Hysen's Roce

Our family friend's son and my childhood friend, Hysen, gets married this Saturday. One of the traditional pre-wedding ceremonies for Roman Catholics "ansectorally" (hey, I am entitled to word invention) from Mangalore is Roce. Here, the bridegroom and the bride (at their respective homes), with their bridesmaids/best men, are washed down with coconut milk and coconut oil. During the event, there is a lot of traditional singing called voyos....both sentimental and flirtatious.

Hysen and Me

Hysen getting doused with coconut milk

Hysen yells--this stuff is too cold! Well, tough luck, buddy.

Fine. I give in. Just pour it down my shirt.


You are not seeing things. Young people attending the ceremony had to have their share of fun too. Those are eggs broken on Hysen's head. And he also got some beer, rotten tomatoes, and rotten oranges.

Some cool guests turned up in traditional Mangalorean garb!

Practicing a group dance event for the Saturday wedding reception