A horrible word, if a worthy concept, a mehndi and a shaadi together instead of as two separate events. Once again it was aa chaotic business, among other things we forgot to take the following items to the venue: (a) rose petals to fling at the groom’s party; (b) bangles to distribute to the women; (c) garlands to put around the necks of the chief guests; (d) coloured scarves to give out to the men; (e) a canopy under which to bring in the bride; (f); a copy of the Quran to hold over the bride’s head as she departed; (g) the bride herself. The latter was cause for particular amusement, but eventually a car came to collect us.
At the mehndi-cum-shaadi (I can’t bring myself to use that word) I spent most of the time circulating and hosting, though managed to miss out a good number of important people including some of the groom’s family (at least I tried, I suppose). One guest, a young woman, with a mohawk and very butch and not at all trad Pakistani shaadi, thoroughly delighted the elders, including my grandmother, who received a big hug and a smacking kiss. Amazing how accepting Pakistanis are of unconventional sexuality in reality, if not in theory, I always get amazed. Space for change.
Anyhow, that was done.