Wednesday, January 3

Guests arrive by bus from Jaipur

As guests arrive, they will be welcomed on the steps of the Palace with garlands

For those of you leaving Jaipur in the morning, lunch will be served at Samode. For those of you leaving Jaipur in the late morning/early afternoon, lunch will be served at a traditional Indian roadside pit stop on the road between Jaipur and Samode.

Free afternoon to allow guests to continue to arrive

Afternoon tea

Welcome Dinner at Samode Bagh with Traditional Rajasthani Music and Folk Dancers

Thursday, January 4

Breakfast at Samode

Mehndi (Henna) Ceremony at Samode Bagh
Henna is derived from the evergreen plant and is a hallmark of the traditional Indian wedding.  It is forbidden for the new bride to do any housework as long as the mehndi remains on and it is also tradition for the groom's initials to appear somewhere on the bride's mehndi, which he must look for on the wedding night.  We will have several henna artists available for anyone who is interested in participating. In the adjoining lawns will be cricket matches and kite flying, to keep the boys busy. This afternoon will be spent at Samode Bagh, the formal Mughal gardens.

Lunch at Samode

Free afternoon to enjoy activities and the grounds of the Palace

Sangeet Dinner at Samode Palace
The Sangeet is what would be equivalent to the Rehearsal Dinner.  Traditionally, it was celebrated with the singing of folk songs and dancing, although today, most are Bollywood songs, complete with orchestrated dances and a full stage. The "dance program" will be followed by toasts, dinner and shaking booty, Bollywood style.

Friday, January 5

Breakfast at Samode

Haldi Ceremony at Samode Bagh
This ceremony symbolizes happiness, well-wishes and purity for the couple.  Both of us will be covered with a concoction of flour, turmeric, sandalwood, mustard oil and water.  It is applied to the feet, arms, faces and necks by anyone wanting to get their hands dirty! Lunch will be served after the ceremony and then guests can return to their rooms to get ready for the wedding procession.

Lunch at Samode

Free afternoon to get ready for the Wedding Procession and Ceremony

Barat (Arrival of the Groom)
Rick will arrive by elephant, accompanied by a marching band, while family and friends dance alongside. The wedding procession will meet on the outskirts of the village at 530PM. The procession will leave at 6PM, winding through the village of Samode, hoping to arrive at the Palace by 7PM. Ritu's family will greet the Barat and exchange garlands. Ritu's mother will wave a small candle in front of Rick to ward off evil spirits and place sacred red dye to his forehead. Ritu's father will formally welcome Rick with an offering of honey, perfumed water and yogurt.

Wedding Ceremony
We will exchange garlands and proceed to the Mandap (Wedding Canopy), where we will be seated in front of a ceremonial fire pit (havan kund).  The ceremonial pit is the embodiment of the God Agni, who is the messenger between the mortal and immortal world, and delivers our sacrifices to the gods. As the priest continues with hymns, mantras and physical offerings of grass, wood, butter and grain, cocktails and light snacks will be served in Sheesh Mahal.

Reception
The wedding ceremony will be followed by a dinner and dancing

Saturday, January 6

Breakfast at Samode

Check out

Bus to Jaipur for connecting planes, trains and automobiles...

Please Note -- exact times have been left out because everything in India happens according to IST -- that is Indian Standard Time...you just go with the flow and things happen when they happen