Houston Arts Alliances Celebrates the Art of the Indian Wedding

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By Parth Dwivedi

HOUSTON: Houston Arts Alliance held a reception for its wedding exhibit, Anointed and Adorned, this past Thursday, June 6, which was marked by the presence of some 300 guests. Walking in, one was greeted by an impressive display designating the exhibit in simple lettering, ornamented by flower garlands, rangoli designing, and a bronze statue of Sri Ganesha, to bless the event.

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Anointed and Adorned is intended to explore the artistry of Indian weddings in America, under the premise that they recreate the traditions of India and craft artful observances reflecting their new environment. This exhibit is a part of a larger series called Remembered, Regained: Immigrant Arts of Houston, which examines “the incredible way immigrant communities expand the cultural palette of Houston and invigorate us all,” as Pat Jasper, Director of the Folk-life and Traditional Arts Program, put it. Her program is the arm of HAA responsible for organizing the Remembered, Regained initiative, amongst others.

A decorative rangoli was created by Sangita Bhutada

A decorative rangoli was created by Sangita Bhutada

Jasper pointed out that the exhibit is actually about Houston, which one can get a sense of after reading all of the panels accompanying the displays, each of which explores a distinct aspect of the Indian wedding and how it has evolved in the local metropolitan culture. The displays themselves were chromatically themed, corresponding to a specific wedding element, and information was presented across multiple forms of media, as displays consisted of images or a video, a written explanation, and prerecorded audio explanations.

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Photography by Sohil Maknojia was showcased

Decorations of rose garlands, Indian fabrics, and even a large rangoli set the tone for the rest of the exhibit, along with catering from Udipi and wedding fusion music provided by DJ Rocky. At one point a dhol introduced Jasper to speak, before models provided by Anjali Center for Performing Arts illustrated regional differences in traditional wedding garb—namely between Bangladesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Hyderabad, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.

Model brides provided by Anjali Center of Performing Arts showed differences in regional wedding attire.   Photos: Alexander Fine

Model brides provided by Anjali Center of Performing Arts showed differences in regional wedding attire. Photos: Alexander Fine

The content was the result of the combined efforts of photographer Sohil Maknojia, videographer Dylan Reid, and researcher Rati Ramdas Girish. Maknojia attempted to capture matrimonial moments from a more candid and unscripted lens, while Girish noted that traditional ceremonies had to adapt to their guests and participants once they came stateside, shortening rituals and adding Western-Christian elements.