Tying the Knot in Rajasthan

Here is an interesting story on how some tourists from the West are finding “Experiences” in India that enrich them in their lives… and not just visiting the country!

It is just not other place for foreign tourists to have fun and pay for it. It is an experience, which remains with them throughout their lifetime. With the day full of fun and frolic the night seems to be even more eager to embrace the foreign guests and embrace them in its twirls of darkness with a big bonfire with a story of its own.

People from ‘Sidh’(Masters) community dance on thick fire barefoot for hours, as people both Indians and foreigners look at them in with awe and praise. Legend has it that these ‘Sidh’ people, who follow 36 rules as stipulated by their religion and are blessed by the powers to be, so as not to be affected by the heat of the burning embers of the red hot wood turned into burning coke.

It looks as if all the skies scatter over and above the burning embers to bless and witness the magnificent dancers of fire.

But the warmth of the fire is found somewhere else. It is in the ties, which the guests from thousands of miles, who come here to stay for a few days nourish in their hearts. It could also be discovered in the faith reposed in the traditions and rituals of this land.

Local dailies were replete with colourful photos of the groom and bride in the local attire and sporting true Indian colours. Be it Eleanor from UK or Jenny from Netherlands, who disclosed, “Oh we decided to marry in the traditional (Indian) way just two days before the camel festival.”

No doubt it would be a lifetime experience for her to carry the sweet memoirs of getting married in a small village.

These marriages were witnessed by agni (the sacred fire) along with hundreds of villagers, who cheered up the whole ceremony by their voluntary co-operation. Pandits (priests) were arranging to ensure the solemnising of marriages with the full recitation of the Vedic hymns (mantras) and religious chores.

As Will from England says, he felt overwhelmed after his marriage. Not only that women kept the whole atmosphere live and homely singing the marriage songs blessing the newly wed they also arranged for the nitty-gritty’s of the occasion.

read more

Technorati Tags : India, Tourism, Travel