Sheela's wedding is an arranged marriage and as you can see by the look on her face, she is not at all happy.
The juxtaposition of happy family members and a sullen bride-to-be was very hard to take. But this is how it goes in these villages, love marriages are hard to come by - or so it seems.
Sheela's husband is older, fat and balding but is a nice man. (They weren't at this ceremony - it was for the bride's family) His mother is very abrasive, possibly abusive, and the new couple will live in her house. I asked if he is an independent man or if his mother rules his life - Jennifer said he has no money of his own and always answers "I will check with Mother" when asked about this or that. Sounds like Sheela is going from the frying pan into the fire.
But as a cultural experience, it was a really amazing event to partake in:
Everyone took turns putting different herbs in Sheela's hair and rubbing turmeric on her face, neck, arms and legs.
There was a tray of several items: 1st was oil for her head, then a brown mud-like substance for her head, then a grey mud-like substance for her head, followed by another mud-like substance for her head, then turmeric-mud to rub on her face and apendages, then dry turmeric for her forehead, then red powder for her forehead. Next you picked up a bowl of red liquid and held it in front of Sheela and circled it around in front of her three times, then you placed two bangels on each arm.
Jennifer applying the muds on her sister
Sheela was so cold, unhappy, and caked with mud that she was shivering.
For everyone else, it was a festive celebration...
1 comment:
Her eyes were so sad in that video that I just wanted to cry for her, then hug her.
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