It was a show in a marriage hall, <br />Stuffed with the invitees all, <br />All the chairs were found full, <br />No more vacant chairs to pull. <br /> <br />The Bridegroom poured, <br />On the Holy Fire sacred <br />Melted ghee over its head, <br />As mantras the Pundit read. <br /> <br />The smoky air all around, <br />The pipe and drum sound <br />Of the party at the hall end, <br />Made it noisy, we all found. <br /> <br />Over the noise of these rituals, <br />The shouts of boys and girls <br />The chit-chats of everyone <br />Shook the hall up and down. <br /> <br />To tie the three knots nuptial, <br />The Pundit alerted the couple, <br />Close around them in a circle, <br />All were asked to assemble. <br /> <br />It was a moment of tension, <br />All gave their prying attention. <br />Once these knots were done, <br />Then showered flowers like rain. <br /> <br />The piper then sang a melody, <br />That brought tears to everybody, <br />The tears of joy and sorrow mixed <br />At end of this “Muhurtam” fixed. <br /> <br />Tears of joy because of union <br />Of the two bodies, but Soul as one, <br />And of sorrow for their separation <br />From their erstwhile relation. <br /> <br />His show the piper wound up, <br />For meals everyone rushed up, <br />The hall became empty soon. <br />The couple left for honey moon. <br /> <br />With a sigh of relief for the parents, <br />They started tallying the accounts, <br />The total spent by them how much <br />Minus gifts received how much? <br /> <br />(Muhurtam = Auspicious time fixed <br />for tying the nuptial knot to the bride <br />by the bridegroom)<br /><br />Rajaram Ramachandran<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/an-indian-marriage-scene/
