Brahman and Priyanka in traditional Tamil wedding dress, Sydney
A TWO-DAY TAMIL WEDDING

Brahman & PriyankaHindu wedding, Sydney

Two days, two ceremonies — a Tamil temple wedding with drums, fire and garlands, then vows on the harbour beneath the Bridge.

Two days, two ceremonies. On the first, a traditional Tamil Hindu wedding: the ritual bath at home, the procession into the temple behind thavil and nadaswaram, the curtain lowered between bride and groom, the sacred fire, the tying of the thali, and rice and blessings showered over the two of them by everyone they love.

On the second, a western ceremony on the harbour — portraits through the sandstone lanes of The Rocks, vows on the wharf directly beneath the Harbour Bridge with the Opera House across the water, and then a reception and a dance floor that did not stop.

The family home lit up at dusk on the eve of the wedding, Sydney
Brahman having oil poured over him for the ritual bath, two frames
Brahman laughing as water is poured over his head, Sydney
Milk being poured over Brahman during the ritual bath, three frames
Brahman sitting in the bath after the ceremonial washing, Sydney
Family watching over Brahman during the ritual bath, Sydney
The gold-embroidered sherwani hanging ready, and its buttons up close
Brahman being dressed by family, and laughing in his garland
An elder blessing Brahman, and a kiss on the cheek, Sydney
Brahman with his groomsmen in matching sherwanis on the balcony
Priyanka in her red bridal sari in the garden, two frames
Priyanka with her bridesmaids in silk saris among the greenery
The bridesmaids’ hennaed hands and bangles against their saris
Priyanka covering her face with her hennaed hands, Sydney
Priyanka’s hennaed hands held out against her red sari, Sydney
Brahman arriving at the temple beneath a canopy, Sydney
The groom’s procession into the temple, three frames, Sydney
The thavil and nadaswaram musicians playing at the ceremony
The curtain being raised between bride and groom, two frames
The priest holding the cloth screen at the mandapam, Sydney
Priyanka and Brahman seeing each other, two frames, Sydney
The pooja tray and offerings during the ceremony, Sydney
Brahman and Priyanka during the ceremony, black and white
The garlands and the tray of coloured powders, Sydney
The sacred fire and the tying of the thali, two frames, Sydney
Family holding the cloth screen aloft during the rituals, Sydney
Priyanka being blessed by family at the mandapam, Sydney
The rose garlands exchanged during the ceremony, two frames
The ceremony seen wide from the guests, two frames, Sydney
Brahman and Priyanka seated on the wedding swing, Sydney
Family feeding Brahman during the rituals, Sydney
Rice and offerings being showered on the couple, two frames
Blessings being given at the mandapam, two frames, Sydney
The temple gopuram, and the couple hand in hand inside, Sydney
Brahman and Priyanka reflected in the car window after the ceremony
Their garlanded hands resting together in the car, Sydney
A ring-lit portrait, and the two of them close together, Sydney
Priyanka and Brahman beneath a big tree in the temple grounds
The couple in their wedding clothes, two frames, Sydney
Day 2
Brahman fastening his cufflinks on day two, two frames, Sydney
Brahman sitting at the hotel table with a friend, Sydney
Brahman writing his vows at the hotel table, Sydney
Brahman on the phone, and his tie being knotted, Sydney
Brahman dressing by the hotel window, black and white, Sydney
Getting ready in the hotel corridor, black and white, Sydney
Portraits of Priyanka and Brahman before the second ceremony
Priyanka at the hotel window, and the room in silhouette
Priyanka being helped into her gown high above the city, Sydney
Priyanka sitting by the window with the city below, Sydney
Priyanka reflected in the mirror above the Sydney skyline
Brahman and Priyanka ready on either side of a wall, Sydney
Brahman and Priyanka kissing by the hotel window, Sydney
The two of them in silhouette against the city, black and white
Brahman and Priyanka against a weathered timber wall, two frames
The whole bridal party on the sandstone steps, Sydney
Priyanka with her bridesmaids in navy against the timber fence
The groomsmen laughing on the steps, Sydney
