The Marriage Ceremony

August 22, 2002

The Blessing

The next morning we were picked up for the "official" ceremonies. At first we went to the local Catholic church for the couple to receive the churches blessing. Since the church ceremony had to wait because of legalities and will probably take place at a later date in Germany, then this blessing by the priest was like a substitute for it.

The Civil Ceremony

We then piled into various cars, taxi's, and riksha's and drove to the offices (Standesamt) for the civil ceremony. We had to wait outside with other couples before it was our turn. In the mean time there was some bargaining to do with an official. With every question asked you have to pay something in order to get an answer!

Finally we were lead into the building. The room was small, very dark because of only small, barred windows, and everywhere there were files piled high! Another couple was still at the registrar's desk having their marriage registered and their friends and relatives were also in the room, together with all of us. Then it was our turn. Carsten and Karen sat in front of the registrar's desk, a very nice lady. We gathered around them. Everything took place in English so we had no problem understanding anything. The papers were signed by Carsten and Karen then by witnesses. I acted as a witness for Carsten. I was the only member of our family to attending, so Prithi's husband Xavier acted as Carsten's second witness.

signing the papers and saying the vows

Karen's mom, Carsten, Karen, me, Prithi

Carsten gets a blessing from his mother-in-law

On the way back to the hotel we saw an elephant walking the streets. Karen said she knew this elephant from her school days. Of course also got to see cows walking in the streets as well as many dogs. Furthermore, you see people sleeping on the sidewalks, under bridges, just everywhere, and we were constantly being pestered by beggars.