Even after living in south India for nearly 2 years, I still had not attended any function out here. Probably I have most of the my friends from north India. 
Finally it was 6th march and I had an invitation from my friend to attend the his marriage, a southie friend. I was a little excited to attend first south Indian wedding ceremony and anxious to know how would it be? (after all, I had heard from lotta people saying “Its different”.) That 'different' word was blinking in my head again n again.(Tell any Indian something different or don't do something and they will spend full day thinking about it and finally doing it).
So it began, I joined my other mates to go to the wedding. As usual, despite of deciding over meeting 7 o'clock we met at 8:15 (Indian are pro in missing the right timings and yeah they never miss it). We reached the venue late, as expected didn't find a place to park. And we ended up parking right below the 'No Parking' board (Yes, we like breaking rules).
We entered in the hall, a soft music (ta tan tan ta ta tann) welcomed us, for first few moments, I was a bit confused, why the guys out there were playing a really sad song on such an auspicious occasion instead of a some rock himesh songs (ones played at punjabi weddings which make sure that you have come to the wedding or party). Moving forward was a little uncomfortable (for northie surely). Waiting in a queue to meet couple like FCFS. I never saw such a queue in north India.(I think northie don't believe in any queuing system, yeah they are all netas). After meeting the couple, I was finally relieved, (like who stands in a queue to meet newly weds :)).
Next we headed for which we had gone there for : Dinner. The most significant difference I found
was there was no buffet, it was pangat (just heard this name from someone). The southie marriage would be easily one of the most economical ones compared to those happen in north (Dowry apart :)). Yeah, there was queue for dinner even. After finding a place for a dinner, another shocker: instead of a plate, a banana leaf was kept in front of us. As soon as the leaf came people started washing it (Donno but I kinda found it weird and was bit sceptical, aint these leafs washed?). So the dinner started: Dosa, chutney, sabji ….. I took one of each thinking that I will have them later if required. My southie friend was taking 2/3 of each of them, (I was surprised, why is he taking all at the same time, thought he was really hungry). I finished up quickly the items served and was waiting for second round of all those stuffs. But nothing was moving. Finally, I saw rice coming, I refused it, thinking I will first finish the starters and then will go for rice. After waiting for some time (why nothing is coming back again?), I asked some waiter our there for dosa, he said something in kannada furiously. (Donno if he considered that as an insult, but yeah sometimes it helps if you donno local language as even when someone is yelling at you, it doesnt matter much). I asked one of my southie friend that why are items not coming up. He replied every item comes only once. I was like, what the hell? (How can someone limit food in wedding). Immediately he replied everything is done and only last round of rice is left. Now that gave shocker to me. Last round and that even of rice (Now I came to know why he was taking 2/3 pieces of each items in the beginning). Some fella served some rice but this time I was prepared, I asked the rice twice (Yeah, I had to compensate somewhere) Before I finish rice, people around me were already leaving their places. I was like, wait 'm still having my food. I wrapped everything I had. (Is this some fast eating competition, and I am beaten by almost everyone?). I never had food so quickly in my life. I suppose in the time I had my complete dinner, northies don't even finish their first starter. So I quietly left the wedding hall. So that was it from my first southie wedding experience. A bit confused what really happened there.
None the less, after coming home when I thought about it, (though bit surprised), I liked it. It was altogether a different experience. It gave me opportunity to understand different culture (May be I'll use this experience to patao some southie :)). I was feeling much closer to this culture. I got to know what a southie marriage is like and felt happy that I could connect with it. One more thing I liked about it is, people here are more disciplined, organized and economical (Queue to meet new weds, for food / sufficient food instead of having 50-60 items where people cant even eat all and waste most of it and asking each other "Kahan tak liya?"). More than this I realized that, though we are different in lifestyles, we are all together united by some external force which makes us feel that we are part of this(Probably culture). Demographic boundaries can only separate us in terms of religions, climate, customs, languages and traditions, but not the way we think. I feel culture of India is an amalgamation of diverse sub-cultures spread all over the country where nothing is superior than other. Somewhere I feel, all these arts, dance, music, paintings, marriages, festivals, costumes have originated from same culture (Indianism may be, in IT language have same base class). Ultimately, though we are demographically divided, we are culturally united !!!
