A Day I Remember

by Prodeepta Das

This is a day that Chintu will always he’s going to be “Markundi,” the boy who keeps the bridegroom (his uncle) company through the wedding preparations. Readers can join in the celebrations, dancing, fireworks, and music through the colorful photographs in this captivating read.

Genres: India

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 12, 2014

About the author

Prodeepta Das is a professional photographer.

Reviews

[Barbara]

A wedding is not a special day only for the bride and groom. Swayam is thrilled to have been chosen as the markundi, a young special companion who accompanies the groom through the wedding ceremony. The text and photographs depict Swayam's excitement as well as the stages of preparation for the ceremony. Some of the practices are typically associated with Hindu weddings, according to the author, while others are associated only with the wedding's location in Odisha, India. Young readers will enjoy reading about the music, food, and special clothing associated with the wedding. Even the use of henna or mehndi on the girls' hands and red vegetable dye on their feet is an important part of getting the family ready for the wedding. There are close-up photos of the bride, the groom, and Swayam. No one looks tired despite how long all these festivities last. This would be a good book to share with students, enabling them to compare and contrast how couples are married in their own country and in Swayam's.

[Kimberly]

A great book for comparing and contrasting cultures. This one centers around weddings, but presents many other opportunities for talking about families and celebrations in general. Indian weddings tend to be lush, lavish, joyous affairs and this book captures the bright colors, dancing, and important role of the family. I really enjoyed getting this peek into the ways another culture celebrates marriage.

[Edward Sullivan]

Young Chintu describes his role in his uncle's wedding as "Markundi," the boy who keeps the bridegroom company through the wedding preparations.