Coorg weddings rock!

"Ah! Another wedding! What a bore!"

How many times have you heard this? I've heard the same line repeated countless times and half of those times I'm saying it!!!

But if ever again someone says "Coorg Wedding" all you'll hear me say is "woohoo!" and probably "how fast can i get there??/When's the next bus to Kodagu??"

A few months ago i attended a friends wedding, a coorg (please note "coorg" not 'coorgi') friend (I wouldn't be writing about it otherwise). It was my-first-coorg-wedding (and if there is a God it won't be my last) and there was never a moment in the two whole days that i spent there, that i was inactive... getting bored was unimaginable!. The fact that this family has some of my most favourite people (in the world) is a value-add, but trust me on this -and never miss out on a coorg wedding.

i have a million reasons why and I'll list out a few.

Reason 1- Coorgs are extremely hospitable, at the weddings and even otherwise (even though the basis of this claim is by participating in one such wedding this time some how, I'm sure i can generalize.)

Reason 2- The coorgs dance all through the ceremonies. And the best part the steps are not choreographed and require no skill. only requisite - energy and LOTs of it(in my books- this has to be reason no. 1)

Reason 3- Alcohol! How much ever i try to fight and argue against this stuff, i have to agree it gets people so happy and care-free it really boosts up the celebration. Everyone is rid of their reticence and self-restraints (moral ones not inclusive) and with their hands up in the air (part of the extremely entertaining kodava dance), joins to celebrate the happy occasion

Reason 4- The food! All that dancing is tiring! Just alcohol wont keep the energy up ....so meat and lots of it goes around to keep the people on their toes.

Everybody says marriage 'isn't easy', 'its a battle','its a compromise' et cetara et cetera ..... but the Coorgs really know how to drive this point home. The groom's family and friends keep the bride waiting for hours on end to get to her prince charming. And how ? But of course by dancing(ecstatically) in front of her and preventing her from taking a single step(its called Ganga pooja).

Another, noteworthy ritual is the plantain cutting,'Baale Birud'. The groom and all the men-folk really get to show off their masculinity (macho-ness as I like to call it) by sporting daggers and cutting off plantain stumps. It's not as easy as it sounds.....

So in short , it's a feel good event,as all weddings should be. We have a lot to learn from this hilly tribe!

Hats (may be turbans) off to you guys!