A short while ago I was able to attend a Gaye Holud
ceremony, part of the activities on the evening before a wedding, for a women who
lives in the tribal community on our hospital grounds. After spending hours getting ready, including fancy dress, make-up and henna, the bride
was carried to her seat at the front to sit beside her fiancé. A
paste was made from turmeric spice (called holud here or “yellow”) and water
following which the guests started feeding fruit and snacks to the bride and
groom then smearing the turmeric on their faces and arms. Fittingly, most people were wearing turmeric colored clothing (gold/yellow/orange). It reminded me slightly of a Canadian wedding
where the bride and groom cut the cake and smear icing on each other’s noses,
except that all of the guests get in on the action and a “turmeric war” ensues. They say the turmeric results in “beautiful,
glowing skin” but with my complexion I ended up with the less desired “jaundice
look”. The younger crowd continued into
the evening with music, dancing and general celebrating.
Holly
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