Important Lesson learnt: Food items are served only once, so take what you want in one shot.:)
Finally it was 6th march and I had an invitation from my friend to attend the his marriage, a southie friend. I was a little excited to attend first south Indian wedding ceremony and anxious to know how would it be? (after all, I had heard from lotta people saying “Its different”.) That 'different' word was blinking in my head again n again.(Tell any Indian something different or don't do something and they will spend full day thinking about it and finally doing it).So it began, I joined my other mates to go to the wedding. As usual, despite of deciding over meeting 7 o'clock we met at 8:15 (Indian are pro in missing the right timings and yeah they never miss it). We reached the venue late, as expected didn't find a place to park. And we ended up parking right below the 'No Parking' board (Yes, we like breaking rules).
We entered in the hall, a soft music (ta tan tan ta ta tann) welcomed us, for first few moments, I was a bit confused, why the guys out there were playing a really sad song on such an auspicious occasion instead of a some rock himesh songs (ones played at punjabi weddings which make sure that you have come to the wedding or party). Moving forward was a little uncomfortable (for northie surely). Waiting in a queue to meet couple like FCFS. I never saw such a queue in north India.(I think northie don't believe in any queuing system, yeah they are all netas). After meeting the couple, I was finally relieved, (like who stands in a queue to meet newly weds :)).
Next we headed for which we had gone there for : Dinner. The most significant difference I found
was there was no buffet, it was pangat (just heard this name from someone). The southie marriage would be easily one of the most economical ones compared to those happen in north (Dowry apart :)). Yeah, there was queue for dinner even. After finding a place for a dinner, another shocker: instead of a plate, a banana leaf was kept in front of us. As soon as the leaf came people started washing it (Donno but I kinda found it weird and was bit sceptical, aint these leafs washed?). So the dinner started: Dosa, chutney, sabji ….. I took one of each thinking that I will have them later if required. My southie friend was taking 2/3 of each of them, (I was surprised, why is he taking all at the same time, thought he was really hungry). I finished up quickly the items served and was waiting for second round of all those stuffs. But nothing was moving. Finally, I saw rice coming, I refused it, thinking I will first finish the starters and then will go for rice. After waiting for some time (why nothing is coming back again?), I asked some waiter our there for dosa, he said something in kannada furiously. (Donno if he considered that as an insult, but yeah sometimes it helps if you donno local language as even when someone is yelling at you, it doesnt matter much). I asked one of my southie friend that why are items not coming up. He replied every item comes only once. I was like, what the hell? (How can someone limit food in wedding). Immediately he replied everything is done and only last round of rice is left. Now that gave shocker to me. Last round and that even of rice (Now I came to know why he was taking 2/3 pieces of each items in the beginning). Some fella served some rice but this time I was prepared, I asked the rice twice (Yeah, I had to compensate somewhere) Before I finish rice, people around me were already leaving their places. I was like, wait 'm still having my food. I wrapped everything I had. (Is this some fast eating competition, and I am beaten by almost everyone?). I never had food so quickly in my life. I suppose in the time I had my complete dinner, northies don't even finish their first starter. So I quietly left the wedding hall. So that was it from my first southie wedding experience. A bit confused what really happened there.None the less, after coming home when I thought about it, (though bit surprised), I liked it. It was altogether a different experience. It gave me opportunity to understand different culture (May be I'll use this experience to patao some southie :)). I was feeling much closer to this culture. I got to know what a southie marriage is like and felt happy that I could connect with it. One more thing I liked about it is, people here are more disciplined, organized and economical (Queue to meet new weds, for food / sufficient food instead of having 50-60 items where people cant even eat all and waste most of it and asking each other "Kahan tak liya?"). More than this I realized that, though we are different in lifestyles, we are all together united by some external force which makes us feel that we are part of this(Probably culture). Demographic boundaries can only separate us in terms of religions, climate, customs, languages and traditions, but not the way we think. I feel culture of India is an amalgamation of diverse sub-cultures spread all over the country where nothing is superior than other. Somewhere I feel, all these arts, dance, music, paintings, marriages, festivals, costumes have originated from same culture (Indianism may be, in IT language have same base class). Ultimately, though we are demographically divided, we are culturally united !!!
Important Lesson learnt: Food items are served only once, so take what you want in one shot.:)
2 comments:
Very well narrated :)
"I feel culture of India is an amalgamation of diverse sub-cultures spread all over the country where nothing is superior than other."What a thought buddy....liked it. :)
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