Gaye Holud (or literal meaning using tumeric mask on body) or tumeric ceremony is part of the Bengali wedding ceremony. The gaye holud is the Bengali version of a bridal shower/bachelor’s party. Both the bride and groom have a gaye holud. The relatives of each family can attend the other’s gaye holud except for the bride and the groom.
The bride’s gaye holud is the one I am showing you. This is the reason why we went to NY last April, to be part of the wedding.
The bride sits on a dais in front of or at the end of the room. Henna is used to decorate her hands and feet with wonderful elaborate designs. She usually wears orange or red sari and is decked in flowers and jewelry. Sweets and fruits are prepared and are placed in the dais with the bride.
One by one guests come up front to apply tumeric paste to the bride’s face. This is said to soften the skin and give the skin a wonderful glow (to be more beautiful for her wedding). Also, the bride is fed by the guests sweets and fruits after applying the paste. Make sure to feed the bride a small piece of fruit or sweets, as depending on the number of her guests she will be stuffed halfway thru her guest list.
There is a feast involved. While the ceremony is going on, snacks are served to the rest of the guests. When everyone had gone upfront and smeared the bride’s face and all the photos have been snapped, then the feast begins.
I must say that this is a wonderful experience for me. I did not realize that there was a gaye holud. I did come for the wedding. What an exotic ceremony it is.
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When I snapped this photo in 2007, the Winter Olympics was a long way to go. But looking at this now, it’s only a year. I hope all the facilities that needed building were built and the road to Whistler has been widened. They were doing some construction work to Hwy 99 when we were there.
This week I am digging into the archives for a water post. I wanted to see Vancouver again, because I felt like that first visit was extremely brief. So, I am sharing with you the view of Vancouver harbour and its skyline as the cruise departs.
This past weekend (August 15-16), the American Cancer Society held its yearly Relay for Life fundraising. It’s my first relay too. I work in a hospital and each year, we send a team to do the relays. I never signed up. Our church also fields in a team, and this time around, we signed up for our church.
(Track is lined with paper bags in memory of a dearly departed or in honor of a survior or someone who’s battling the disease. It has a candle inside that’s lit during the night walk)
Info from Wikipedia:
Neighbor 1 is Mr. Squirrel. He’s the head of the family of about 4 or 5. He’s always on the lookout for any handouts I treat my neighbors residing in the oaks behind the house. He can be really stubborn. He once ruined a giant sunflower by climbing on the thin stalk to partake of the nutty delights. We never planted any sunflowers after that summer of disaster. But I miss him. My new hood appears to have some gophers, but not any of Mr. Squirrel’s kin to be seen.
And neighbor number 2 is Jay, Blue Jay. He and his kin appeared to have made some division of treats with the squirrel family as they never get to fight for the seeds I line the fences around the backyard. Both photos are taken from my bedroom as both of my neigbors are a little cautious to get their photos taken by the papparazzi. Oh I miss him and his kin as well.
High rise on the left and greenery on the right, that’s what are one’s views when hitting this sidewalk by Central Park.
FRANKLY MY DEAR....... 