Ooi and Mei Leng visited my studio a year ago, when their older child was just 2 and Mei Leng was still pregnant with Jing Yu. I love to have this privilege of journeying alongside all the families I photograph, especially to see them grow. It was wonderful that I got to celebrate Jing Yu’s 1 year old birthday with a fun cake smash session in the studio. His brother was all too happy to participate in the session together!
Just like every other parent I know, there are some moments in life that are just etched in your mind forever. Like that first cry your child made at the hospital which made you cry too. That moment she took her first few steps, or when she babbled those semi-incoherent words that you swore meant something. Lately, I’ve been feeling a little emotional too, as my 5+ year old is now about to leave preschool and head on to her first year in primary.
First day at preschool
It felt like just a few blinks ago when she stepped into preschool, all scared and tiny. Being a December baby, she was just 2 years and 1 month when she joined the 3 year old class in January. She blossomed from a timid girl to a confident and intelligent child. In fact, going into year 1, she is not fearful at all, but really more excited than the nervous wreck I am!
Packing up on her last day at preschool, just after her Merdeka party
I just want to cuddle her close to me, never wanting this baby to grow up. But she has, and she will continue to do so…growing more and more independent as a person. It’s hard to verbalise this feeling, so bittersweet. So proud of her, and yet this tinge of sadness that her baby years are ending faster than I am willing to acknowledge. Soon, I’ll have a teenager with acne and boyfriend problems and then the day will come when her dad will have to walk her down the aisle to the man she loves.
But for now, I’ll just cherish these memories and be brought back through time with captured moments.
Gearing up for Year 1 on orientation day
Hindu weddings are some of the most vibrant, colourful and interesting weddings around. There are a host of events, each filled with sacred tradition and meaning where not just two souls are joined together, but it is also the union of two families. For the uninitiated, it is easy to get lost in the rituals but since our team has experienced quite a few Hindu weddings, we’re here to help you find your way around if you’re ever invited to one!
There are a few important stages, which are the key elements of the Hindu wedding ceremony. The whole thing usually takes place under a canopy called a mandap. It is always beautifully decorated.
To have a smooth wedding ceremony, Ganesh Poojan is performed a few days before the wedding or even the night before. This is when the priest offers a prayer to Lord Ganesha (the elephant headed god) to remove any obstacles so the ceremony can proceed without hindrances.
The groom is welcomed as he makes his entrance during the Jayamaala or Vara Yatra ceremony, amidst much singing and dancing. In fact, music is a key component throughout the Hindu wedding! The bride’s parents, family and friends greet the groom and his party while blessing the groom with rice, applying tilak on his forehead and placing a garland over his head. He is then led to the mandap to await his bride-to-be.
The bride is then offered in marriage to the groom in a solemn ritual called Kanyadan, which means “gift of a maiden”. It is often accompanied by the giving of a dowry. In this ritual, the father places his daughter’s hands into the groom’s, signifying that she is separated from her family and incorporated into the family of her husband’s. Speaking of hands, the bride’s hands are usually decorated with intricate henna designs.
The groom takes his bride’s hands in his to signify his acceptance of the bride as his lawfully wedded wife and ties the first knot of the mangalsutra around the bride’s neck. His sister ties the other two knots symbolizing acceptance into the family. The mangalsutra is a holy thread with gold pendant, a symbol of marriage and the sacred bond between a husband and his wife. This is considered one of the most important rituals of a Hindu wedding.
The Saptapadi is the main and legal part of the ceremony. A marriage knot is symbolized by tying the end of the groom’s scarf to the bride’s dress. The couple then takes seven steps around the fire, representing the seven vows exchanged between them – for nourishment, strength, prosperity, health, happiness, progeny and harmony – sealing their marriage forever. No ceremony is complete without this.
The wedding ceremony ends with a benediction by the elders and priests in the Ashirvada. The couple is blessed for a prosperous married life ahead of them.
When the rituals are over, then comes the food and more dancing and singing! Everyone really gets into the groove, whether young or old. That’s one of the reasons why it’s simply so fun! Of course, there are a few variations to the customs and some additional ceremonies. Each one is timeless. Each one presents a wonderful photo opportunity and we love being a part of it!
If you’d like to see the ceremony in action, have a look at Jason and Seetha’s wedding ceremony here:
Contact us if you would love to have our team photograph your Hindu wedding ceremony.
From Melbourne to KL to Colombo and back…
It was on the beautiful grounds of Monash University that their love story started… Praveena was an undergraduate who recently transferred from Malaysia to Melbourne, Australia. Her friends were watching a match at the Farrer Hall common room and invited her to join them. Despite her lack of interest, she happily came down for the nachos, cheesecake, and other snacks.
Nilshan, on the other hand, had been living in Melbourne for over a year by then, and was also studying his undergraduate degree at Monash. Two of his friends lived at Farrer Hall and invited him to watch the match there. Little did the two love birds know that this would be the first time they laid eyes on each other.
Praveena and Nilshan continued to bump into each other through mutual friends, whether it was a restaurant outing, group trip, night out or Sunday mass. Two years later, Nilshan asked Praveena out on their first date. Their romance unfolded over dinner and a mutual love of spicy food… until the rest was history.
Want to hear more about their story? Watch their highlight video below or check out their pre-wedding photos.
There are a few occasions where I photograph women in lingerie… usually when they get into their wedding gown, when they want to take boudoir or glamour photos for their husband, or during a maternity shoot. As a female photographer, women feel more comfortable baring skin in front of me. There is a sense of vulnerability and I am honoured that complete trust is given to me.
Lucia is from Vietnam and she met the man of her dreams, Ben during one of his trips overseas. With her gorgeous looks, she is one of the hottest mums I have seen! It is no wonder that Ben is grinning from ear to ear during our photo session. I am so excited for the both of you… this journey of parenthood has its ups and downs but it is certainly rewarding! Looking forward to seeing photos of the little one soon!
