There are so many traditions in India - based upon mythology, as well as religious ceremonies and today is no exception. The Mehendi ceremony takes place, beginning at the home of the bride and we were privileged enough to be included. First, however, Heather, J.T. and I went with our driver, Rakesh, into Delhi for a bit of sightseeing.
The first monument we visited was Qutab Minar -
one of the oldest and largest Muslim holy places in the world. There are several tombs of Muslim mughals, as well as the principal tower or minar, from where the imams would call their followers to prayer, several times each day. As many know, when Muslims pray, they face Mecca. We also know, at least in the western world, facing Mecca means facing east. Well, from India, it is different - Muslims face the west when praying, as they are on the opposite side of Mecca from where we are in the USA or Europe. J.T. was constantly amazed at the different sites, each time we rounded a corner or walked into a new garden. But, the Minar itself was striking to him and remains so for me. To imagine how such arches and towers and walls were constructed more than eight centuries ago - all by hand, without automation and power tools, is almost more than one can comprehend.
Following our visit to Qutab Minar, we then visited Humayim's Tomb - and when we first entered through the west gate, J.T. exclaimed, "Wow, I see the Taj Mahal!" So many of the same domes and architectural features were used in those times, so the dome of Humayim's tomb is very similar to that of the Taj. After visiting those two attractions, we drove into Connaught Place at the center of New Delhi, which had been designed during the period when India was a part of the British Empire. Some also refer to this area as Connaught Circus, and after driving and walking through Connaught, one can certainly have a better understanding as to why! While we were there, we walked to a Money Exchange office to convert some Travelers' Cheques into Indian rupees. WORD TO THE WISE: Don't bother to purchase Travelers' Cheques to bring from home, as we were unable to locate one bank where we could cash them and change into local currency. We were forced to change our TCs and only got black market rates, from a man running a travel company, and who refused to give us a receipt! The rate we received is better than what is posted in hotels, so we did not fare too poorly.,
After this, we were called by Sanjiv who asked us to return to his home, as some of the festivities were beginning soon. I told him we wanted to make one stop along the way. Back in 2003, I had the honor of leading a Rotary Group Study Exchange team to India, on a professional and cultural exchange, and as a result, made many friends here. One family, in particular, was the Sikand Family: Deepak, Yogesh and their son,, Rishi. I asked our driver, Rakesh, if he could get me to K.G. Marg - one of the roads leading out of Connaught Place, where the Sikands had their home. I was hopeful that I could recognize their home, so we could stop and visit. Well, he did, and I did, and we did! When we arrived at the front gate of their home, I handed my Rotary business card to the security guard and asked him to take it into the house. He returned quickly with a smile on his face and invited us to come in. He took us to a table set up in the garden and asked us to wait. Just then, I turned to see the cook, Agnes, who emerged from the house with a huge smile on her face. She had actually remembered me from 2003! She came to me and I gave her a big hug and then introduced her to Heather and J.T. I explained that while staying at the Sikand home, and suffering from a temperature of nearly 105 degrees, Agnes had prepared fresh curd (yogurt) for me, and served it to me several times each day, along with dry toast and tea. She, as much as anyone, was responsible for the fever breaking and my restoration to health.
In a few minutes, Deepak came to greet us. He had not changed a bit from the time I had stayed at his home. He was pleased to meet Heather and J.T., and we sat and had reminesced for a while. I was disappointed Yogesh had not been at home, but was pleased to know she was well and that Rishi was now a sophomore in college in Washsington State. Wow, does time fly! We said our goodbyes and returned to the car, where Rakesh was waiting. I asked him to drive us out past the various embassies, because I wanted particularly to show my family the Embassy of the United States of America. It is always a welcoming sight to see the American flag flying when traveling in a foreign country. I had been pleased to take my team to the embassy back in 2003, and had met with the US AID director and his assistant. Another good memory.
We returned to Central Park (the location of Sanjiv's home in Gurgaon) and went straight to the clubhouse to meet other family and friends of the bride, to enjoy luncheon. It was wonderful to meet so many friends from my past travels to India and we were all made to truly feel a part of the family. Sanjiv's father (granddad to me) arrived with Rajiv (Sanjiv's older brother from Mumbai) and it was so good to see him in such good health, at the age of ninety!
Following lunch, J.T. played with some of the children, and Heather joined several of Pallavi's cousins and aunts, as they rehearsed for a few hours for a dance they would be performing at the Mehendi ceremonies that evening. We finally returned to the guest house where we were staying, and showered, changed our clothes and dressed for the evening, in semi-formal wear. Heather had been loaned a skirt, top and shawl by Sonia Sahny and she looked quite lovely. Off to another memory-making event!
