A new beginning

THE wedding of Dinesh Mangaroo and Cindy Sirju turned out to be one of the biggest events to take place in Doorbasa Trace Penal. For months, Surujdeo and Nadra Mangaroo of Doorbasa Trace Penal had been preparing for the marriage of their eldest son which took place on Sunday, June 20 after a two-day ceremony. Guests flew in from several countries as friends and relatives came together for the traditional Hindu wedding. The bride’s parents Capildeo and Rawti Sirju are also into business. The groom’s aunts and uncles who live in the UK and New York spent two weeks at the Mangaroos’ home preparing for the wedding rituals.

The women of the village also got involved in the various ceremonies, as well as the groom’s sister and pundit who performed a ritual for the groom’s protection from any evil or misfortune during the course of the wedding. On Saturday night the groom’s mother Nadra Mangaroo united with her sisters and sisters-in-law to patch lawa (dried rice). This patched rice was used for Sunday’s ceremony to ensure the couple can always afford food in their future life together. Entertainment for the night was provided by the Shri Devi Dancers and Sinvanand Maharaj of Penal. Cindy first appeared in a yellow sari to signify purity. After a small ritual she returned to her room and changed into a red sari for the actual marriage ceremony. After completing this, she returned to her room and changed into a final white outfit to make the journey to her new home with her husband.