INDIA EXPERIENCE: Realization of a dream
Friday, July
13, 2001
Today was a very busy day. First we had a lecture by Her Highness Princess Lekshmi Bai on the “History of Kerala Women Rulers and the contributions of His Highness the late Swathy Thirunal Maharaj to world music” Site of her lecture was the palace of Swathy Thirunal where the late Maharaja made his contributions to the world of Carnatic music. The Princess presented several of our students her autographed book on Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple.
Second event was the HINDU WEDDING. Families of the bride and bridegroom invited us with open arm and let us observe the entire ceremony from the stage. After the ceremony, we were invited for a TRADITIONAL KERALA STYLE VEGETARIAN FEAST. Remember this feast is rated as one of the best balanced vegetarian meal in the whole world. We ate our food on a banana leaf along with more than one thousand of the invited guests and family members.
Then we attended a lecture by Mr. Mervin Alexander and Mr. Kumar on INDIAN GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE and the CIVIL SERVANTS. This was a very educational and informative session.
Before we went back to Loyola, some of us decided to visit a gold jewelry store
"This morning the father in my host family ironed my saree. The whole family teased him a little bit. Usually the mother used to do this and said that this was not typical of him. It seems he was simply proud to have my stay with his family"
"Mr. Alexander and Mr. Vinod Kumar (our guest lecturers) were very helpful in expanding my knowledge of the Indian Structure of Government"
Erin Bracken
"Princess Lekshmi Bai's knowledge of women achievement and her sharing was great."
"Host family had told me how the wedding ceremony would go which added to the actual wedding ceremony: Wonderful experience."
Mr. Alexander and Mr. Kumar did a great job describing their government systems. "
Barbara Maxwell
"Witnessing a large Hindu wedding was very different from American or European weddings. We also listened to the Princess' lecture about the Sree Padmanabha Temple and influential women in the dynasty. This complemented our lecture on Civil Services in India, which answered many of my questions on Indian Government, bureaucracy and society."
Kathleen M Jelen
"Mr. Alexander gave an eye-opening speech about Indian Government. I was very surprised to find out that women receive equal pay in India. Seeing a Hindu wedding for the first time was very interesting. Traditional Hindu weddings are different from the western customs. It is difficult to grasp the concept of an arranged marriage "
Gretchen Martin
"The students at St. Xavier's College were very intelligent. They had majors like Physics and Chemistry. You can tell that they are dedicated to getting their education. I noticed that there were more females than males studying at college."
"The Hindu wedding was a very spiritual experience. I was really touched by the act of touching the feet of the elders of the family to seek their blessings. This shows the high level of respect the elders have in Indian society. "
Kerrian Walters
"I didn't feel I had the right to sit on stage with the rest of the relatives & close friends at the wedding. I enjoyed the ceremonies. I am beginning to love our bus rides more and more. Being able to observe the landscape and its people is a privilege. The speakers on "Structure of Indian Government" were both intelligent and insightful. They seemed genuinely concerned that we understood and were comfortable."
Sarah M Gallop
"Hindu marriages have such pomp and grandeur that would seem only reserved for royalty. The princess, our guest lecturer for the day, displayed the humility that I wish more of India legitimate leaders possess"
Unni Krishnan
"We attended a beautiful Hindu wedding ceremony today. It was not very long and followed by a feast. What an interesting way to marry."
"The speakers were also very interesting. They enlightened our group very much as to the details of Indian Governmental working. I don't believe our group was very knowledgeable before this meeting."
Elise Karberg
"Today I woke-up in my host family's home. We ate some chappathy while watching a T V show. They really made me feel at home. "
Jarrod D Gray
"It was nice to begin learning about the Indian Government. For such a young system it seems to have many positive aims towards the well being of its people. I think the United States can learn a lot from a comparison to India. Rather than feeling superior we should consider ourselves equal."
Vincent Shoham
"The Hindu wedding we attended in the afternoon was very beautiful even though I didn't understand exactly what was happening. You could kind of tell what is going on by the participants reactions."
"The lecture on the structure of Indian Government was very informative. I didn't realize there were so many similarities between India and the US, you would assume the opposite. The powers that are held are very different though."
