ヒンドゥーの結婚式

以前勤めていた会社の同僚の結婚式に招かれて行ってきました。

ヒンドゥーの結婚式ははじめてだったので、行く前からとってもわくわくしていました！

My dear ex-workmate, always pretty & proper, got married the other day. I was so excited and felt honoured to be invited to her wedding. I went along with another ex-workmate, who is also always well dressed and pleasant.

もう招待状から違います！こんなキラキラで鮮やかな招待状をもらうのははじめて。しかも、結婚式は二日にわたるようでした。あまりにきれいなので、捨ててしまうのはもったいない！記念に、そして素敵な思い出にとっておきます。

When the invitation arrived, I was taken by surprise how bright and different it looked! In the envelope, there were two invitations for separate days. I was simply impressed how beautiful they were. Obviously, I am going to keep these.

期待を裏切らない華やかさと、カラフルさで、もうお祝いの雰囲気いっぱいでした!!　もう一人元同僚が招待されていて、仲良しだったので一緒に行きました。浮いてしまうのではないか、と少しだけ心配していましたが、その心配は杞憂に終わりました。

I imagined it to be all very colourful, and truly celebratory - indeed it was! What I loved the most was that despite the fact I didn't know anyone other than the bride and the other ex-co-worker mentioned above, it felt so comfortable...!! I wasn't particularly nervous before arrival but I thought it was only natural even if I felt a little out of place. However, my fear was proven groundless.

儀式は、日本よりも、イギリスよりも手が込んでいます。時間も長くかかりました。祭祀が二ヶ国語でお祈りや誓いの言葉を口にするので、通訳が入るとこんな気分なのかな、と思ったりしました。

The ceremony and rituals were different and more complicated than I have seen in Japan or the UK, likewise, it required longer time, naturally. The priest prayed and implemented the matrimony in two languages, one after another - perhaps similar to the situations like meetings with consecutive interpreting.

朝、式場に着いたときは雨降りだったけれど、いつの間にか晴れてすばらしいお天気に！雨の結婚式って、「雨降って地固まる」とか幸せが「降り込む」といって、日本では縁起がいいんですけどね。

It was rainy in the morning, and then it cleared later on, a beautiful blue sky out there. How suitable was that? Rain on a wedding day isn't a bad thing in Japan, adversity strengthens the foundations, and also it is said that blessings fall upon us like rain. 

天窓から光が降り注ぐ廊下、そして式場全体が天窓がところどころにあってまぶしいくらい明るくて、ほんとうに気分も軽やか、そして華やかにすばらしい結婚式でした。朝から晩まで続くお祝いで、クイズや踊りもこのあと続くということでしたが、私たちは名残惜しいものの、暗くなる前に退散。でもほんとはずっと見ていたいほど、終始興味津々でした。

I loved the skylight. It lifts up my mood, and it changes the atmosphere in an instant, I think. It turned sunny, and it was all bright and cheerful in the corridor, banquet rooms... it was fantastic. Very suitable for such a celebratory day!

日本で言うなら引き出物かな。新郎新婦のイニシャルが二人とも「Ｍ」だったので、「Ｍ＆Ｍｓ」が入った小さな入れ物を渡されました。これのキラキラ！おめでとう！これからもお幸せに!!
As we were about to leave, bride's brother gave us these. The initial for both bride and groom was 'M' therefore M & M's - so sweet!! Such a lovely and sweet small gift. It's a lovely reminder of the day for us too. Congratulations both of you!!