Wednesday, July 13, 2011
It was a tradition, now it’s a style. Even though white horses in weddings are more popular in India than in the U.S., some Hindu Americans have fun with the popular custom.
Gypsy, a 10-year-old quarter horse paint mix, looks white as snow and was sought to be in a wedding in Lawrence on May 17.
Lisa Hendrix-Mooney, Gypsy’s owner, was excited for Gypsy to be in a Hindu wedding. The horse had never done anything like that.
A few weeks ago, Hendrix-Mooney posted an ad on Craigslist for Gypsy to do more weddings.
“It was a neat experience,” Hendrix-Mooney said. “It was beautiful.”
It is a Hindu tradition for grooms to ride on a white horse to the wedding ceremony, said Sammi Sangam, owner of Curry in a Hurry, 1111 Massachusetts St., and wedding attendee.
“It’s like a knight in the shining armor,” Sangam said.
Grooms ride on a white horse to the wedding venue because they are supposed to be treated like royalty. Sangam said. According to ancient traditions, girls were considered a burden because they were expensive, which is why the groom, who will be her provider, is treated this way, Sangam said.
Many Indian families save money their entire lives and are on the lookout for potential husbands so their daughters can get married. It is seen as a privilege because the groom is doing the family a favor, Sangam said.
The groom and horse are decked in jewelry and rich colors, usually red, white and gold. “The groom wears any dress that is fit for a king,” Sangam said. He also wears a head piece that is well designed and decorated with jewels and sometimes pearls.
“Gold has to be a part of it [the outfit]. It signifies prosperity and grandeur,” Sangam said.
At her first wedding appearance, Gypsy wore a special dress that is usually made in India, headgear and a cushioned saddle. She was covered in rich red and gold and was followed by a man with a red umbrella that hung over the groom.
The umbrella is used to protect the groom from the elements, or evil spirits. If he has younger brothers or cousins they sit with him on the horse as an angel concept, Sangam said.
Aparna Kumar, a senior from Overland Park and member of the South Asian Student Association, has been to two Hindu weddings that had horses. Her cousin entered the wedding venue on a chariot, a horse carriage, just because he wanted to, Kumar said.
Kumar has another cousin who is getting married next May, but doesn’t think the groom will enter on a horse. If he does, she said it would be neat.
“It’s a ‘who wouldn’t want to have a horse at their wedding?’ type of thing,” Kumar said.
Indian weddings can easily cost $50,000, but are limitless considering a small wedding will have about 500 guests, Sangam said. The bride’s family pays for the entire wedding and hotels are also paid for by the bride’s family, not the guests.
“Even if you are the poorest man in Indian context, you will make it,” Sangam said. “The wedding is the greatest thing for a family.”
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