Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Limited unlimited feast.

By common practice, most Hindu weddings choose to serve vegetarian food on the actual wedding day. This is due to some Vedic traditions. For some wedding parties this could prove to be a challenge of how to offer a wider range menu.

The answer is to think outside the box. A popular option to resolve this dilemma, which is now being used by a large number of Indian and Hindu wedding parties, is serving international cuisines. Who says that just because your wedding is Indian, the food selection must be too? In fact most of our clients, choose to have fusion menus with influences from all over the globe. What is nicer than having an Indian wedding in Hawaii, with a touch of the local magic on the tip of your taste buds, and the scent of the exotic fruits making your head swoon? With a larger variety of global cuisines, comes a larger variety of vegetarian dishes. It is no doubt that the creative minds of this new generation of brides and grooms are a force to be reckoned with. This was reaffirmed even more strongly by one of our recent clients. An Indian bride that we are currently working with decided that she wanted to keep her Indian Vedic wedding traditional, and serve Indian food exclusively. As expected, when faced with the challenge of dish variety, she came up with the most wonderful of ideas. She took her inspiration from the different regions and the infusion of cultures that make up India. She said to us "why go beyond to the whole world, when there is a whole world within my motherland to explore?" She decided that her wedding menu theme will be "cuisines of India" and she chose to incorporate cuisines from 5 different regions, Punjab, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kashmir, and Rajasthan. Even a few dishes from each region, made the buffet appear an endless feast. The wedding venue transformed into the land of mouth watering butter naan, creamy panner makhani, the sweet and sour aroma of the Gujarati chutneys with dhokla's, and the sense awaking sounds of dosas crackling as you imagine the spicy coconut chutney tingling on the tongue. In the midst of this whirlwind of intoxicating flavors, not once did we hear the words uttered, "Where are, the non-vegetarian dishes?"

Monday, June 7, 2010

The Mehndi (Henna) Name Game

Mehndi (Henna) although often seen as one of the most traditional parts of Hindu and Muslim ceremonies, who knew, has quite a flirtatious twist to it. One of the traditional parts of the Henna anointment ceremony is actually a form of subtle ice-breaking, between the bride and groom. The customary practice of hiding the groom's name or initials within the design on the hands of the bride's, is actually a game to be played on the wedding night between the couple. If the groom, before the wedding night is over, can find his name or name/initials within the intricate henna patterns, it is said that he will be the dominant one in the marriage. If he fails, the bride then will be the boss in turn. Along with this traditional significance, and the actual artistic decoration of the Mehndi, (Henna) it also is a way to initiate physical contact between the newly weds. It makes you wonder, if our extremely traditional ancestors, the creators of these traditions, may have been hiding some ulterior motives.... ;)

Friday, May 21, 2010

Bridal Entrance

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Marriage licenses in Hawaii

You do need a marriage license to get married in Hawaii, but it is very simple to get a marriage license in Hawaii.  There are no citizenship or statehood requirements, no blood tests, anyone over 18 can get the license easily.  If you are younger, then you do need to fulfil some other conditions.  This applies to all islands, Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, and the Big Island

Where to Apply for a Marriage License


In Honolulu - Room 101 (1st floor) of the Health Department Building, 1250 Punchbowl St. (corner of Beretania and Punchbowl Streets)
For the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of marriage agents in the rural and suburban areas of Oahu - call (808) 586-4544


For the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of marriage agents on the neighbor islands - call the local office of the Department of Health:

Hawaii (Big Island) - (808) 974-6008
Kauai - (808) 241-3498
Maui - (808) 984-8210
Molokai - (808) 553-3200

Monday through Friday (excluding holidays and furlough days), 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
All details may be found at http://hawaii.gov/health/vital-records/vital-records/marriage/index.html

The form may be downloaded from
http://hawaii.gov/health/vital-records/pdf/marriagelicense.pdf

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Bridal Henna (Mehndi) is an integral part of Hindu or Vedic Weddings

Mehndi or Henna parties are an integral part of the traditional hindu wedding.  It is an occasion to mingle, sing and dance.
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Hands and feet with the henna (mehndi) applied
Intricate designs for the bride and less intricate ones for the friends and relatives are part of the tradition.




hands after
Beautiful hands in Honolulu, after Henna (Mehndi) is removed

There are Henna artistes on all islands, Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, and the Big Island

Great oceanside homes for weddings

Mandap setup for the Hindu wedding ceremony at a beach house in Honolulu.
Lovely Flat lawns with the ocean in front make ideal settings for a wedding followed by a catered reception dinner.  You can also rent the house to live in for the duration of your visit and have all the comforts of home, instead of staying at a hotel.

Perfectly scenic location.

Crystal blue oceanside location
Peaceful serene location



Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Hindu, Vedic or Sikh weddings, or memorable parties and events


 I organize events in Hawaii.  This applies to all islands, Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, and the Big Island  Would you like a Hindu or Sikh wedding, a Bollywood DJ, indian bollywood dancers, a mehndi (henna) ceremony, an Arya Samaj havan, an Indian pandit to perform a Hindu or Vedic wedding?
I love to create memorable events.
Call me at 808-342-1366

Mira Savara

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