And for a Friday just returning from a wedding, some thoughts….. some musings…..
The Big Fat Indian Wedding Season, November to March, is on. We returned from Mumbai and next few weeks will travel across the country, Delhi, Chennai, Cochin, Trivandrum and Mumbai. This year there are more auspicious days. 18 days till December alone when across the country 48 lakh weddings will take place and an estimated business worth 6 lakh crores will be undertaken. It’s huge and at every price point, the level of expenses and celebrations have skyrocketed. Even the lower middle classes, drivers, maids, services providers earning less than Rs 3 lakhs per year will be budgeting between 6 to 10 lakhs. Save, borrow and borrow, but every parent wants to see their child’s wedding to be as opulent as can be afforded. For the HNIs, it’s a very different story. The minimum budget is 3-5 crores. Theme weddings, destination weddings, “In-Aircrafts” weddings, 7 star Hotel residential weddings to ofcourse the ultimate in extravaganza and razmatazz was the Ambani wedding which was at a stratospheric level. And honestly, quite a few Indians felt rather uncomfortable including me personally. Its alright to celebrate lavishly, but it could have been private and not for so much publicity into the social and cosmopolitan media.
Amongst all weddings, the Malayali Hindu wedding is the simplest, shortest and least rituals. The bridegroom is escorted to the Pandal, then the bride, the “Thali” mangalsutra tied, flower garlands exchanged, a tray with wedding saree etc. handed over to the bride and presto!!! all done. The married couple is ready for the blessings of the elders and to take on the world. But increasingly, upper class weddings in India are all the same. Spread over three to four days and nights, Sangeet, Mehendi, family get togethers and massive booze parties. It’s all huge fun and frolic. Lot of hybrid marriages between communities are even greater fun as you enjoy fusion marriage ceremonies and cultures. Mallu-Gujjus, Mallu-Panju, Mallu-Bongs and Mallu-Foreigners. The last category involves a huge itinerary for the visiting foreign guests, most of whom go back to their countries totally dazed, awe-struck and as Friends of India.
Notwithstanding the fun part, each marriage is solemn. Every invitee must ensure to bless the couple and pray for them to be together for life, have children and spread happiness. Let’s all hope this institution of marriages continues to survive, the family way, the caring way, the SEEGOS way.