India, Karma, and Magic (Part II)

"Namaste." said the gentleman out front of the hotel as he bowed with hands together and a warming smile on his face.

"Namaste." I replied, as I followed suit to return the gesture, except of course I had an iphone in between my hands. I had wondered if this was perhaps not as respectful as it could be and I tried not to do it with my phone in hand anymore. I had heard the expression before in some yoga talks, but never quite knew the meaning. I still didn't know until I returned home and looked into it. It is about honoring the divinity in one another; the light, the beauty, the peace and the truth that resides within us all. It is a very powerful concept I came to find. What a truly beautiful expression. Divinity..

On this day, the day we had all been waiting for, the divinity of everyone around and the divinity of the unseen were all present; the whole magical day and night. As I sit here and listen to some Indian music as I type, I will attempt to go back in time to what already seems a lifetime ago; yet was not even a few month ago. It was the most amazing elegant surreal day of my life thus far, and I have had a few prior to this.

"How do I look Manu?" I pondered as I had just showered and tried on my red and gold traditional attire for the wedding. I had no idea what the tradition was for weddings in India, I didn't know what color scheme would be utilized, heck, I didn't even know where the event was or at what time it began. I was ecstatic to wear the attire for the first and what might be the last time. I knew that most all the other males in the group would probably be wearing the usual western suit and tie for the affair, and I figured, when in Rome, do as the Romans do...except I was in India. Once I had gotten out of the shower and all prepared for the day in my traditional dress, I had to know the first impression I gave from Manu.

"It looks very good Brian! Very traditional!".

I felt like at this time I was all prepared and ready for this very special day. We had all went to a club in downtown Delhi the night before to dance, celebrate and let loose before the day, so I was definitely feeling some of the effects from that decision. Breakfast is served up until 10am at the hotel, and we woke up about 9:50.

I got my mess of curly hair together in record time, threw on my shoes and headed down in somewhat of a hurry. I informed Manu that I would meet him there. I was a tad hungover and needed something in my stomach. Breakfast at the hotel was nice, we had it nearly every morning there, as it was included. I tried to get a little bit adventurous gastronomically by trying some of the things I wasn't quite sure was. Ultimately I settled into the old traditional breakfast I knew, which was eggs, bacon, potatoes, toast and coffee.

I dont remember having been this excited for many, if any, events in my life. It took me that whole week and all the events leading up to it for me to really realize that I was on the other side of the earth, having the time of my life with friends, and there to see one of my best frinds get married. I didn't really know what I was in for. I had been to a few weddings here in the US, and even most recently a month before I went to India, I had the privilege of being part of my best friends wedding in Colorado.

Of the few weddings I had been to in America ( I come from a family and friend background where few people have been married in my lifetime), I was able to see an overall style or tradition to weddings in this country. My best friends was a smaller event, with only the very close circle of their family and friends were able to attend. It was up in the mountains alongside a lake and maybe 25 people or so. We all dressed nice and formally, in the traditional western wear for men and women with suits and ties and dresses. There was a ceremony announcing the coming together of the 2 souls, and we departed to meet at a really nice restaurant and enjoy dinner all together. Afterwards we all got together to have a great night all together laughing, smiling, and enjoying this special day together.

That has seemed to be the custom in many of the weddings I have attended here in the US. Having gone to India for a traditional Indian wedding was a whole different ball game. It was as announced and as large, grand and as elegant as a ceremony as I have ever seen. It was very international. There were people from all over the world there; China, Russia, India, Ukraine, France, Spain, Germany, Argentina, England, US. It was incredible being among such an intelligent and diverse group of young amazing people from different walks of life and different corners of the world.

