fancy clothes
with appropriate but not overwhelming discomfort we donned our traditional indian clothes for the first of several wedding ceremonies. both men and women wore kurtas and bunchy pants beneath (with tight ankles and a very wide waist that came together with a drawstring and unseemly bundles of extra fabric mostly hidden beneath those light and loose tops). i also picked up a woolen neru jacket which defined a slightly more western silhouette. all of us shopped first at fabindia - a luxury retail clothing store specializing in traditional wear. quite expensive by indian standards but still pretty cheap for our dollars. the whole outfit cost about $50. of course, we picked up scarves and other little accoutrements, like glass bangles for the girls, at various stalls and markets throughout the city. a whole day was spent preparing.
at the ceremony, in a military complex outside the city center, the crowd was a mix of indian family and friends along with western school friends. many of the Indian men wore suits and ties while us white kids got comfortable in our fancy pajamas. All the Indian women had incredible sarees of every bright color imaginable. along with silk and pashmina scarves, golden jewelry and many with brighyl colored bindis. the younger women matched makeup with their equally flourescent dresses.