The portrait of a marriage.

[Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi]

On May 6, 2011, Delhi saw thousands of weddings. It was Akshaya Tritiya, a lucky day in the Hindu calendar for people to get gold, silver and brides. The Delhi Walla chronicled one such wedding, in Noida, the town across the Yamuna. Moments before the garland ceremony, the bride complained of nervousness and the groom betrayed a nervous energy. Later, amid the Vedic chants, as they exchanged vows in front of the holy fire, they both looked happy.

The bride

The groom

Mother of the bride (in yellow)

Mother of the groom (in yellow)

People of the bride

The bride’s vanity

The wedding mood

Reunions

Long time no see

The bride’s bua

The bride’s cousins

Look, the bride!

The groom’s evening

Bring the bride

Brothers of the bride

Excited?

To the altar

Getting closer

Hand in hand

Portrait of a new marriage

Just married

And they will live happily ever after