Mosaic Monday: The Wedding

Last week I shared the venue for the wedding, the lovely River Oaks Forum Civics Building and Garden.

Today it's wedding time!

It was a very happy morning, although hot!

I've talked about Vivian before. She is a friend and was a colleague of mine at the museum before she decided to study Chinese for a year in Beijing.

First was the Hindu wedding ceremony followed by the Chinese Tea ceremony.

The Hindu marriage symbolizes the physical and especially the spiritual union of man and woman. The Hindu marriage is considered a commitment between man and wife to share one's life and to care for the other.

Ganesh, the elephant headed Hindu god is always present for every puja (ceremony).

The most important item in a Hindu marriage in India is a nuptial cord of necklace called Thali. The Thali is a small pendant attached to a necklace chain. During the wedding ceremony the groom places this on the bride's neck. This is the climax of the wedding ceremony. Ladies would never remove it from their neck while their husband is alive.

The bride was beautiful in her sari of white and gold.

Parents and family elders are shown great respect in both Indian and Chinese cultures and this is reflected in their wedding customs. In the Hindu marriage ceremony, the bride and groom bow down to their parents and elders and touch their feet as a sign of respect. Likewise, the traditional Chinese tea ceremony involves the bride and groom serving tea to their parents as a show of respect from the new couple.

After the wedding and picture taking, the couple changed into their red Chinese clothes for the luncheon. We could have Chinese or Indian food. There was a lot of two fisted, two plate eating going on ... some of both, please!

Live long and prosper.

Mosaic Monday is hosted by the lovely Mary.

Each mosaic is different. Each is a story to tell.

Be sure you visit!

Wishing all of you well.

Joy!