The activities then include a Tibetan blessing of the house, the food and the families. The wedding represents the 'transfer' of the bride from her family to her husband's family. It is a highly emotional moment for everyone, and distressing for the bride. She presents gifts to each member of her family as her parting gesture. The service is followed by dinner and dancing.
Sherpa dancing is performed in a line.
Three or more men link arms and with one person singing and chanting, a complicated series of steps follow. Sherpa wedding clothes and jewellery are outstanding. Men wear long black cloaks, high leather boots and rumpled fedoras. The groom, resplendent in yellow brocade, crowned with a red boater style hat, looked like an Oriental potentate. The women were dressed in colourful brocade decorated with lavish necklaces of zei stones and gold and silver boxes encrusted with turquoise, coral and pearls.