Renewing wedding vows
Lakshmi Ramachandran and Commodore (retd.) G Ramachandran have been married for 46 years, and over the years, they have been celebrating Valentine’s Day in their quiet ways. This year, however, they did something different. They renewed their wedding vows on February 12, a couple of days before Valentine’s Day. “In the hurly burly of everyday life, we seldom get the time to reflect on things, the things that matter... this was a good way to reflect on life and ourselves,” says Lakshmi, founder principal of Choice School and mentor, Global Public School. The ‘ceremony’ held at Grand Hyatt, Bolgatty, was presided over by a priest who took them through their vows. “It was beautiful, even the venue...the view was beautiful!” says Lakshmi. Their marriage, she says, was a combination of love and arranged. Since both their children are abroad, it was only the two of them there.
Like newly weds
“Forty six years! They have been married for that long, it is really something,” says Sajna Livero, who also renewed her wedding vows the same day, with husband Derrick. Married for seven years, neither have they done something similar though they are serious about celebrating Valentine’s Day. “I was telling Derrick what a great thing it was to do this. It took us back in time, to when we were actual newly weds.” Derrick and Sajna have known each other for 14 years, and theirs was a love marriage. The couple has two very young children, “both of whom are complaining about not being taken for the ceremony. After we had the children, we seldom get time for ourselves like this... it was really good!” She wore red, a dress specially bought for the day. Every year, on February 14, Derrick gets her a gift, they cut a cake and celebrate with friends, this year also with be the same. The ceremonies, planned by the in-house wedding consultant, were organised by Grand Hyatt, by the poolside.
Love in the 60s
Possibly the first love marriage in the Gujarati community in Kochi, Saroj married TK Madhav, a Malayali from Thrissur, 50 years ago, at a time when marrying for love and outside one’s community was a rarity. The couple was unsure of the reactions of the two families. There were concerns voiced on both sides about the unfamiliar culture the couple would have to face. “I am a Jain and pure vegetarian and was marrying a Malayali Nair who was a non vegetarian. I must have sent shock waves in my community,” says Saroj, who tied the knot in 1967 in a simple temple wedding at Guruvayur. A thing that went in her favour was her ability to speak in Malayalam. “When my father-in-law heard me speak in Malayalam, he was so delighted and accepted me at once.” Saroj says that she and her husband share an understanding of real life situations.
Millenial mush
For millenials Meera Rajendran, a Malayali, and Sumant Chitale, a Maharashtrian, marrying for love was met with no opposition from either of the families. “Both sides were accepting. Even if there were concerns about getting a family member from a different culture into their fold, it was not shown or expressed. There was quick and easy acceptance,” says Meera, a biker, who met Sumant in their motorcycling club in Mumbai. The couple married two years ago. Meera says that the concerns in her generation about love marriage are more practical than romantic.
“A balanced sort of thinking has come about whether the couple suit each other practically as opposed to old thinking of going against tradition.”
Yet heart-breaking love stories continue among millenials. Sonu and Dhanalakshmi, a Malayali Christian and a Tamil Hindu girl eloped and married against the wishes of their parents. The two have no home to go to and live at friends’ homes, often changing places and working at different jobs to earn more and settle down soon. The ire of the two families has prevented the newly weds to enjoy their love for each other.
Popular Hangouts
Sitting by the water with one’s beloved, in the shade of an umbrella, oblivious to the world around, is perhaps one of the most romantic scenes that we might encounter in Indian cities. Mumbai has Marine Drive, Chennai has Marina Beach, Kochi has its Marine Drive, too, where lovers throng. Even as people mill around, hawkers pitch their wares and walkers weave around them, the couples are ensconced in their love bubbles, whispering sweet somethings.
Kochi has its popular lovers’ haunts too. From the old walkers’ stretch starting at the Embarkation jetty at Willingdon Island to the more recent ones such as Dr Abdul Kalam Marg, towards the northern end of Marine Drive, to the walkway between Edakochi and Gammon Bridge and the new walkway at the end of Panampilly Nagar, options are plenty for young lovers to hangout.
If at one point, Convent Junction used to be the centre of activity on Valentine’s Day, today with the mushrooming of malls and food joints, millennials are moving to these newer spots. It is not just the precious time spent with each other, it is also the shopping, the food and the wi-fi connectivity that matter.
However, for those who still prefer the old-world way, the beaches remain—Munambam, Kuzhipilly, Fort Kochi and Cherai.
Food Chemistry
Chef Shivji Sasidharan’s interpretation of love is about red and pink artisanal foods. He has on offer at Malabar House a seven-course candlelight dinner that begins with a culinary kiss of watermelon and caviar and ends on a happy note with mille feuile of strawberry, passion fruit and red velvet crumble.
Executive Chef Thomas George, of Taj Malabar , chooses recipes with aphrodisiac ingredients like berries, nuts, asparagus and oysters to stir up love hormones. The hotel has customised private backwater dinner settings with a menu that ups the love quotient.
‘Love all’ is chef Ravinder Panwar’s concept of Valentine’s Day menu. For lovers there are heart shaped chocolates and desserts with strawberries. A chaat counter, and classic meats are for families at Kochi Marriott .
