BEEN ALREADY

Hyderabad, India

2019-07-10, 13:56, JASON

STAY: Taj Falaknuma Palace

Our annual India trip brings us to Hyderabad, India, for the wedding of one of our best friends from university. We do some tourism and snacking on the side. Prior to the wedding, we visit Charminar, a mosque built in the center of Hyderabad while under Shah's rule. There's a good mix of Muslim and Hindu culture in this city.

Getting our fill of vegetarian food!
Tuk tuk driver take me home!
Charminar front gate
Charminar interior
The view from Charminar, to the front gate
Cop in the Halls of Charminar
Conversation in front of the west wall
Full view of Charminar

Neha, and her (now) husband, Rahil, met in Mumbai in 2015. That year, Thorin and I had just moved to Singapore, and we went to visit them in Mumbai. We spent a weekend with them and they took us to some hole-in-the-wall spots in the city. It was our first time in India.

Three years later, and a few countries later for all of us, we were invited to their wedding in Hyderabad. This was our first Indian wedding. We'd heard a lot about the concept of an Indian wedding, but we were glad to finally be a part of one. I can't explain the extravagance. Each day had two events, with each event being a wedding ceremony in itself. The first event would be from about 12:00-18:00, and then the second would be from 20:00 to 07:00 the next morning. In order of events, there was the pre-Mehendi (applying Henna), Mehendi proper (during the day), Sangeet, and then the actual wedding ceremony, and the after-party. Our friend rented out an old palace that used to be the residence of some prime minister conduct all the proceedings. The Indians really go all out for the wedding. It's impossible to write out the details, so I'll try to narrate via the pictures we took.

Neha's henna is already done and drying
Pre-Mehendi site, all decked out
We get invited to have dinner on the "world's largest dining table"
Bride and groom at the middle of the table
After the dinner, we walk around the halls of the Palace. This place is so ornate.. here we are wearing our kurtas / traditional Indian dress
Post-dinner entertainment, some traditional Indian music.
The bride and groom prepare for their dance tomorrow. "I'm so nervous.. I don't even know the steps!" she says..

The next day starts at about 12:00 with the actual Mehendi. The night before, it turns out, was just a practice Mehendi.

Mehendi begins, new kurtas.
The bride and groom, and the bride's father show up at the mehendi to a bunch of onlookers anticipating their arrival
The host is doing something.. not sure what though
This chaiwalla is standing here amongst guests serving chai tea. Surrounding the entire venue, there are food options from all over the world.
Onlooking the wedding venue from the front garden of the wedding venue.
Everyone gets their henna done
You're not Indian if you don't dance. The groom's dance.
Bride and groom's dancing lessons the night before pay off
They change their dance to one that involves these sticks. Yes, sorry, that's as culturally deep as it gets.
The richest woman in India shows up to bless her niece's wedding (Neha)
The amount of extra is beyond.
Bride and groom take a rest and smile for my camera. This is after 3 hours of dancing

At night, there's a party again. This time it's the Sangeet. Although I don't have many pictures from the night since we were mostly dancing (and drunk), in brief, it was a lot of dancing, drinking, and performances from Bollywood stars - none of which we knew. Later on, after the night was over, one of the stars was standing in the lobby so we stalked for her Instagram. She had 1.4 million followers..

Entrance for the night party.
The night party venue (this is also the wedding venue, the party was just in the back courtyard)
This guy got us drunk
Stage with various dances throughout the night
This looks like the end, but it was just the start to the party
Party fizzled out. This was actually near the end. When, in reality, probably about 500 or so (not including staff) showed up and were partying in all parts of the palace.

That's the end of the first day. The next day, we spent most of the day with the groom's side. The groom's side starts at the base of the driveway (of the hill) and has a long procession up to the top of the mountain in which him and his wife are united, and they are formally wed in the ceremony. When we get there, the party has already started, and there is food and drink available. A band (for lack of a better word) plays music while people gather and wait for the groom. When he arrives, there's a mini dance party. The groom waits for his golden carriage, and people are dancing. As he gets in, people (including him) are still dancing. The people continue dancing as the carriage slowly paces up the mountain. Once he jumps off, we have yet another dance party. The gates open, and the party quiets down. We then proceed to the interior of the Palace, awaiting the marriage ceremony. Pictures of the procession and ceremony:

A band plays to open off the ceremony.
The cart arrives to carry the groom up the hill
The last outfit of the entire trip
The man wraps turbans for the entire procession, while the band plays in the back
The groom finally arrives, and starts dancing right away.
Groom and his family finally gets into the cart after a while of dancing
Getting ready to take off
These instrument players lead the procession up the hill
After 30 minutes or so of walking and dancing around the groom, he steps down and joins us, and proceeds into the palace gates.
The entrance to the palace gates
The view from inside the palace, on the groom's entering. The moment we've been waiting for
The bride appears and reaches for the groom
Wedding venue, where they officially get married
The bride, after getting ready, proceeds down from the steps of the Palace in boss fashion
Finally married
A closer view of the wedding site
The bride and groom prepare to jump off in their honeymoon car, amidst a crowd of onlookers
Throughout the entire ceremony, a live band played Indian music
The wedding ceremony, after the ceremony iself.
After the ceremony, we attend the last party.
The wedding cake still appears at the end, as people in the background keep on taking pictures of the venue

Shortly thereafter, we had to leave due to prior New Years Eve engagements. From university friends back when we were 18 until our 28 year old selves, and the people and places in between, it's great to see friends enter the next stage in their lives. Dear Neha and Rahil, congratulations, and may you enjoy the rest of your lives together. Thank you for allowing Thorin and me to be a part of your "Big Fat Indian Wedding."