Indian Wedding

We were recently invited to a traditional Indian hindu wedding. This wedding was none like I have ever seen. What an experience and I am very appreciative to our friend for inviting us. Although there were different gods worshiped here, I was so thankful to the One who created this institute of marriage. He has given us marriage as a picture of our unity to Him through Christ. There were no words spoken to the audience during the ceremony and I will try my best to explain with each of the photos below.

This is what we saw when as we were entering the building where the ceremony was to take place. The design on the floor was made out of a sandy type substance.

This is where the ceremony takes place. There is a golden seat where the bride and groom will sit. Right in front of this seat is a fire that will burn during the ceremony. The fire is the centerpiece. During the ceremony, the bride and groom circled the fire a number of times.

This is a photo of the area where the fire was burning during the ceremony.

 The bride and groom. Prior to the ceremony, it is the custom that he presents his bride with a brand new sari. A sari is what the garnet the bride is clothed in above. This is the traditional Indian dress for women. During the ceremony, the bride and groom both have a long piece of fabric and they actually "tie a knot" in it to signify unity. This is where the phrase comes from. Learn something new everyday!

After the ceremony everyone was treated to a great meal. This is nasi kandar.  (Look below for an explanation of nasi kandar) This meal was lamb, chicken & vegetables all cooked in different types of curry. Watermelon and a fruit salad was on there too!

Nasi Kandar is traditional food that was brought to this region of South East Asia from India. Nasi (rice) Kandar (balance). It derives from when vendors would walk around with rice in one bucket and chicken or vegetables in another bucket. They were both balanced on a pole that he would have on his shoulders. 

Again, I am so thankful for new friends who have opened their country to us as we are sojourners here in South East Asia. I am also encouraged by Luke 10:2-3. "And he (Jesus) said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'"