Doli - Vivaah

Current Tune - Mehlon ka raja mila - Anokhi Raat

This is another song that I am unable to find to download, so please go to this link, play the song, and read this post.

As the pheres completed, there was a huge round of applause from the peanut gallery (that would be my cousins, masis, and mamis ). It was very cute, and it woke up most of the other relatives that had fallen asleep. Soon after that Neeraj put the sindoor on my forehead and then completed with the mangalsutra, but just put it near my neck for the photos and did not actually put it on. My parents had given Neeraj his ring (which has NP in diamonds ) during the kanyadaan.

Then it was time to get blessings. First, 5 married women have to give their blessings and say a specific saying to me in my ear. So Asha Masi, Lata Didi, Sangeeta Mami, Anita Mami, and I believe Mitu Didi did those honors. You can guess what they told me. :wink: Then all of the cousins had already taken the flowers out of the decorations on the mandap and were throwing it on us as a sign of their own blessings, but then the elders of my family come to us, put Neeraj and my head together, throw the flowers, and give their blessings. So my nani was the first, then my parents, and then the masis, mamas, etc… We also got aashirwaad from Neeraj’s parents by touching their feet.

It was now morning, around 6 am when this all ended. My cousins wanted me to throw the bouquet, like their do in Western weddings, so we did that. It landed right in front of Kanika, she should have grabbed it but she put her hands behind her back.

Doli

Mehlon ka raja mila…
ki rani beti raaj karegi
khushi khushi kar deo vidaa…
tumhari beti raaj karegi..

This is very true in my case. Mere ko wakai main raja mila hai aur mere gharwalon ne bahut koshish ki mere ko khush khushi vidaa karne kee. But as many of you know, no one goes without crying — its kind of a good oman when the dulhan cries. Anyway, I saw my parents and I knew that I was going back to the US, but still I cried. It was very difficult for me to think that I was not going to be my parents’ amanat (treasure). I was very happy to be with Neeraj because I have wanted this for such a long time, but I was also sad to leave my parents. I knew that it wasn’t going to be the same anymore - like it was before.

galiyon-galiyon dhoom machegi -2
kaandhe-kaandhe doli chalegi
doli mein dolega jiya -2
ke raani beti raaj karegi
khushi-khushi kar do bida …

Mitu Didi did all she could to make me stop crying because as I cried my parents cried more, and I just couldn’t stop.

jis ghar jaaye swarg bana de -2
dono kul ki laaj nibha de
yahi baabul ji denge dua -2
ke raani beti raaj karegi
khushi-khushi kar do bida …

We walked through the garden to its entrance. Once we had reached that point, I had to do a special ceremony where I touch the very top point of the entrance with my hands and the sindoor powder three times. At this time, I also say that my good times are with me, and your good times (meaning my family) are with them. Its kind of the initiation of the separation between the dulhan and her own family.

beti to hai dhan hi paraaya -2
paas apne koi kab rakh paaya
bhaari karna na apna jiya -2
tumhaari beti raaj karegi
khushi-khushi kar do bida …

Bobby Jiju and Kishore Jijaji hoisted me up, and I completed the ceremony. Then Neeraj and I walked out of the garden area and towards the parking lot where a decorated white Honda City was waiting for us. As part of the doli going away, the dulhan doesn’t go alone to her new home. Her brother, which in my case would be Suraj, also goes with her to make sure that she reaches safely. Because Suraj hasn’t been ever involved in such things, Mumma requested our little sport, my cousin Gautam, to go along. At around 6.45am, I said my final goodbyes to the family and got into the car. As the car began to drift away, all of my cousin-brothers, including little 5 year old Vidhur, pushed the car from the back to ensure that its journey to the new home was made in full stride.

All of the elders (men) also put the rang (same dry powder used in Holi) and put it softly on each other as a show of happiness and as a greeting that all has gone well for the marriage.

My new life with Neeraj began.

Next Post: The rest of the India Trip.

Alvida. Jai Mata Di.