A holy man performs the ceremony, chanting in Sanskrit and Sinhala. In a major deviation tradition, Shani’s family friend Avanti translates at key moments so the Western guests know what’s happening & the significance.

The ceremony lasts about 45 minutes. It’s followed by cocktail hour on the lawn, where a group of women dancers perform two dances. Then there’s a sit-down dinner in the hotel’s Grand Ballroom. Shani’s dad and Michael give speeches, a string quartet plays, and Avanti sings some jazz standards. Dessert is served out on the verandah, while a group of male fire dancers perform. Apologies for not having pictures of the special dancers & the ballroom. It was all very visually stimulating, but my sari didn’t have a pocket for a camera.

All this is followed by lots of dancing out on the lawn (where the New Year’s Eve party was 2 nights before). The DJ plays 70s/80s hits like “Dancing Queen,” “Copacabana,” and “I’m So Excited.” The reception ends around midnight. Some people continue on to a nightclub, but I’m too exhausted after wearing a sari and heels all day.


Me in the sari.


Shani's mom.