So there I am, looking in the mirror, with my red and gold achkan (I believe it is called), looking decent and reasonably traditional for this special occasion. My friend Manu and I headed down to reception to meet the party of everyone else. Upon exiting the elevator and seeing eveyone else in their attire for the wedding was quite special. The beautiful ladies were all in traditional dresses of all different radiant and bright colors. Some of the guys went with the traditional western tailored suits, while a few of us went with the traditional Indian achkan. Here we were, all together, ready for this event that the entire week, entire month, year...lifetime...had been leading up to. It was a mystery to everyone where exactly the event was going to be held, all we knew is what time we had to be in the lobby to get going.

We first had to stop by my friends, the groom, house which was near the hotel we were staying at. Everything was a surprise that day. There were not many details to the itinerary for the plans for this day. It was all a big surprise. We were kind of just being told to hop into cabs and be prepared.

We pulled up to a house that was decorated from top to bottom in beautifully colored cloths and there was a big band in the streets in front and many many people dressed in beautiful vestments celebrating and smiling. I recall seeing a horse with a beautiful red decorated blanket on its back and tried to put 2 and 2 together to find out its purpose in the ceremony. Inside of the building was my friend, the groom, and his family having a traditional ceremony inside. I went inside briefly to see him seated in his amazing stunning traditional wedding suit. It was all gold with pearls. He looked lie a prince, and conducted himself as such as well. It was breathtaking.

This whole time, no one had seen the bride. My friend later told me that it was tradition for the bride and groom to remain separated the entire week prior to the ceremony with their own families and friends holding their own celebrations and get togethers. I recall looking around at all the events the whole week prior for the bride and never seen her, so I had to ask. Still, the groom or no one would see her until we arrived to the center where the ceremony would be held.

So there we all were, in this grand ceremony in the streets of New Delhi with music blasting from drums and trumpets of the what I assumed to be local band. Dresses and traditional male suits of all colors. That was a vivid memory was all the beautiful and various colors everywhere. Before I continue, anyone who knows me, knows I am not a dancer. I never dance. But this day, I would dance for a lifetimes worth of dancing. One of my Indian friends said that whoever dances the most and most vigorously during the procession was the one who wished the best for the groom. uh oh....

He came out of the house, with his little companion at his side dressed equally impressive. They both mounted the horse and thus began a parade/procession through the streets. Hundreds of us were dancing, laughing, living in the moment together for our friend for his special day. I remember seeing money being waved at him, and to my understanding it was to ward off bad energies.

It was my friends Manu from Spain, Adrien from France and Chao from China that all left in a cab together to the mysterious sight where the magical event would be held. I almost felt like I was getting married (which is probably about as close to marriage as I'll get), I was so excited and had the jitters. I remember looking out the window, peering at the Indian sun setting. As i watched the sun set, I knew, after so many trips and magical experiences abroad, that the time for this magical time was also setting.

We pulled up to the event center, and it turned out to be a Ritz-Carlton place, I had only heard of these prestigious places, never actually been to one and it was quite extravagant. I don't think we were supposed to walk into the venue and get a sneak peak, but we were the first to arrive and werent sure what to do, so we checked it out and it was pretty mind blowing. I had no idea the procession and celebrations that would follow..

The walls were lined with food and snacks. What seemed like every 30 seconds a server would come up with a plate of something different and offer it. Everyone was getting their heads wrapped. The moment was overwhelming. Then there was the procession from the building we were at to the event center where the ceremony and dance would be held. Let me reiterate, I am not a dancer and don't jump up for the opportunity to dance when it does present itself. However, that was about to dramatically change over the course of the next couple hundred yards...

We danced, and beat drums and shook instruments, and smiled and laughed and lived. I will never ever forget the magical moments of dancing and smiling. I remember I tried to stop dancing a few times, and one of the fellows with the band playing a trumpet got right next to me, intentionally, and played the trumpet as if I was the only one in the procession dancing, or atleast trying. The groom was behind us in a horse and carriage lit as we danced in front of him all the way. After we made it to the convention center, we were all able to stop dancing for a moment and find our way around.

