Diwali

On Diwali, the festival of lights, firecrackers and sparklers light up the skies all over India.

Beautiful girlfriends in their saris.

Rangoli or floor decorations, and candles, light the way for Lakshmi to enter the home. It's almost like hoping Santa comes to town.

Peacock rangoli, the peacock is the national bird of India.

Pushkar, home of the famous camel fair

Udaiper

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The Lake Palace now the Taj.

Taking a swim break.

Bundhi

Monkey or...?

On the road.

Weaving sarees.

Rajasthani Fort and Palace at Bundhi.

Wedding in Rajasthan

At the tandoor station, of course!

Tom's turban gone wrong.

The palace all lit up with a beautiful harvest moon.

The happy couple.

The groom with his mom.

The flower girls.

The French Connection, Yannick with little Alice.

The wedding venue being prepared.

Tom getting turban tied. Just hilarious.

shopping

Off to Rajasthan!

First stop, the village of Kerouli, where we attended a wedding of two spaniards getting married hindu style.

The Palace of Kerouli, Rajasthan, where we attended the wedding.

Indian Barbie!

Happy Birthday Mom, and Lord Ganesh too!

Happy Birthday Mom, hope your day goes smoother than this greeting! Love you.

The walk that turned into an experience of a lifetime.

We went for a long walk last weekend exploring a new area. Trying to find our way home we walked straight into a parade. We were immediately welcomed and invited to ride the float bringing the idol Ganesh to a lake to be immersed. On the way we were given rice, beans and coconut to hand out to the villagers.

Shooting off firecrackers!

After hours on the float, our new friends bid us adieu in front of ISB, Ganesh still had a long journey to go.

South Indian wedding!

Our first indian wedding was this morning at 9:15am. We are told there are over 40 different marriage ceremonies alone, this is a South Indian, Tamilian style.

At the hall entrance was a colorful welcome sign. The man on the side happened to set up shop (selling children's toys) in front of the hall entrance.

Here, the groom (with floral garlands) waiting for the bride. Family stands in the background.

Bride and groom doing pooja (prayers).

Here, the bride sits on her father's lap (signifying the father giving away his daughter) while the groom prayers over her head, eventually the groom ties a necklace around the brides neck which she wears forever, it's equivalent to our ring exchange.

After the necklace is tied, flowers are thrown at the bride and groom by all to wish the couple good fortune.

Walking around the fire 7 times.

Neha and I with our much needed coffee.

Lunch is served (while the poor bride and groom continue to sit through pooja), a typical South Indian thali meal is served on a banana leaf, and they serve a little bit of everything.

Ganesh's birthday!

The biggest idol in Hinduism is Lord Ganesh or Ganapati. Yesterday was his birthday, and statues of him were put up on every corner of the city.

For the next ten days people will visit them, and on the 10th day all of the statues (or idols) will be taken and immersed in bodies of water (all over India). It is said that the Gods after the pujas (prayers) go back to their Heavenly abode and for this reason they are immersed. Also, the Idols are historically made of Clay and they have to finally mix with the soil in the river or water. This practice is controversial these days as some sculptures may pollute waters.


In transit.


At a store (next to the cash register).


Setting up shop.