Day 250, Udaipur, India

Views at the Palace 

Woke up to the news of an earthquake in Christchurch, but fortunately everyone is alright.

Last night's celebrations were so full on; the bride and groom performed a very well choreographed dance routine, there was an Indian Idol finalist singing, lots of dancing.

The Indians are very spontaneous and will break out singing and dancing at any given time and not just for 5 minutes! We get invited to join everything, they'll come and drag us into the dancing circle, showing us what to do and explaining along the way.

Silk scarves presented at breakfast 

The breakfast room was full of red heart shaped balloons this morning and a red rose had been delivered to our room inviting us to breakfast.

This morning was the 'Haldi', where guests put a turmeric paste on the brides face, legs and arms. The paste serves as a cleanser for the body and soul and signifies the bride's preparation and welcoming into adult married life. The bride was sitting on a beautifully decorated huge swing for this. 

The Haldi ceremony 

Next time for lunch, another drive back into Udaipur and back. On the way we casually came across an elephant standing on the road, but apparently it is involved in the wedding procession tonight.

Finally back at 5.15 which gave us just a little time to get glammed up for this evenings big event, the actual marriage vows.

Ready at 6.30 as told to be, we all met by the pool, but we should have known it is India Flexi time, which means no one else is ready apart from us westerners, haha! We all still pinch ourselves to have been invited and involved in this wedding; it is absolutely glamour at its peak. Without being crass, the cost of the wedding would have bought a nice 4 bedroom home in Christchurch! 

With the other Melbournites

First a 'turban' session, where all men get fitted with a turban; the grooms side were cream and burgundy, the bride pink. And then it was time to escort the groom to the wedding, with a lot of music, guests of honour on elephants and the groom on a carriage drawn by 4 horses. The whole procession took about an hour and a half, with much dancing and laughter, money thrown around and elephants getting skittish with guns even being fired.

Horse drawn carriage 

We finally sat down for dinner at about 10.15, and the actual wedding ceremony is yet to happen.