 29, 2015 @ 06:41:38
😊
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 21:27:50
I love this insight. Do you think T.I.T is anything like G.M.T. Greek Maybe Time? X
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 22:03:24
Exactly like that!!!!!! I love that! Greek Maybe Time! lol!!!!
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 20:02:17
Looking great😊😊😊
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 20:02:40
Thanks Rich! 😊
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 20:05:00
You are most welcome. So is that the sari I’m borrowing lol😊
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 21:18:42
If the color appeals to you, we can loan you that one lol!!!
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Jun 29, 2015 @ 00:41:48
Lol😂
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 19:35:40
That was a great post Ritu, interesting and informative, I love the story about the Best Man being a stand in should anything happen to the Groom, what a trooper!
You looked beautiful as well. Red suits you 🙂
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 20:00:43
Aw thank you Judy!! It started as a post update, and ended up informative lol!!! 😊
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 20:13:29
Well I am glad it did! 🙂
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 21:18:53
😊
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 17:05:25
I love learning about other cultures…thank you for sharing and you look beautiful!!!
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 18:30:05
Aw thank you Trish!!
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 16:41:44
Enjoyed learning as always and love your red scarf 🙂
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 18:29:08
😊😊 thank you Leanne!!
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 15:19:24
Beautiful.
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 15:49:00
Thank you! 😊
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 14:11:12
Wow beautiful and interesting
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 14:35:28
Thanks Donna!!!
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 14:06:59
Interesting but i thought you were already married. darn my bad luck!!!
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 14:34:44
Oh yes! I tied the knot nearly 14 years ago… Sorry lol!!
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 14:04:31
This is so interesting and beautiful, Ritu. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 14:33:55
Thanks for reading!
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 13:20:52
Thank you for sharing your customs! This is so interesting to learn.
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 13:34:32
You’re welcome and thanks for reading!! 😊
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 12:59:57
That is an interesting meaning of the “best man”. If he wants to marry the bride he just had to arrange that the groom “disappears” and he has the woman he wants without the whole ceremony before. Thank you for introducing us with this tradition. I love this really honoring way of the sacrament of marriage.
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 13:05:41
But the funny thing now is the best man is sometimes a 6 year old…. Lol!!!
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 13:14:27
No, really? What if the case would happen? Would that year old marry????
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 13:18:00
Lol! Imagine!!! No, now its just a custom that is practised but the real meaning behind it is defunct!
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 13:19:00
Hahah…. hope so!!! Have fun, Ritu! And thank you again, that was really interesting.
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 13:34:06
You’re welcome!!! The Sikhya is happening now, where the Couple are given learned advice from the priest….
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 13:35:33
So you are posting/commenting right from the scene?
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 13:58:12
I am… See how naughty I am! 😜
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 14:08:08
Super Ritu, our reporter from the front!!! 😃
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 14:35:09
As it all happens, I feed back to you!!!
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 14:59:47
🎧 🎤
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 15:47:54
Its lunch time now… At 3.45pm!!! 😊
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Jun 28, 2015 @ 15:48:47
Better late than never…. enjoy… oh and don’t forget to take pictures 😉
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