Lately, I've been atttending a number of weddings. With this 'big fat Indian wedding season' on, the town is painted red and festivity is in the air...
I've always relished the splendour of Indian weddings. We have always enjoyed marriage as a festival, not like some formal function. Unlike the quiet, solemn weddings of the west, our weddings are full of chaos, noise, pomp and show. Whilst the ceremonies in west are a matter of few hours, our festivities are weeks long with the maximum rituals and customs.
And how can we forget the 'baarat'?? The happiest people on earth, dancing to let the crowded streets and the impatient traffic know of their immense pleasure. The band leads the gang, with the most unimaginable bollywood songs on the trumpet....
At the venue, it is interesting to look at the sparkling girly dresses and the beautiful decoration.
It is amusing to see toddlers and a little older ones, enjoying the music thoroughly and running to and fro, with their angry moms desparately persauding them to stay in place.
Then there's exchanging greetings and wishes with the bride's or the groom's parents, who after a lot of protest,accept your gifts ...
The most essential feature of the weddings are the diverse and delicious delicacies... interesting salads, chaats, noodles, paneer and ice-creams, and lots more. Being a big foody, I am honestly more concerned with the food than anything else. It's something in the air at wedding eves which makes even a simple dish taste so different...
The bride and the groom, supposed to be the most important and happy people of the eve, are planted on the stage and are trapped in the series of 'clicks' and 'pics' , having to pose for a photograph every time guests come up to them...
Many people though, criticize the grand expenditure in the weddings as they feel a large amount of the food goes waste, fresh flowers and leaves used in decorations are perishable and hence not worth the price, and money spent here could be used for the needy. But with time, we need to change our perception..
Wedding ceremonies employ a large number of people. The event managers, the decoration agency, the photographers,the printers, the drivers,the beauticians, the caterers, the dancers and the cleaners,etc. are paid handsomely.
In place of charity, this seems to be a better way of spending money since it provides employment and ensures circulation of money....
I've always relished the splendour of Indian weddings. We have always enjoyed marriage as a festival, not like some formal function. Unlike the quiet, solemn weddings of the west, our weddings are full of chaos, noise, pomp and show. Whilst the ceremonies in west are a matter of few hours, our festivities are weeks long with the maximum rituals and customs.
And how can we forget the 'baarat'?? The happiest people on earth, dancing to let the crowded streets and the impatient traffic know of their immense pleasure. The band leads the gang, with the most unimaginable bollywood songs on the trumpet....
At the venue, it is interesting to look at the sparkling girly dresses and the beautiful decoration.
It is amusing to see toddlers and a little older ones, enjoying the music thoroughly and running to and fro, with their angry moms desparately persauding them to stay in place.
Then there's exchanging greetings and wishes with the bride's or the groom's parents, who after a lot of protest,accept your gifts ...
The most essential feature of the weddings are the diverse and delicious delicacies... interesting salads, chaats, noodles, paneer and ice-creams, and lots more. Being a big foody, I am honestly more concerned with the food than anything else. It's something in the air at wedding eves which makes even a simple dish taste so different...
The bride and the groom, supposed to be the most important and happy people of the eve, are planted on the stage and are trapped in the series of 'clicks' and 'pics' , having to pose for a photograph every time guests come up to them...
Many people though, criticize the grand expenditure in the weddings as they feel a large amount of the food goes waste, fresh flowers and leaves used in decorations are perishable and hence not worth the price, and money spent here could be used for the needy. But with time, we need to change our perception..
Wedding ceremonies employ a large number of people. The event managers, the decoration agency, the photographers,the printers, the drivers,the beauticians, the caterers, the dancers and the cleaners,etc. are paid handsomely.
In place of charity, this seems to be a better way of spending money since it provides employment and ensures circulation of money....
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