The local water supply!
Submarine we looked around
Park in Vizag - these are two of thier gods - it's a lovers park - ahhh!
Beach in Vizag - the locals wanted their photo with us!
Vizag
At the wedding ceremony
Fire lighting part of the wedding ceremony
Throwing rice on each others heads.
Putting leaves on each others head at 8.41pm for the wed bit.
Mayank entering the wedding ceremony - a coconut and flame going before him
Fire lighting part of the wedding ceremony
Throwing rice on each others heads.
Putting leaves on each others head at 8.41pm for the wed bit.
Mayank entering the wedding ceremony - a coconut and flame going before him
Janaki's first wedding outfit
Mine and Santhy's henna (Janaki's sister)
Mayank and Josh in their wedding gear
Josh and I waiting with Mayank in the hotel room
Getting my henna done at Janaki's parents house
Thursday night after work we flew with Air India to Delhi. My experience began on the flight when I ate what I thought was a green bean and turned out to be a green chilli – my mouth was on fire! Not a good start! We landed in Delhi where we had our last dose of meat – KFC and met Mayank and his family and flew to Vishkhapatnam (South India). Saturday was the wedding day so we went to Janaki’s parent’s house and watched her get ready. I got henna done. We watched the procession leave the house – a band was playing, Janaki was carrying a coconut (instead of flowers in Hindu weddings - its good luck) and they left in a procession of cars. At 5pm we went back to the hotel for the wedding, where the ceremony went on until 11pm. We kept Mayank company whilst Janaki and the families began with Poojah’s (prayers) and Mayank’s family gave her a sari to wear for the wedding. Then Janaki returned to get changed whilst Mayank went down for Poojah’s and then sat with a sheet in front of him so he cannot see Janaki until exactly 8.41pm which was the auspicious time for them to wed. The sheet was then moved away. (In an arranged marriage this would be the first time the bride and groom see each other!). The marriage is marked by the priest sticking a leaf to each of their heads (as opposed to rings in a Christian wedding). People who where already married ‘blessed’ them by throwing rice on them. There where other rituals completed during the ceremony, all for different reasons, some of them are used to get the couple ‘acquainted’ the one we liked the best was them throwing rice on each other. The rituals where all finished by about 10pm, then Mayank, Janaki and their families could eat the meal provided (no eating on the wedding day for anyone involved). The rest of the guests (including us) could eat throughout the ceremony in an adjourning room. We went to bed about 1pm – a truly interesting day, the ceremony and all the decorations very beautiful.
Whilst in Vizag. we hired a car and a driver for the day and Josh and I went sightseeing. We saw the beach, the film studios (where they make Tollywood films/TV shows), the park and an old submarine. Everywhere we went people asked to take our photos – not many foreigners in Vizag!
Mine and Santhy's henna (Janaki's sister)
Mayank and Josh in their wedding gear
Josh and I waiting with Mayank in the hotel room
Getting my henna done at Janaki's parents house
Thursday night after work we flew with Air India to Delhi. My experience began on the flight when I ate what I thought was a green bean and turned out to be a green chilli – my mouth was on fire! Not a good start! We landed in Delhi where we had our last dose of meat – KFC and met Mayank and his family and flew to Vishkhapatnam (South India). Saturday was the wedding day so we went to Janaki’s parent’s house and watched her get ready. I got henna done. We watched the procession leave the house – a band was playing, Janaki was carrying a coconut (instead of flowers in Hindu weddings - its good luck) and they left in a procession of cars. At 5pm we went back to the hotel for the wedding, where the ceremony went on until 11pm. We kept Mayank company whilst Janaki and the families began with Poojah’s (prayers) and Mayank’s family gave her a sari to wear for the wedding. Then Janaki returned to get changed whilst Mayank went down for Poojah’s and then sat with a sheet in front of him so he cannot see Janaki until exactly 8.41pm which was the auspicious time for them to wed. The sheet was then moved away. (In an arranged marriage this would be the first time the bride and groom see each other!). The marriage is marked by the priest sticking a leaf to each of their heads (as opposed to rings in a Christian wedding). People who where already married ‘blessed’ them by throwing rice on them. There where other rituals completed during the ceremony, all for different reasons, some of them are used to get the couple ‘acquainted’ the one we liked the best was them throwing rice on each other. The rituals where all finished by about 10pm, then Mayank, Janaki and their families could eat the meal provided (no eating on the wedding day for anyone involved). The rest of the guests (including us) could eat throughout the ceremony in an adjourning room. We went to bed about 1pm – a truly interesting day, the ceremony and all the decorations very beautiful.
Whilst in Vizag. we hired a car and a driver for the day and Josh and I went sightseeing. We saw the beach, the film studios (where they make Tollywood films/TV shows), the park and an old submarine. Everywhere we went people asked to take our photos – not many foreigners in Vizag! 