Kristin Burney
Welcome
to the Photo Session
1.
Unnikrishnan
at the entrance of Sree Padmanabha Temple
2.
The Princess with the CSU team
discussing status of Women in India
3. Kerrian
Walters, Elise Karberg, Sarah M Gallop and Kathleen M Jelen in a session with the
princess
4. Vincent
Shoham, Unnikrishnan, Erin Bracken listening keenly to the Princess
5. CSU
ladies in a session with the princess
6. The
princess and CSU team in a session
7. Another
snap of CSU women and Jarrod D Gray in a session with the princess
8. The
princess in a session with the CSU team
9. Vincent
Shoham attending a lecture by the Princess on status of Women in India
10. Vincent
Shoham and Unnikrishnan in a session with the Princess
11. Kathleen M
Jelen, Barbara Maxwell, Kristin Burney and Jarrod D Gray in a session with
princess
12. Another
snap of the princess in lecture
13. The
tourists who came to attend the lecture of the princess
14. Kerrian
Walters, Kathleen M Jelen, Kristin Burney and Jarrod D Gray in session with the
princess
15. Elise
Karberg presenting a certificate of appreciation to the Princess
16. Erin
Bracken presenting a "T" Shirt to the Princess
17. The CSU
team, Prof Nair and the Princess with the people who attended the lecture
18. Elise
Karberg trying her knowledge of palmistry with the princess while Erin Bracken
looks on
19. Ajai
and Sunil, Software Engineers from Softroute Consultancy Services, providing
instant update for our
website site in
discussion with Dr. Nair
20 The
Princess with the CSU team discussing status of Women in India
21. Mr.
Mannadi Hari clearing his doubt with the Princess
22. Another
snap of the princess explaining the status of women in Kerala
23. CSU
ladies in a session with the princess
24. Another
snap of the princess and CSU team in a session
25. Vincent
Shoham and Unnikrishnan with CSU ladies in a session with the princess
26. Kristin
Burney and Jarrod D Gray at the Entrance of the Marriage Hall
27. Another
snap of Kristin Burney and Jarrod D Gray in front of the marriage hall
28. Mr.
Mervin Alexander and Mr. Vinod Kumar in discussion with CSU students
29. Mr.
Mervin Alexander explaining the functioning of Indian Bureaucracy to the CSU
students
30. Jarrod
D Gray, Kathleen M Jelen with Mr. Vinod Kumar and Mr. Mervin Alexander
31. The
CSU group in discussion with Mr. Mervin Alexander and Mr. Vinod Kumar
32. Erin
Bracken, Gretchen Martin and Elise Karberg in discussion on Indian Civil
Services
33. Kristin
Burney and Kerrian Walters in discussion with Mr. Alexander and Mr. Kumar
34. The oil
lit lamps which are considered as auspicious lit on the stage
35. Unnikrishnan
before the "Mandapam" (Stage) where marriage takes place
36. The
relatives and friends of the families of the bride and groom who came to attend
the wedding ceremony
37. Another
snap of the people who came to attend the wedding ceremony
38. The
elders of the groom's family arranging the sacred saree called
"Mantrakodi" to be given to the bride
39 Another
snap of the elders arranging the sarees to be given to the bride
40. The
musicians playing on a flute like instrument called "Nadhaswaram" found only in south India
41. The
bridegroom seeking blessings of the elders of the family
42. The
bridegroom entering the "mandapam" (stage) where the marriage ceremony
takes place
43. The bride
seeking the blessings of the elders of the family
44. The
sister of the groom checking the knot in the sacred thread worn around the
bride's neck
45. Another
snap of the sister of the groom checking the knot in the thread
46. The bride
garlanding the groom and accepting him as her man
47. The groom
gifting a golden chain to the bride
48. The groom
gifting the sacred saree called mantrakodi to the bride accepting her as his
wife
49. The man
and wife after the ceremony
50. The CSU
team along with the bride and the groom
51. Kathleen
M Jelen presenting a certificate of appreciation to the bride and groom
52. CSU team
enjoying feast after the wedding ceremony
53. Bride's
Invitation card
54. Bridegroom's
Invitation card
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