I remember attending various weddings in India and as any one from India would attest, a wedding in India is a huge undertaking. The various ceremonies, food preparations for the various events, shopping, wedding invitations, guests, guests and more guests. All this starts a month in advance of the marriage where the bride and groom are stars of the show and are treated like royalty, especially the bride.

There are all kinds of ceremonies leading up to the day of the wedding. I remember when one of my aunts was getting married, one of the ceremony consisted of women applying turmeric paste mixed with yogurt and other herbs on her face, arms, hands, legs while singing. The women applying the turmeric would come one after another, take a little of the turmeric paste on both their hands and sing and apply it on the bride-to-be. This would go on until every woman in the room got a chance to apply the turmeric paste on the bride. Of course, after a few of the women had their turn, I was totally bored watching the same thing go on for almost an hour! An hour!! Not sure how my aunt sat through the whole ritual and still have a smile on her face.

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