Meitei wedding!
Photos from a lovely Meitei (Manipuri) wedding that I got a chance to cover over a week. These are photos from the wedding day.
Radiant bride
The radiant bride on the morning of the day of the wedding ceremony, as she gets ready for the kundo lengba ceremony.
Kundo lengba ceremony
Stringing flowers during the kundo lengba ceremony. The bride prepares two garlands using kundo (jasmine) flowers. In Manipur, Kundo flowers are used in worship, and are an essential part of a marriage ceremony. The bride garlands the groom with two Kundo flower garlands. The groom then takes one of the two and garlands the bride.
Kundo lengba ceremony
Well thats one garland complete during the kundo lengba ceremony. The bride prepares two garlands using kundo (jasmine) flowers. In Manipur, Kundo flowers are used in worship, and are an essential part of a marriage ceremony. The bride garlands the groom with two Kundo flower garlands. The groom then takes one of the two and garlands the bride.
The amazing potloi
This is the crucial moment. The fully dressed bride is slowly lowered into the traditional bridal costume, the potloi. Well, OK, in this case the bride just jumped into it.
Traditional Manipuri wedding ensemble
The bride all dressed in the stunning traditional Manipuri wedding ensemble. Potloi (the round drum like skirt) and phanek on top. The origin of the potloi dates back to over two centuries and is used in the famous rasa leela dance.
Mandop
The mandop is prepared usually in the courtyard of the house. This is where the wedding ceremony is held.
Welcoming the groom
The groom is welcomed at the gate of the bride’s house with torches lit with fire and rice thrown over them. A gesture to ward off evil spirits.
Leikoiba
During the leikoiba, the bride walks around the groom multiple times, showering a handful of flowers over the head of the groom at the end of the round.
Studio portraits – Rajeshwari
Rajeshwari is an independent corporate trainer as well as a canine behavior trainer. She needed some photos for representing herself for her business ventures.
Gypsying around
A concept photo shoot with the very photogenic and talented singer/musician Preeti Khattri.
Bangalore Underground Festival 2015
I’d setup a portrait mini-studio in one of the subways during the Bangalore Underground Festival 2015. Complete strangers came in and had a ball posing for the camera! All masterminded by the good folks at Bangalore Underground and Bangalore Rising!