Wedding ring from Old Delhi

Wedding ring from Old Delhi
Wedding ring from Old Delhi
Anonim
delhi hands
delhi hands

Every shopping trip is an adventure, but if you're thinking of being present when choosing your wedding ring and doing it all in India, you should be preparedin addition to raised questioning eyebrows, also some adversity.

It's Saturday morning, 10:30, when we get up to choose and buy the most beautiful gemstone that matches the contents of our wallet. While in the Indian capital, where else would we go but to the Jain jewelers in Old Delhi.

The Jains settled in Delhi during the time of the Mughal rulers and had a solid career in the gem business and financial transactions. As a result, even though they themselves advocate complete non-violence, they were the favorite targets of popular movements during all the conquests, upheavals, and music riots affecting Delhi. Miraculously, some families survive, even though today you can only find traces of not only the Mughal rulers, but also the once flourishing Persian-Urdu culture of Shahjahanabad.

The Motorized Middle Ages

Since in terms of transportation (thanks to the narrower intersections than the Roman alleys), the last significant innovation introduced in the old town was the bicycle rickshaw, we decide to take the subway. The main street reaches Chandi Chowk, the first shock: the air-conditioned XXI. century, with the help of a few stairs, we fall somewhere in the motorized Middle Ages.

Noise, stench and crowd everywhere, motorbikes, rickshaws, bicycles on the back of cars, the spaces are hermetically filled with pedestrians. What can be done, the man's daughter adjusts her dupatta, makes a face of a determined explorer, and throws herself into the crowd under the broad shoulders of her future partner. At least I managed to find the outfit: the traditional salwar kameez shirt and the accompanying scarf cares and covers, and – thanks to my lack of routine – I have to pull it into place every five minutes at most.

We enter, to be more precise, we fight our way into Ezüst Street. I'm drooling, I really want a bracelet or two, but that's not exactly what we're here for. Instead, we turn to the Kinari Bazaar, where - in terms of style - only wedding accessories are sold.

You can get everything here from the groom's turban to the fiery red lenga (the latter is the modern traditional dress of brides), garlands of flowers and 10-rupee notes, rice, saffron, sweets, and if you wish, you can also rent a white horse or an elephant with an accompanying band. The latter seriously tempts me, but then I decide: I don't want to wait for my groom on horseback for an hour or two, in the traditional Indian way, to the sound of deafening drums. I prefer to follow him, because he is climbing over a bicycle rickshaw to keep going.

After the third such action, when I was about to give up on everything, we suddenly reached another world. The Jain courtyard – with the Naya Mandir at the end – is quiet, green and – oh heavens! - clear. It is obligatory to first see the XIX. The New Church, built at the beginning of the 20th century, is deservedly famous for its gilded decorations.

Baba Ali's Cave

In the meantime, of course, I can barely contain myself, wondering: which of the wonderful painted doorways could be baby Ali's cave. (By the way, it would also be good to know how effective my "Sesame, tell me!" is with regard to my partner's Mastercard…)

The cave is relatively easy to find: the only door on the ground floor that is open. Soon, if not my feet, but in any case, the fabulous treasures of the East will lie in front of my nose. The blue and pink of Sri Lankan sapphires sparkle, the fire of Burmese rubies flashes, I look for myself in the green mirror of emeralds.

Of course, the discussion will last for hours, as all stones - in addition to their beauty - have meaning, power and influence. Unfortunately, somehow all of this was left out of Hungarian education, even though it would be better now than knowing where coal is mined.

In addition, the purity, the carat number (size) and the quality of the polishing also have a serious influence on the product - this does not make the situation any easier. This time, my partner starts to consider the advantages of being a bachelor, but in the end we manage to reach a compromise on all aspects. We leave with the "Precious" wrapped in paper and satisfied with ourselves, the return journey doesn't even seem (so) long. Anyway, the reward of every trip to Old Delhi awaits us: chilled lemonade on the terrace of the colonial-era Maidens Hotel.

That "Dearness" should even have a ring made… well, yes. But this is another outing…

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