TRAVEL DIARY - #OBSERVATIONS AND REMARKS - THICK FAT WEDDINGS- AMBY VALLEY, LONAVALA

 

When the rich  stopped going to the festivals , they created their own  in the form of marriages to socialise with the known crowd. And they do it style,  for  3 days  to 10 days of festival typed  weddings   based on their status and wealth  . That may include theme functions, theme food , theme dress  and related theme programs, on  the whims and fancies of the  event managers , the marriage planner’s  . They can bring the moon... they can  bring  the  experts , artists , chefs  from  up country and   abroad: celebrities   sing for the selected crowd, and dance for you .

If you watch  at the weddings happening all across the  world of the rich and famous , most of it  happens  in India, and still India considered by the westerners as under developed . The event managers across the world take maximum advantage of it and make a roaring business out of it. They will take care of everything from  top to bottom , arrival to departure  ...they will ensure that the organisers wealth , status, and hospitality are reflected and maintained  in smallest of the things and events  . We can feel it , smell it  and see it in  dressing, food, decoration, accommodation, invitation, gifts, travel arrangements ,the visitor’s overall comfort  etc . Well!, That’s a different subject altogether and let me jus run through some of my observations on one such weddings  :

 

For  This wedding  happened at Amby valley , LonaVala , I was unfortunate enough to have missed the first six days, and  could  start only from the 7^th day onwards .

Amidst live drums and dolaks played exclusively for me , I was received   by the  guest handling team in the lobby of the hotel  , i was Garlanded by two  turbaned guys  , as if I am returning  after winning the cricket world cup,  and  honoured by a traditionally dressed pretty  girl  applying thilak on my  forehead like winner of a war and the capping my head with  the traditional Rajastani pagri (turban), I felt so important ....( after all thats the purpose of it Huhl ) , the same was happening next door , for some other  guest  who were receiving the same hospitality and felt special like me . . I was provided with a glossary as a part of the welcome kit along with a sumptuous welcome gift   : The  glossary went on for some pages ,  indexing-,   locations, food menu, dress code, various entertainment and  amusements on offer  ,  swimming , spa , Dr on Call .... Blah! Blah! in detail

After a refreshing sleep , at the comfort of the lavish room , That evening I opted  to go for a galla dinner with some western  flute recital .  Dressed for the evening  in suite , demonstrating  absolute  gentility , I presented myself to the gathering , fixed my drink strolled  about  the ball room  wished all the known faces ,  so many foreigners and i thought they must be some business associates of the bride groom’s family .

 The ball room  was extravagantly decorated with  huge imported chandeliers with glittering stones  hanging from the tall ceiling  , could see the flashy richness in every thing ,the antique chairs, tables , the vases on the table , fresh orchards ,  high quality cutleries  and well mannered butlers , and in the  rich music pouring out from the western flautist and his band .

I said “hello!” to a white couple near the bar counter – The  be suited short  man     in white tied attire  and  the lady in her white ball gown ,  they jus put  a formal smile, I  opened the conversation , “all well !”,

“O yea...!, wish the villas is  next door” , with a wide  smile exposing  one of his gold plated canines ,his cheeks showed   wrinkles while smiling , I could make out a pure English Accent . His wife  maintained a closed lip smile with a gentle greeting 

I nodded   and continued the conversation , “its hot outside..huh!. !”

“Thats fine ...feeling good,  and are you up for the salsa party now ...!”

I wondered is there a party after this ....... ?,

“Well , may be after 11 .... I replied without any assurance” 

“Have fun and see you tomorrow ...”.  ,  he waved me off , with a smile exposing his gold plated  canine .

 I wanted to establish a conversation, with the curiosity to find out who they are and what they do  ... typical Indian mentality . Met with a friend of mine who was indulged in a conversation with  two  blondes  holding Crystal wine  glasses , and he introduced them  as Clara and Christina . They were talking about their  recent visit to Taj Mahal . The Bride and bride groom were in the crowd casually mingling the crowd taking wishes .  I finished my  dinner and without bothering to venture in to the Salsa party , I retired

The next morning , after deciding on the location of one of the three venues for breakfast,   I showed up  to  one of them  ,  there were three different locations with different menu . Mind it,  Amby Vally is a 10500 acres of man made city , of cource city with hardly any people , with three lakes and  Dams, it has got 600 to 800 villas, equivalent number of Banquet halls, 18 hole Golf cource and an Airstrip . Artificial lagoons and beaches , the promoter  The sahara Group has created a mini leisure city out of now where . inside the city ,  From one location to another location you have to move in a car or for shorter distance a golf buggy .  

I found the Breakfast  venue  thinly crowded  may be because of the latenight Salsa party  , and  I saw Clara the blonde , playing a Harp  , with Christina playing the Cello  ..jugglers in jaunty hats performing in the clearing near by and a clown making  a cart wheel ... pepping up  the other wise sleepy breakfast party .

That was a well decorated open space with intermittent chairs and round  table spread across the lawn , I just grabbed  a fruit cake,  and croissant  from the massive spread of cakes    and asked for some toast and coffee   and waited in the table observing the crowd and the amusement as presented  by the juggler and the cyclist .

I saw a lady clown entertaining a kid with her antics.  Few known faces and more of unknown

 When , I got up to go for a second helping for some cut   fruits , I came across the clown man and he extended his arm and came out with a Rose out of now where ...when I extended my hand to receive it he, pulled it back  to his shirt and came out  with a cookie .......and  putup a  clown’s smile and Cheerfully said   “have a good day buddy  ........” and did you make it to the salsa  party yesterday ?” I saw his gold canine shining through his cheery, grin

 

- @ THE WEDDING AT AMBY VALLEY SOMETIME DURING JAN 2011