Nihar's Marriage

Nihar Barik, a colleague at Oracle Hyderabad, tied the knot on Jan 21, 2007 at Bhubaneswar, Orissa. Five of us had planned to attend his marriage. Finally however it was just Arjun & I. Nandu & Raj dropped out because their wives would not let them go. Amar was swampped with work.

Anyway, Arjun & I left Hyderabad on Jan 19th by Faluknama Express. We had tickets in the 2nd class sleeper. All the AC berths were already reserved. This was the first time I travelled by 2nd sleeper in the last 11 years :-) Arrived in BBSR at about 12.30 pm, the train being 45 mins late. Baba, my father, had come to pick us up. Went home to Sahid Nagar, scrubbed the dirt off and had lunch at about 2.00 pm. Then Arjun & I started for Puri at about 3.00 pm. I borrowed Baba's Indigo for the trip. Topped up the tank at the Banibihar BPL outlet and started off.

Our first stop was at Pipili. Arjun bought a patch-work hanging lamp shade there. Pipili produces beautiful stuff. I have a lot of Pipili work at home.

We had a room reserved at Hotel Sonali on the Puri beach. Bulu Patnaik who runs Puri Online helped me with the booking. The hotel is right on the beach and has decent rooms. We took a non-AC, Delux room for Rs. 605/- after tax. We left the car in the Hotel parking lot and took an auto-rickshaw to the Singha Dwara (Lion Gate) on Bada Danda (The Big Road). The Singha Dwara is the East gate of the Puri Jaganath temple and the most commonly used. It is also the gate that the annual Rath Jatra starts from. Before entering the temple we had a bite to eat at e veg restraunt on Bada Danda.

The Puri Jaganath Temple (as seen from Bada Danda)

Arjun Hegde with the Jaganath Temple in the background

I with the Jaganath Temple in the background

Arjun waiting for his Channa Bathura

We spent about an hour in the temple. Visited the main shrine (Jaganath, his sister Subhadra & his elder brother Balabhadra) as well as the shrine of Jaganath's wife Lakshmi, who is the housewife of the temple. The temple kitchens are called Lakshmi's kitchens.

That day Jaganath, Subhadra & Balabhadra were in Padma Bhesha (Lotus Dress). It was indeed a privilage to have seen that.

After the temple we took a cycle rickshaw (man powered) back to the beach. Walked along the beach for a while. Baba had told me about a new restraunt on the beach called Food Track. Food Track is located in a lane near the Puri Hotel and is a very nice place.

Food Track
near Puri Hotel
Sea Beach, Puri 752001
Ph: 06752-320121, Ph(M): 99376-20663, 98611-16376, 93381-27503

It was a little early for dinner so we went back to the Hotel. I had brought the laptop and a few movie DVDs. We settled on Vivah and watched it till 9.30 pm. Went back to Food Track for a dinner of fish curry, roties & rice, followed by coffee & flavoured milk (for Arjun). The bill was Rs. 163 ! Cool!

Went back to the hotel and finished the movie. A mushy mushy kind of movie but okay I suppose.

Woke up early the next day and started for Konark at about 7.30 am. We took the marine drive from Puri. konark is about 32 kms from Puri by this route. The road is good and we made good time. Parked near the temple and walked in. The ASI maintains the Sun Temple at Konark and has done a good job. They charge a Rs. 10/- admission fee.

Arjun posing next to one of the Wheel's of the Konark Temple

I posing next to the same wheel

A frontal view of the Sun Temple at Konark

Arjun at Konark

The Sun Temple at Konark is built in the shape of a charriot. The Konark Chakra, a very popular motif, is taken from the wheels of the Sun God's chariot. The inner scantum has collapsed and extensive repairs have been made to the temple. Entire panels are lost. The temple sculpture is exquisite. The Konark Sun Temple is a must see.

Arrived back in BBSR at about 11.00 am. Arjun & I had lunch with my in-laws. Fish fry, prawns, rice, dal, etc.

We started for Nihar's marriage at about 7.00 pm that evening. Met up with his Barath, or marriage procession, on the National Highway outside BBSR. I parked the car at the marriage venue and walked back to rejoin the Barath. Nihar had a live band which played popular Oriya & Hindi movie songs. There were three male vocalists and a single female vocalist. The Barath procession took an hour and a half to reach the marriage venue (covering a distance of about half a kilometer). Nihar was all decked up in traditional gear and had his Markundi along. The Markundi is a small boy who is also dressed up as a groom and accompanies him to the marriage. The markundi is supposed to divert the attentions of Indra who is jealous of all grooms and can cause trouble.

Nihar with his Markundi

Seems happy enough :-)

The live Band for the Barath.

Arjun dancing with other Barathies

The groom's car

Nihar had all his nails painted a bright red! We wanted some photos of his to show at work. Here goes -

We had a nice dinner (fish, chicken, rice, romali roti etc) and then went to spend some time with Nihar before the ceremonies started. Nihar was sitting in state in a room specially appointed for him.

Nihar, waiting to get married

Nihar with his Markundi

Wistful thinking (oh when!)

Nihar & I

We left for Hyderabad the next day. This time we took the BBSR-Mumbai Konark Express. I had borrowed a few books from Baba's collection and we read for most of the journey.

Our arrival at Secunderabad was marred by the auto rickshaw strike. No autos on the roads and all the taxi services were booked solid. No transportation at all! We finally managed to get an auto that was running in spite of the strike but it cost us Rs. 150/- for a 60 buck ride. Blast! But then with the blasted autos off the roads, driving in Hyderabad is a pleasure.