Tuesday 14 April 2009

A Hindu Wedding

It was a Hindu wedding dinner held in a rather unorthodox manner: a Chinese dinner in the Grand Sea View banquet hall. But the rituals that preceded the dinner were anything but unorthodox. Having Indian friends for a large part of my life, I found it a humbling experience to witness a ceremony steeped in tradition and solemnity. The significance of some of the rituals escaped me, a manifestation of a lack of curiosity or interest in cultures other than your own. It was definitely a humbling thought.

The downside of the night was that my camera battery died on me although I made sure that I had it fully charged the day before. The photos were badly taken and I had to do considerable retouching to save most of them. I could not take further pictures of the sumptuous dinner that followed.

I would conservatively estimate each table to cost around RM 650 and there were 44 tables.


The elaborate wedding card


The lobby entrance to the banquet hall


Waiting for the guests to arrive


Entrance to the banquet hall


Haridas, the proud father of the bride


Ganesha, the elephant deity at the lobby


The kolam next to Lord Ganesha. Story has it that in the old days kolams were drawn in coarse rice flour to invite ants, birds and other small creatures to share in the food. No doubt a testimony to the harmonious co-existence of humankind and creatures


I was attracted to this trellis with tiny bells that was placed on both sides of the entrance to the banquet hall


Musicians


On the right is my former teacher, Mr Indran


The elaborately decorated stage for the fire ceremony


A somewhat unusual main table set up in a semi circle


Bridesmaids? Waiting for the arrival of the bride and bridegroom


Mark Stephen Denye, the bridegroom and beside him the best man (?)


The bridegroom anxiously waiting for the bride to arrive


The ceremony:





A picture of the couple and some of the members of both families



6 comments:

  1. Kepada seluruh Malaysian yang dihormati;
    Bahawa Chairman Gombak MCA (Malaysia Chinese Association, YIP KUM FOOK menguna kuasa politiknya menipu wang kami di Taman Daya, Kepong(memohon gerai), merosakkan keluarga orang lain, import wanita dari China(dangin hidup)………….

    Sekira tuan-tuan dan puan-puan tidak percayai atas kejahatannya bolih bertanya orang tempatan di Taman Daya, kepong.

    Chairman MCA Gombak (Malaysia Chinese Association), YIP KUM FOOK “U” buat Dosa “U” tetap akan menimpa kesusahan tidak lama lagi. TUHAN ADA MATA.

    Respected throughout the Malaysian;
    That the Chairman Gombak MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association, YIP KUM FOOK used political power cheated our money at Taman Daya, Kepong (applying stalls), hurt people’s family, imports women from China (living meat) .............

    If ladies and gentlemen do not trust the evil, can ask local people at Taman Daya, kepong.

    Chairman Gombak MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association), YIP KUM FOOK "U" created of sin "U" will override trouble Unallocated fixed soon. GOD HAS EYES.

    整个马来西亚的尊重;
    Chairman Gombak MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association, YIP KUM FOOK(叶金福用政治权力,在Taman Daya,甲洞(申请摊位)骗我们的钱,伤害别人的家庭,从中国进口妇女 买卖色情业务...... ....

    如果女士们,先生们,不相信他的邪恶,可以问当地的人。

    Chairman Gombak MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association, YIP KUM FOOK (叶金福),叶金福 “您” 将面对因果报应。老天有眼。

    主办单位: MCA Selayang..

    ReplyDelete
  2. YIP KUM FOOK (MCA GOMBAK) DON'T BREAK THE BUDDHIST RULES
    To Samnak Sambodhi Manager (Yip Kum Fook, MCA Gombak) and Yap Leaong Lan (Peggy Yap)
    The local public asked about wanting to be a member of the SAMNAK SAMBODHI BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION, No: 19 Jalan 38 Taman Desa Jaya, Kepong 52100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but happily they were not all MCA party members. Why?
    1) This is not a place of political arena; this is a place of prayer.
    2) This is where people’s property is not your own property.
    Hope you are understanding and free of wrong laws immediately, otherwise unsweet things will happen.

    Thank you
    Taman Desa Jaya, Kepong
    (Ah Low)

    ReplyDelete
  3. We have been informed and told everyone to everyone. YIP KUM FOOK (lawyer, president of SAMNAK SAMBODHI BUDDHIST TEMPLE) was embarrassed by Buddhism, as a shame of the Buddhist world

    In addition, do dirty with monks. He thinks this temple is his, when we read the articles on the internet, our mind is sadder because of many posts and comments on the internet.

    But he still doesn't know anything. Maybe he is close to the six senses feelings. This is very low knowledge. Some old man groups at Taman Desa Jaya, Kepong are also very embarrassing when they speak about SAMNAK SAMBODHI BUDDHIST TEMPLE

    On the contrary, if this Yip Kum Fook has learned the law, he needs to understand some laws, other lawyers do not make problems and deceive people, only this Yip Kum Fook in the world…..

    In Buddhist also same, if he understands Buddhist knowledge, why does he need to do badly, insult Buddhist monks (rejected monks out from Temple), we know about SAMNAK SAMBODHI BUDDHIST TEMPLE because we are groups opened this Temple at Taman Ehsan on 1987
    We don't say much because of his karma (YIP)

    By Mr Lim, Desa Jaya, Kepong

    ReplyDelete
  4. His son (YIP JIUN HANN叶君瀚, 律师..MCA GOMBAK) also has the same behavior and habits as his father because father (YIP KUM FOOK叶金福, 律师) does bad things in society, cheats people about money and has sex with people's wives everywhere and the children(son) also play women everywhere too

    now many people know about this YIP KUM FOOK叶金福 family in their way of life, but they can't escape from people gossiping about what they have done. in the end life is hard.. pity those who do evil, not in this life but have to bear it for another life as well.

    They will tremble all their lives in life and they are not free all their lives like animals touching hot water, in Buddhist who broke the Sangha community, this is the greatest sin, also not easy to confess and there is no way to cleanse it

    Really to happen to you, your friends and relatives will laugh at you, you will be lonely without friends because when you have a lot of money, you are proud of them, at that time nobody wants you...you will walk the road alone

    Shared by loke & friends in Kepong

    ReplyDelete
  5. Datuk Yip Kum Fook is very stupid and dirty to Buddha and MCA in Malaysia...MCA is very weak. Now, so many MCA members jump the party and also the Samnak Sambodhi Buddhist Temple, now the local people do not enter because they do not like the committee members, maybe the temple will no longer be one day, must be close according to our prediction.

    Instead, we must inform Datuk Yip Kum Fook about opening a lawyer's office to cheat the people's money and lie to the Malaysia government about lawyer...we know you are very well, from the beginning of your business furniture and playing politics in Kepong

    Many lawyers also don't like him because he is not a real lawyer...his title is a lawyer bought from a UK institution (no need to learn and practice about law)..Better close or close the office… it is a shame for Malaysia….

    From Uncle Lim, Taman Ehsan, Kepong

    ReplyDelete