December 25, 2011 - Jain service and Dancing

Ankita Jain and J.D. Rosensweig

There's always a lot happening with the Jains' these days.  Here it is the day before the main wedding.  In the morning, it's only a few blocks' walk to the local temple where the new couple will devote their lives to each other in a Jain ceremony.  However, those few blocks include a few turns on unmarked streets and Arun is eager not to lose anybody to the vagaries of the road intersections.  We drive to the ceremony.  Inside, the women are seated on the right and the men on the left.  Most people sit cross-legged on the floor, although there are a few chairs along the walls for anyone who doesn't want to sit on the floor.  Sammi, Ankita's sister, married Anuj recently but didn't have the temple ceremony at that time, so they are sharing the ceremony with J.D. and Ankita.  The Jain religion places "ahimsa" (harmlessness to all living beings) as a top tenet of their beliefs.  During the ceremony itself, the participants wear masks over their mouths to avoid injuring any bugs by accidentally swallowing them.  The ceremony includes offerings to the gods, and to their promises to respect and serve each other.  The language is (I presume) in Hindi, and the service is beautiful.  After the formal ceremony, we are given some very tasty treats - sort of an assembled bun with a sweet filling.  Greeting and friendly visiting is followed by a ride back to the house.

Isa Escobar and Andrew Smith

Lindy Horwitz

Later in the evening, the wedding party and other guests are invited over to the basement of the local hostel.  It has been set up with numerous food offerings around the walls, and an area in the front for dancing.  Chairs for comfortable viewing and visiting abound.  Guests arrive in their colorful finery, though the saris will appear mostly tomorrow. Venerated grandmothers sing party songs for the gathering (see video).  Dances start taking place with mostly the young, but a couple of over-sixty gentleman start chest-bumping, much to the astonished amusement of at least one young boy.  Yes, folks, this started with my brother Bob, always enthusiastic to try something new, suggesting we chest-bump.  It's a new thing for the both of us, but after a little planning to make sure we don't also head-bump, we try it.  Since it succeeds, we end up trying it several more times.  It reminds me of yesterday when we entertained the ladies trapped by their drying henna with a reprisal of the dance moves of "Desi Boyz."  Our enthusiasm makes up for our lack of skill. (See video, filmed by Andrew on Bob's iPhone.)