saïdkhan

1. Marriage is a tradition in India, called “Kalianon” [in the Tamil language]. In this photo, you can see my uncle and aunt. Weddings include different traditions and religion is very important during this period. My great-uncle and great-aunt chose my aunt for my uncle. During the ceremony, they invoked the god Ganesh.

In America weddings last for a day, while in India they are celebrated for many days! I like this! My aunt is beautiful, weddings are colorful, filled with flowers and people.

2. Pūjā is a religious ritual that Hindus perform on a variety of prayer occasions. Pujas are reserved for special occasions such as housewarmings. Here is my father in front of a statue. He donates food and presents. Religion is more important than in America, it plays a more significant role. Only the father is allowed to perform Puja, whereas in America the whole family prays in church.


3. This is the most famous monument in India, the Taj Mahal.
In front of it are four of my cousins. The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra. I like this monument because it is so different from American ones. In the East, there is imposing and majestic architecture including palaces, but in America the architecture is square and modern. In front of the building, there are long rectangular pools with fountains. I never saw anything so beautiful. For me it is one of the seven wonders of the world.

4. This photo is beautiful because it shows my relatives who live back in Bangalore. And again, they are a small part of my family. Indian families are often large, more so than in America (where there are two or three children). This photo was taken on the last day of my travels. You can see three of my aunts and my cousins in front of the Old Fort in Delhi.