Later he changes into a suit but a thick white cloth is wrapped around his cap and money is tucked in the front of it. His hair is cut short as required.
A Nepali band arrives playing traditional instruments which include two long horns (that appear very heavy), two long curved horns, a couple small horns (like trumpets) and various sizes of drums and metal cymbals.
After the band arrives many people start arriving in suits or traditional Nepali attire and women in Kourtasurwhal or saris. Some younger generation men wear jeans and western style clothing.
Some guests are presented with a white scarf (including myself) and men are given a white tikka.
Later all the band, and the groom carried on piggyback and covered by an umbrella (carried to a vehicle) family and guests start walking to where the bride is. The procession inches along narrow streets and crosses a major intersection taking up a good portion of the busy roadway. It is about a 45 minute walk to the grounds where the bride is the reception etc. will be held.
Initially the bride comes out and receives a ring (not sure if the groom receives one or if I missed anything here).
They sit in special seats (under a silk 3 sided tent)and people start lining up to give the bride and groom a red tikka, an invory or coloured scarf, and a gift. Both the bride and groom and guest bow their heads or raise their folded hands to their forehead after receipt (as a thankful or gesture or blessing).
This continues for hours as there are 500-1000 guests.
Eventually Padam and I take our turn going up. I say congratulations in Nepali "Badhai chha" and give an envelope to the bride.
After the couple has eaten, guests are permitted. We line up buffet style. There is a good selection (not spicy) of rice, baked beans, vegetables, roti, salad and chicken. There is curd with fruit for desert. Everything is very tasty.
The groom's nephew (2 yr old) is really cute!
Some new friends.
A couple other parts of the wedding ceremony, oil or water? is poured over people's hands, underneath are the bride's hands, then the groom's hands. Also red powder is applied to the bride's hands and yellow powder to the groom's hands, then it is rinsed off.
After the couple is married, the family members are introduced to the groom...a cloth is held up between the two parties, two plates are on the ground on either side of the cloth. The groom's side puts an enevelope on the plate and then the plates are switched...the other side receives the envelope and the cloth is dropped. This continues with each family member to meet the groom.
Padam says that the bride is crying when it is time for her to leave her family and go to the groom's house.
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