Engaging Engagement

July's biggest excitement was Mandeep and Kevins's engagement party, and what a party it was!

The celebrations started on friday with a trip to the Sik Gurdwara. I had been to a Mandir (Hindu temple) with Gaurav and his family quite often but I had never to a Gurdwara before so I was glad to go. Kevin's family, Mun, Mun's nephew and I and we stayed for a prayer and blessing before heading back to the house where Mun's family had gathered. Out came the food, my favorite part. Can I take a side note to talk about how much I LOVE indian food?! If I was able to eat Indian food everyday I would. Paneer, prathas, saag, curries, the daal, chai..it's all so good!! The jelabies and sweets get me every time, I think I must have ate 10 that weekend!! After eating the mendi was applied to all the women's hands. When it was all finished the women we went downstairs to blast the tunes and bust a move. I tried to get my Indian dance moves down for the party fast approaching the next night but I have to laugh at my lack of ability! :). What great fun.

We woke up fairly early on Saturday and Mun was whisked off to get her makeup and hair done. When she got back everyone was in a flurry to get their makeup and hair perfected and get sarees tied by the professional. Sarees....sooooo beautiful but sooooo difficult to a.)assemble, b.)tie and c.)wear and be comfortable in and d.) walk in!!! It's taken me two months to get this saree ready for the party, I bought it with Mun in vancouver, then I had to find a tailor to make the top, make two trips WAY up north in calgary to get it and get it altered with Gaurav's mom since I dont speak Punjabi and don't know what the heck to ask for in the top! Then to find someone to sew (and resew when messed up) the fall (the little piece of fabric on the bottom of the saree that makes it "fall" nicely). When the saree was being put on me I was informed that I didn't have enough fabric, since Im tall apparently I need 6 meters not 5 since its suppose to have 5 folds in the front when tied or something. We had to tie it twice and the women had to teach me how to walk in it and then we were ready to go! It was quite the hilarious journey but turned out beautifully. Everyone looked so magnificant.

The restaurant was beautiful and Mun and Kevin looked drop dead gorgeous! All that work wasn't in vain. Mun looked perfect and both were glowing. I wont go into how good the food was, only to say mmmmmm...butter chicken...mmmmmm!!!! I liked the ceremony of feeding them food and giving blessings. Open bar lead to a decrease in my apprehension about my lack of dance moves and we hit the dance floor hard for most of the night. About 3am we wrapped it up and I tried to behave as sober as I could in front of the relatives until we could crawl into bed for some much needed sleep.

What a great time had by all. CONGRATULATIONS MANDEEP AND KEVIN!! From 4 years of Nursing to travelling the world together to trips to Vancouver to the engagement and wedding to come, Mun and I have been through a lot of great times with more to come! I am blessed to have a best friend like her!