At 4.40 Am in the morning the fury of the sacred fire make both the bride and grrom to move back in their seats.

Sacred Fire Again

Finally the bride's father finishes his duties and leaves the place.The sacred fire is lit again and this time by the groom himself although the slaokas are chanted by the priests. And the final change of head-gear perhaps.

But then the pld guards stood the test of time. Seen here wide awake are Chhunu's paternal grand-father and maternal grand-mother.

And the realations and well-wishers at 4.40 AM. Half of them asleep and the rest dozing and drowsy. A few have left for bed.

Chhunu and Prashant

Change of head-gear

With a new head-gear on Chhunu's head the marriage continues.

Now the bride moves near the groom but sits on his right and the headgears are changed along with chanting of shlokas.

The knot has to be untied and here is some amount of comic interlude to the whole drama in Hindu marriage. Its usually the younger brother or sister of the bride who unties the knot and is usually rewarded for labour by the groom. Its Rutun, Chhunu's younger sister here who gets a grand in Indian Rupees for her efforts.

Kanya Daan

The bride's father hands over his daughter with shlokas to the effect.

Hasta Ganthi or Hata Ganthi as the ritual is called is one of the most important ones in a Hindu marriage ans so was the case with Chhunu and Prashant.

Hata Ganthi

Now the priest ties the hands of the bride and the groom.Hasta Ganthi

Hasta Ganthi

Hand in hand. The priest and father help them to unite in Hindu system.

Kanyaa Daana

Father of the bride- on right holding Chhunu- prepares to handover his daughter to the groom.

Kanyaa Daana

Its 4 AM. With the sacred fire rising high the bride makes her first appearance along with the groom to the altar and sits on her father's lap for some of the karmas.

The sacred fire is one of the most essential offering in any Hindu ritual. The first one in this marriage.

3.35 AM and the process of shlokas and karmas continue.

Mother-in-law greets the groom

Vanda-pana by mother-in-law.

Nearly the end of the process of reception by mother-in-law with vemillion being applied on the forehead.

Mother of the bride decorates the groom's legs with alataa-the red-coloured liquid before offering him a reception.

A close relation of Chhunu she was probably the most graceful and decent young mother to have gone through the rituals always in company with Chhunu's grand-mother.

She must have conducted a dozen marriages under her direct supervision but her enthusiasm in Chhunu's marriage was something seen to be believed. Chhunu's grand-mother was the most agile lady in the marriage karmas which lasted till late morning.

3.10 AM. Some sleepy and some alert but red was the dominant colour when it came to waht the audience preferred to wear for the marriage. Probably the lone exception was Lipi with black churidar and kurta.

Also in the audience are Bulu, Gayatri and Bulbul. All looking tired, sleepy and haggard.

The main audience. Aai- Chhunu's maternal grand-ma, Sunya Aai and her paternal grandama.

Ornaments of mango leaves? That was what was made to to be worn by the brise and also the groom in a separate karma.

The sacred thread being prepared with help from relations in the audience. Chandan and Pilu Babu seen working on it.

The bride comes for the first session of karma at 2.45 AM.

?? The second reception on the altar? The man seen behind the pillar on the left sitting next to Gauranga Babu is the priest from the groom's side.

Finally when the marriage started it was 2.20 AM on 17th. The groom Prashant, bride's father and the priest from bride's side at the intial karma.

Final call before the curtains downed in Dining Hall. The caterer Mr. Mondal in dhoti/kurta seen supervising the dinner for the baraat.

The eldes in the baraat had their dinner at one table. Probably it was also the type of food that also matched.

The baraat having dinner after 2 AM on 17th April.

While the groom was being received with ceremonial pump and grandure, the barrat was virtually pulled to the Dining Hall for dinner( At 2 AM). It took some time and courageous moves on the part of the likes of Dr. Nrutya Gopal Panda, the brides Mamun to stop the barrat from dancing and take them for dinner.

Baata Barana

Baata-Barani, The formal reception of the groom Prashant.

Baata Barana

The groom being received by bride's father and the priest with chanting of shlokas and a coconut etc.

Arrival of the Baraat

Finally the Baarat arrives exactly at 1.23 AM in front of the bride's residnce. It was hot and humid and the 20 odd young friends of the groom took nearly 2 hours to travel a disatnce of about three quarter of a kilometer only by dancing, dancing and dancing. The bottle in the hands of a baraati is an indication of the hot humid atmosphere. Though one of them fell down while dancing none was under the effect of any intoxication- not even alcohol.

Chhunu, the graceful bride.

Waiting for the Barat

Graceful Sunya Aai of Chhunu awaits the baarat and behind her in the back-ground the priest also is seen waiting.

Waiting for Baraat

One more brother-sister duo Lipi and Chiku.

Waiting for the Baraat

Marriages are occasions to meet frinds and relations and make-up for lost contact. The brother-sister duo are talking o each other after dinner and awaiting the groom to arrive.

Devi

Devi was the busiest among all ladies during Chhunu's marriage. Despite the heavy load of work, she never left the trade-mark smile in her face. Here she waits for the baraat to arrive.with others.

Waiting for Baraat

Bhaku Bhai awaits the barat in the elite company of the Senapatis- Sashadhar and Niyati.

Waiting for Baraat

Waiting for the Barat. After dinner, Bulu, Pilu Babu, Chandan and Bulbul.

Bhakua on right with Rashmikant and Madha Babu behind.

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Niyati and Rashmikant at dinner.

Bonia'Na with his grand-daughter in the Dining Hall. I saw this old man a great friend and well-wisher of Chhunu's parents waiting till 11 PM to have a look at the groom but as the later's barat couldn't reach within that time he had to leave the place of marriage to reire to bed

He was in great demand by the children who came for dinner.

Lipi in front of the artistic dispaly of fruits and vegetables in the Dining Hall for Chhunu's marriage.

VIP guests at dinner.

The guests at dinner.