Our Village Wedding!

Today, very unexpectadely Tom and I were "married" again village-style!!! It was one of the most surprising and touching things that has happened to us. Tom and I went to the village to see the rest of the women I had worked with when I lived here in 2005. I was just expecting a series of sweet meetings, some hugs and awkward conversation (no one speaks English). But, when we arrived there was about 100 people greeting us at the door to a small house. They put garlands on us and there were young boys on the roof throwing petals at us. Everyone was cheering! They ushered us inside where we were immediately separated. Tom was taken with the men to put on wedding clothes. I was taken to put on a red sari and jewelry. They brought us back out, sang to us, prayed for us and then did several dances for us. I was obligated to join in ... ;) At one point a bunch of young girls "stole" Tom's shoes. He had to pay the girls to get them back. I guess this is a tradition of the younger sisters, cousins and friends of the bride to the new groom. It was all a rite of passage of sorts for Tom. They said that I was family, but that they now had to welcome the groom into the family and so now Tom is family too. :) It was a wonderful wonderful day!