Tibetan Wedding, Westminster, CA, 2001

The purpose of the visit by the bridegroom's emissaries is to bring a "dadhar," an auspicious arrow, provided by his family, now being put down Pema's back, claiming her a member of Tenzing's family. His uncle brought the "dadhar," actually a sheaf of five arrows bound together, their ends painted in sacred colors: blue, green, red, white and yellow, which Pema will wear during the nuptial rite.

Katrina Thomas's notes: In 1950, when China invaded Tibet, thousands fled with the Dalai Lama to India. Until 1991, few emigrated to the U.S., and there are still few here so that many years pass until I find a Tibetan wedding. Finally, in 2001, it is the last culture I photograph. In her home, the bride, wearing traditional attire and a patu, a colorful headdress with cone-like rolls of hair standing alongside, executes the rituals to welcome the bridegroom's family, bringing a sheaf of arrows, dadhar, to claim her as a wife. In a rented hall, their guests witness the couple married in a civil ceremony, and then celebrate a wedding, enlivened by songs and dances. In lieu of garlands, every guest honors the newlyweds by wrapping white scarves, khadaks, around their necks.