My Grand Indian Wedding: The Engagement Ceremony

In Odiya culture, the engagement ceremony symbolizes many recent additions to the older customs. In the past this as an occasion where the parents of the bride and groom used to initiate the auspicious process of the marriage by offering prayers to the Gods and exchanging items that will be required in the Wedding process.

Ananta Basudeva Mandir, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

Interestingly this did not require the presence of the bride and groom. However, with more and more cross-cultural mixing the exchange of rings has been added among the bride and groom.

 

On 11th April 2018, both our families gathered at the ancient Ananta Basudeva temple in Bhubaneswar and started our Wedding ceremony. It was a great occasion as we could meet our extended family again and also get in touch with our future families. The whole set-up was filled with laughter and enjoyment.

 

After the ceremony, everyone had prasad from the temple as lunch and we then started our pre-wedding shoot. It was really embarrassing for us doing all the poses in the public. But looking back, I think they were also some of the most memorable moments from the wedding.

 

Next time, there comes the Baraat procession, stay tuned! :)

10 years blogging! (2008 - 2018)

When I started blogging 10 years ago on 26th January, I simply wanted to express myself. Looking back, I have had times when I have blogged prolifically and times when I have not been able to pen down nothing at all. Even now, as I fight life/work related stress, getting myself motivated to write something of quality is a challenging hurdle. But in spite of this, it gives me pleasure that I have sustained and completed 10 years of blogging. I can only promise myself, that I get better and continue with this further. Here goes 10 years .... Truly, time flies!

Players to watch out for

Nitish Raalte - great technique,  good at touch play ad at big hitting. Reminds of Yuvraj
Washington Sunder -  good too order batsman and excellent offspinner
Rishabh Pant - good around attacking batsman
Shivam Mavi - great rhythmic action and good pace. If he takes care and strengthen his body he can be a great fast bowler for India 

Thought of the Day - Human Compassion

“Our human compassion binds us the one to the other - not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future.”


― Nelson Mandela