Brahman and the groomsmen sitting on the sandstone stairs
The groomsmen together on the steps, Sydney
Brahman with his groomsmen on the stairs, Sydney
The groomsmen walking, and lined up in the laneway, Sydney
Brahman laughing with the groomsmen on the steps, Sydney
The couple tiny in the doorway of a pink terrace, The Rocks
Brahman and Priyanka against the sandstone wall, Sydney
The two of them in a brick doorway, three frames, The Rocks
Brahman and Priyanka against the brick wall, Sydney
Priyanka lifting her lace gown as they walk, Sydney
Walking the stairs beneath the arches, black and white, Sydney
Their hands held together, and the two of them in the dark
Climbing the stairs, and a kiss in the white light, black and white
The terrace rooftops of The Rocks, Sydney
Priyanka’s heels on the steps, and the two of them descending
Brahman and Priyanka in a dark doorway, Sydney
The reception tables, the cake and the seating plan, four frames
The reception room with wisteria hanging above the aisle, Sydney
The stairs down to the wharf, and the boat alongside, Sydney
The string quartet playing at the ceremony, three frames, Sydney
Guests arriving and greeting each other, three frames, Sydney
Guests seated for the harbourside ceremony, three frames, Sydney
Guests taking photographs before the ceremony, three frames
Guests waiting for the ceremony to begin, three frames, Sydney
Family seated and standing at the ceremony, two frames, Sydney
Guests watching the ceremony on the wharf, three frames, Sydney
Guests applauding at the ceremony, three frames, Sydney
A flower girl on the red carpet seen from above, Sydney
A flower girl walking the red carpet, two frames, Sydney
Brahman waiting with the groomsmen and the Harbour Bridge behind
The celebrant and groomsmen beneath the Harbour Bridge, Sydney
Brahman watching Priyanka arrive, and a flower girl dancing
The flower girl on the red carpet, two frames, Sydney
The groomsmen waiting, and Priyanka walking the aisle, Sydney
Guests cheering as Priyanka arrives, two frames, Sydney
Priyanka and Brahman with the celebrant on the wharf, Sydney
The ceremony with the city skyline behind, Sydney
Priyanka and Brahman at the ceremony above the harbour, Sydney
Guests watching the harbourside ceremony, two frames, Sydney
The bridesmaids watching the ceremony, Sydney
The groomsmen lined up at the ceremony, Sydney
The ceremony beneath the Harbour Bridge, black and white, Sydney
The ceremony directly under the Harbour Bridge, Sydney
The underside of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, black and white
Guests at the ceremony, two frames, Sydney
The ceremony seen from behind the seated guests, Sydney
A boy being greeted by a groomsman, two frames, Sydney
The ceremony with the Opera House behind, Sydney
Exchanging rings on the wharf, two frames, Sydney
The Sydney Opera House under a heavy sky
Signing the marriage certificate, two frames, Sydney
Applause as the ceremony ends, two frames, Sydney
Walking back down the red carpet, two frames, Sydney
Priyanka and Brahman on the boat stairs, black and white, Sydney
Guests mingling at the reception, two frames, Sydney
Priyanka and Brahman entering the reception to applause, Sydney
Cutting the cake at the reception, two frames, Sydney
Speeches and toasts, two frames, black and white, Sydney
The head table during the speeches, two frames, Sydney
The first dance, two frames, black and white, Sydney
The groomsmen performing a dance, two frames, Sydney
Dancing with guests, two frames, black and white, Sydney
Priyanka and Brahman dancing, three frames, black and white
The dance floor, two frames, black and white, Sydney
Guests dancing under the lights, two frames, Sydney
Priyanka and Brahman dancing together, three frames, Sydney
The groomsmen on the dance floor, three frames, Sydney
Guests dancing in saris and suits, four frames, Sydney
A group dance in full swing, two frames, Sydney
The dance floor late in the night, three frames, Sydney
Guests dancing with arms raised, three frames, Sydney
Dancing at the reception, three frames, Sydney
The party continuing, three frames, Sydney
Guests lifted on the dance floor, two frames, Sydney
The whole floor dancing, two frames, Sydney
A circle dance closing out the night, Sydney
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