Sometime last year we were approached by Anji, an Indian-American lady who wanted to include Kea Artisanal in the two-day festivities preceding the traditional Indian Wedding she was planning for her daughter Neha at a huge, secluded villa over Sykamia on the eastern coast of the island.
As the time approached, I started to panic and spent many sleepless nights thinking how on earth we could feed so many people, let alone re-create the intimate atmosphere of our own veranda table that normally accommodates 12-15 guests.
Well, we actually did it! I will spare you the details of the long prep at home and the actual cooking at the villa and focus on the wedding ceremony which we had the privilege to attend as the only non-family members.
If I wanted to sum up the whole event in a final remark, I would say that none of all this was excessive or in the least kitschy. The whole event was a perfect example of style and elegance!
Half of the guests were close relations and friends of Richard, the American groom. Neha’s family included her grandmothers from New Delhi along with a few Indian American relatives, and her best friends and bridesmaids
Before the actual wedding came various rituals that lasted three days.
First, an Indian Greek lady from Athens took care of the elaborate henna drawings on the bride’s hands and feet, as well as on the hands of her bridesmaids, the groom’s mother, and anyone else who so desired.
Then came the purification part, with the bride and groom’s faces covered with a thick, yellow turmeric mask —I almost mistook the bowl with the yellow paste left on the kitchen counter for the Santorini fava I was ready to serve for lunch; fortunately my assistants stopped me from tolling it with onions and …
According to custom, the purifying paste has to be smeared all over the couple’s bodies before noon, but for this occasion it was decided to smear just a bit on their faces so that they could enjoy lunch, and continue with the entire ritual later that evening.
The traditional Hindu ceremony
The actual wedding ceremony took place on the third day and started with the baraat, the groom’s arrival ceremony. The groom and his family were welcomed to the villa after symbolically taking a few steps towards the neighboring hills.
Each member of the family, starting with the bride’s grandmothers, had to welcome and embrace their exact counterpart from the groom’s side, while the rest of us cheered and clapped. Then the fathers and mothers embraced and exchanged garlands, and after them the brothers, aunts, etc. followed suit.
After everybody was welcomed to the villa, we went inside and had some tasty bites from the elaborate Indian buffet provided by an Indian caterer from Athens.
All the while, the bride was secluded, not seen by anybody other than her mother and her bridesmaids.
Then we were shown to our seats, on the veranda, facing the ceremonial area where the bride and groom would be seated. When the bride’s twin brother pressed a button on his phone, lively Indian music surrounded us.
He and the groom’s uncle opened a veranda door, holding the corners of an exquisite red and orange silk embroidered cloth that served as canopy for the bridesmaids, and of course for Neha, the gorgeous bride who followed.
I am not entirely sure, but I think the groom was already seated in his designated armchair, and the bride eventually was brought to him by her father, Neeraj, who placed her hand in the groom's. And so, the ceremony of giving the bride away began.
The religious ritual was conducted by a Hindu priest from India via FaceTime! He gave instructions and blessings but as the Wi-Fi was not particularly strong outside, the connection had to be restarted a few times, and adding to that was the fact we were at the end and hearing what was said was difficult.
The groom then lit a fire in a special pot in the center of the ceremonial area to mark the start of a new household. As I read in the Wikipedia “in India, marriage has been looked upon as having been designed by the cosmos and considered as a ‘sacred oneness witnessed by fire itself.’” Then the couple exchanged long vows, and some seemed very specific and brought a certain expected hilarity to the guests, such as the admonition to the groom not to borrow an important sum of money without telling his wife.
There were also moments that seemed familiar to us Greeks, such as the saptapadi, a dance of seven rounds around the holy fire. This brought to mind the similar “Isaiah’s dance” in Greek Orthodox weddings wherein the bride and groom, led by the priest make three rounds around the ceremonial table.
A thing that also somehow rang a bell was the washing of the groom’s feet by the bride’s mother, which reminded us of the Roman Catholic ceremony on Thursday before Easter.
Finally, there was another thing that we initially thought sounded similar but ended up not being so. We were asked to bring with us some rice. We were watchfully keeping it in a paper bag throughout the ceremony, waiting to throw it to the newlyweds at the end as we in the West do.
It was too late when we realized we had missed the opportunity to add it to the offerings, the ahutis, one of which is parched and puffed rice, soaked in ghee (clarified butter) —so, we were stuck with a cap of rice in a paper bag, while we were handed flower petals to throw to the couple, whose necks were now adorned with heavy flower garlands.
Marvelous silk fabrics
Part of the wedding ritual was also tying together the end of the bridegroom's scarf to the upper garment of the bride, signifying the marriage knot.
Which brings us to the incredibly beautiful clothes Anji had brought over from India for everyone. Measurements taken in advance, everyone had their own clothes, men, and women alike. The fabrics were all fabulous, and the guests, especially the men, looked so handsome in their long silk shiny brocade jackets!
Anji had repeatedly asked me for my measurements but I was not sure I’d be able to walk in a sari, which after all I would probably never wear again. Still, I was really envious of the lovely transparent silk vests some ladies were wearing, and I would have killed to own one.
Not to speak of Neha and Anji’s fabulous jewelry, delicately ornate golden pieces different each day, studded with diamonds and other precious stones.
If I wanted to sum up the whole event in a final remark, I would say that none of all this was excessive or in the least kitschy. The whole event was a perfect example of style and elegance!
Thanks so much! Means a lot coming from you!
What an adventure for you and Costas, Aglaia!