The first monument we visited was Qutab Minar -
one of the oldest and largest Muslim holy places in the world. There are several tombs of Muslim mughals, as well as the principal tower or minar, from where the imams would call their followers to prayer, several times each day. As many know, when Muslims pray, they face Mecca. We also know, at least in the western world, facing Mecca means facing east. Well, from India, it is different - Muslims face the west when praying, as they are on the opposite side of Mecca from where we are in the USA or Europe. J.T. was constantly amazed at the different sites, each time we rounded a corner or walked into a new garden. But, the Minar itself was striking to him and remains so for me. To imagine how such arches and towers and walls were constructed more than eight centuries ago - all by hand, without automation and power tools, is almost more than one can comprehend.Following our visit to Qutab Minar, we then visited Humayim's Tomb - and when we first entered through the west gate, J.T. exclaimed, "Wow, I see the Taj Mahal!" So many of the same domes and architectural features were used in those times, so the dome of Humayim's tomb is very similar to that of the Taj. After visiting those two attractions, we drove into Connaught Place at the center of New Delhi, which had been designed during the period when India was a part of the British Empire. Some also refer to this area as Connaught Circus, and after driving and walking through Connaught, one can certainly have a better understanding as to why! While we were there, we walked to a Money Exchange office to convert some Travelers' Cheques into Indian rupees. WORD TO THE WISE: Don't bother to purchase Travelers' Cheques to bring from home, as we were unable to locate one bank where we could cash them and change into local currency. We were forced to change our TCs and only got black market rates, from a man running a travel company, and who refused to give us a receipt! The rate we received is better than what is posted in hotels, so we did not fare too poorly.,
After this, we were called by Sanjiv who asked us to return to his home, as some of the festivities were beginning soon. I told him we wanted to make one stop along the way. Back in 2003, I had the honor of leading a Rotary Group Study Exchange team to India, on a professional and cultural exchange, and as a result, made many friends here. One family, in particular, was the Sikand Family: Deepak, Yogesh and their son,, Rishi. I asked our driver, Rakesh, if he could get me to K.G. Marg - one of the roads leading out of Connaught Place, where the Sikands had their home. I was hopeful that I could recognize their home, so we could stop and visit. Well, he did, and I did, and we did! When we arrived at the front gate of their home, I handed my Rotary business card to the security guard and asked him to take it into the house. He returned quickly with a smile on his face and invited us to come in. He took us to a table set up in the garden and asked us to wait. Just then, I turned to see the cook, Agnes, who emerged from the house with a huge smile on her face. She had actually remembered me from 2003! She came to me and I gave her a big hug and then introduced her to Heather and J.T. I explained that while staying at the Sikand home, and suffering from a temperature of nearly 105 degrees, Agnes had prepared fresh curd (yogurt) for me, and served it to me several times each day, along with dry toast and tea. She, as much as anyone, was responsible for the fever breaking and my restoration to health.
In a few minutes, Deepak came to greet us. He had not changed a bit from the time I had stayed at his home. He was pleased to meet Heather and J.T., and we sat and had reminesced for a while. I was disappointed Yogesh had not been at home, but was pleased to know she was well and that Rishi was now a sophomore in college in Washsington State. Wow, does time fly! We said our goodbyes and returned to the car, where Rakesh was waiting. I asked him to drive us out past the various embassies, because I wanted particularly to show my family the Embassy of the United States of America. It is always a welcoming sight to see the American flag flying when traveling in a foreign country. I had been pleased to take my team to the embassy back in 2003, and had met with the US AID director and his assistant. Another good memory.
We returned to Central Park (the location of Sanjiv's home in Gurgaon) and went straight to the clubhouse to meet other family and friends of the bride, to enjoy luncheon. It was wonderful to meet so many friends from my past travels to India and we were all made to truly feel a part of the family. Sanjiv's father (granddad to me) arrived with Rajiv (Sanjiv's older brother from Mumbai) and it was so good to see him in such good health, at the age of ninety!
Following lunch, J.T. played with some of the children, and Heather joined several of Pallavi's cousins and aunts, as they rehearsed for a few hours for a dance they would be performing at the Mehendi ceremonies that evening. We finally returned to the guest house where we were staying, and showered, changed our clothes and dressed for the evening, in semi-formal wear. Heather had been loaned a skirt, top and shawl by Sonia Sahny and she looked quite lovely. Off to another memory-making event!
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