I couldn’t think of a better interpretation for this weeks challenge than this ceremony where R & I are giving away our daughter in marriage.
Here I am pouring holy water over R’s hand (with the betel leaf and nut) and onto the joined hands of the bridal couple. The two pairs of hands holding the plate below are those of our son-in-law’s parents who are symbolically accepting her into their family. And the hairy hand hovering above all of this belongs to the priest 
And below is a black and white version of a similar ceremony that took place 20 years prior! Seems far simpler and less cluttered…..just like our lives
Here my maternal uncle and aunt are doing the honours.
Thank you for visiting and have a wonderful weekend!
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how lovely!
Thank you
Thank you for the glimpse into your lives and culture…very nice.
Most welcome Scott
Thank you for sharing these photos. It’s really interesting, Madhu, especially when we get to see two ceremonies from two different generations.
You are welcome Naomi
Hadn’t seen them together myself!!
This is indeed a wonderful interpretation of the theme, Madhu. May your daughter and her husband live happily ever after.
Thank you so much AD
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Beautiful!
Thank you!
Beautiful and poetic.
Thank you Imelda
It’s beautful to see the continuity in the two shots, and the timeless nature of the ceremony. It must have brought back so memories for you. Thanks for sharing them.
It did! Thank you for dropping by to comment. Your entry was just priceless!
Beautiful .. Precious moments indeed !
Thank you so much! Your hennaed ‘hands’ were beautiful ! And welcome to my blog
Two weddings, two generations carry the tradition… Holding the plate as a symbol of accepting the bride to the family, how beautiful!! Thank you, Madhu! You too have a great weekend!
Thank you dear Amy
Beautiful! And congratulations on the happy event!
Oh,thank you! Our daughter was married almost 17 years ago
OMG that makes me feel ancient!
Lol
You look gorgeous on your pictures so please don’t feel that way! Have a great day 
Lovely photos — I’m glad that you included both of them. The second makes the first seem even more lovely. Both are a great interpretation of the challenge theme.
Thanks Anne. Loved yours very much!
brill’ lovely take on theme
Thanks Gerry
Lovely photos and stories.
Thank you Ruth
Madhu what a wonderfully personal piece. I don’t know the significance of the henna’d hands but it all looks very beautiful.
Thank you Jo! It is considered auspicious to stain the brides hands with turmeric and Henna.
Hi,
What great photos for the theme.
Thanks Mags! So many hands there
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Beautiful picture….bringing back a lot of memories.
Yours too I presume
Thanks Shaantz
Ahh, how beautiful! Marriage are one of the strongest as it is promised to another for a long time. Just so beautiful! Thank you for pingback!
Thanks Britten. I haven’t been doing pingbacks of late, but this weeks entries were so precious!
lovely choice Madhu!
Thanks Kavi
Wow, Madhu….those pictures are priceless! When did your daughter get married? I have heard that an Indian wedding is quite the experience. Hopefully you will share some more pictures sometime as I’d love to see them!
Thanks Nicole! My daughter got married almost 17 years ago! Our weddings are comparatively simpler than the North Indian ones. The ceremonies vary with each region as well. Shall surely post more pictures sometime
Wonderful!
Glad you think so
The new photo looks like a modern and complex and color full, like a modern fully equipped car ….. but to me, the old one made me feel of an old classic … a vintage…more value….. and it wasn’t as simple and easy to make as it is today……
if u know what i am talking about……
Thanks Naresh!
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Timeless…best possible use of hands….to share and to bless
Thanks Indra
wonderful photo madhu, rich in symbolism and memories
Yes it is
Thanks for checking it out Dadirri!
Wow, thanks a lot for the insight into your lives. Time goes, traditions stay…
Yep
Doubt it has changed for centuries! You will see this ceremony in some temple sculptures depicting the wedding of the Gods!
Beautiful special moment. Great choice for challenge. Thank you for sharing.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Thank you Francine! loved yours too
Thank you for giving us a peek of this beautiful tradition. I enjoyed the comparison between the generations – both lovely!
elisa
My pleasure entirely Elisa
A very beautiful ceremony
Thank you so much!
