Red(y) or not

These lovelies are our friends J and Ch, two sisters who were married a couple of weeks ago to two brothers and have moved from Delhi to the desert state of Rajasthan. Their father insisted on deciding their future and arranged their marriages. He chose two brothers as a way of guaranteeing that the sisters by being close together will look after each other no matter how tough and demanding their in laws might be, with whom they will live in one household. They wake up at 5am, start the day by offering prayers to a Hindu goddess, then offer their respects to their mother in law and massage her feet. This is followed by work in the kitchen and household. They said by 8pm, they are exhausted and unable to stay awake.

The girls came back to Delhi to visit friends and receive blessings. They came over bedecked in their finery, wearing wedding jewellery from their heads right down to literally their toes. In their hair parting, they wore vermillion powder which Hindu women do to indicate they are married. Red is the bridal colour for saris and some of the accessories. On their wrists they wore special bangles that only brides do. Some newlyweds ladies wear them as long as a year and enjoy the glow of attention and savour the early days of being married.

J said she's very happy and couldn't wait to get back to her husband, who over the years that hope they were engaged, she got to know well, mainly by speaking to him daily on the phone.

No such luck for Ch. she hardly knows her husband. Now that they are together for life, she hopes to form a respectful, loving partnership.