As far as the eyes could see, there was food. From one corner of this massive convention center to the other, sooooooo much food!! Even harder to believe was that it was all made without any beef and mostly vegetarian, keeping it inline with the customs of India. I didn't know what just about any of it was, but I was eager to try my luck. Luckily, I had my companion at my side who had all the recommendations and secrets for me, Deepak. Deepak was always at my side during this trip, making it as comfortable and as magical as it could possibly be. He showed me around to the different platters and recommended for me the different things to try. He helped get my food on a plate and we all sat down with our friends and feasted. The gratitude that I have for my friends in India can not be expressed in words. Deepak, Dinesh and Shwam made my trip exponentially better and more comfortable.

There were thousands of people from every corner of the earth, from all cultures together eating, dancing, rejoicing, smiling, laughing. It was such an overwhelming and beautiful experience. i tried to experience it both from an outside perspective as well as from the inside out. There are not words in the English language with which to express the feelings that took over my spirit this night. The ceremony, the photos, the culture, the heritage, the diversity, the joy, it was as euphoric and as an out of body experience as I have ever had.

So here we all were, together, this night, for our friend Shank, and his life partner. When we came, they were 2 separate souls; when the night was over, they were one soul. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever had the honor to be a part of. The coming together of 2 souls to become one. There is a greek myth that says when we were created by zeus, we had 4 arms and 4 legs and a head with 2 faces. Seeing and fearing the power that we had, he split us into 2, condemning us to spend the rest of our existence looking for our other halves. To see that power of the conjoining of man and woman into one, I can see why. It is one of the most powerful universal and creative forces in all creation.

Seeing all this made me put things in perspective of how it all ties together and how it relates to my story. I still strongly believe that I was never split into 2, although I don't have the 4 arms, legs and 2 heads. The more sand that runs from the top chamber to the bottom, the more I believe that my other half was never made from me. I have expressed my love, I have made the mistake of thinking that this woman or that woman was my other half. It takes A LOT, an understatement, for me to express such things to someone. Those are among the most bravest times in my life, when I have expressed this belief to someone, only for it to validate my subconscious belief that that greek myth is a truth for the majority, but not for me. I have believed my other half to be an American woman, a Romanian, a German, a Spanish woman, an Armenian princess, a Russian angel, an Ecuadorian queen, all of whom I have crossed paths with in the space time continuum. Hence, I continue to wonder the earth in search of my purpose. Some peoples purpose is their wife, their child, their job, their pet, their work. I am still in search of mine. I often wonder if it is to wander, because the journey is more important than the destination in my case.

I know the difference, better than most, between love and lust. Tesla said if you want to know the secrets of the universe, they lie in frequency, vibration and energy. I know when I am around someone I could love, because it is their vibe, their energy, their spirit that I attract to. The physical appearance is secondary. I look up at my friends who are finding their other halves and becoming one, admittedly sometimes out of envy, but most times out of awe and joy. I figure the next best thing, is being a part of these experiences, being a part of the coming together of 2 souls to form one single soul.

And here I was all danced out, I was full, and had something weird going on with my stomach most of the night. I wasn't feeling 100% so I was wiped out by the end of this night. The Indian shoes I had were paper thin and I had worn them even thinner with all the dancing that I did that day. My feet were killing me, my stomach was fighting me, and my body was saying it had enough. I found a little corner of the venue where I could rest and dozed off. I was thinking if I woke up, it would be back in my little studio apartment downtown Durango, Colorado. That all this had simply been a dream, and I was not really here, because it was too surreal, too euphoric. I remember getting a text asking where I was, because we were to present our gift to the newly weds that we collectively came together and pitched in for. I found my way over to where everyone was and it would be the last time I would see the bride and groom, until the next time fate would bring us together again in whatever corner of this earth.... and thus concludes the Magic part of the blog. Last and certainly not least, Karma will be the next post about my final day here in India and how the experience shaped my immediate future and decisions upon my return to my "home" country...