Beautiful!
Thanks Jennifer!
I’ve never seen this ceremony before, I’m so happy you share this Madhu. The symbolism is very inspiring, the water washing down over the hands, connecting you all as a family and individuals. Through the water you accept each other via your hands. It’s beautiful and very precious. The BW photo certainly is less cluttered, and easier to interpret. But on the other hand, the colour photo is so full of action and drama, like a scene in a Bollywood movie
Traditionally our (south Indian) weddings are very very simple. In our day we didn’t always have priests officiating (although we did)! The presence of elders was enough to solemnise the marriage. Our daughter’s was grander than I would have liked, but still beautiful. Nowadays Bollywood’s inexorable march is unfortunately hard to contain. Fun perhaps, but garish.
“…the presence of elders was enough to solemnise the marriage” That is pretty cool! But of course, it ought to be enough, since it’s all about having witnesses around.
About Bollywood… so true! I guess that’s the reason I only watch a Bollywood movie every fifth year or so. It’s a bit like eating a big multi-coloured cotton candy while taking a ride on the roller coaster.
That is the best description of Bollywood ever! Will be borrowing it for sure
Thankfully audiences seem to be maturing – somewhat – and Bollywood has been putting out some much saner movies of late.
My B-time will soon be up… which Bollywood movie would you recommend?
Fun or serious?
Well, it could be a serious one, like with a historical theme or a fun romantic kind of movie. When it comes to Bollywood movies I’m not so picky on the genre, I just like when the whole enchilada comes together nicely… the music, the dancing, the costumes and the scenography.
‘Jodha Akbar’ meets that criteria for sure. A classily made historical drama about one of our most powerful Mughal emperors and his Hindu wife.
Yay! Looked Jodha Akbar up, it is called “…an Indian epic historical drama…” Looks very promising
Thank you very much Madhu. Have a lovely Sunday.
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I wondered what you’d choose, Madhu! And what a representation you’ve given us. Your daughter’s ceremony is so full of hands, and colour, and movement, but yes, the more simple ceremony that you and R had was of a different, more simple time. Both lovely shots of very special days. Thanks.
Glad you liked it. I have colour photos of our wedding as well, but they are a bit faded and not as sharp as the B&W. Hadn’t looked at them in years! I should scan all of them before they detiriorate.
Yes, you must scan them before they become more damaged. I’ll bet you find you look at your old prints and slides (or at least see them) more often when they’re part of your (digital) collection. By the way, after I digitized mine, I found turning them to black & white salvaged many of those with colour damage.
Thanks for the tip.
Beautiful and so very personal. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Becky!
Bwahahaha on the priest’s hand. I don’t know, it looks like the more the merrier. It gives that symbolism of unity more with the newer practice.
The crop does make it seem funny here
He is blessing the ceremony with rice
Perfect and beautiful too… What a loving occasion and thank you for sharing them with us…
Thank you Eliz
Pure Indian rituals and traditions!
Thanks for sharing such a great stuff.
Thank you for dropping by Rahul!
With pleasure…
beautiful article
Thanks Ranadive!
This is a lovely ceremony Madhu
I am glad you had something this interesting to post for the challenge 
I didn’t have anything else with hands for sure
cool to see photographs like this
Thank you Joshi
A reminder to digitise them all as well.
Perfect for this weeks challenge, and you got to relive a little of what I bet was a very festive occasion!
You are right Jeff! Hadn’t looked at these in a few years!
A very traditional ceremony you’ve shown with your photographs for the challenge …
very nice,
Isadora
Glad you liked it Isadora!
Beautiful, I love the way indian dancers use their hands too very elegant shots.
Thank you Gingerbreadcafe
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What a beautiful interpretation of this week’s challenge, Madhu … giving and being given!
Thank you Cheryl!
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Excellent work for the hands
Thank you Jake
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