In India, marriage is probably the biggest affair of one’s life. Ceremonies lasts for many days and there are hundreds and hundreds of guests. In northern part of India, marriage ceremonies are generally arranged in night. There are lot of lightings, flower decorations, loud musics, and so on.
I got married last month. We had a ceremony at bride’s house and another ceremony at my house. All together we invited more than one thousand guests. This number is more than the number of guests which I would have treated in my entire life before marriage. And even if I keep adding to this count, after marriage, I am unsure if I will reach the thousand mark.
Being a girl brings more financial burden (in most parts of India). The dowry system is still prevalent in most casts (sects) in most provinces (though forceful demand of dowry is illegal and it is a punishable crime).
There are families who have excessive money. Spending more money in marriage is a symbol of social status for them. They do not really mind spending a few lacs Rupees more, just to feel different. But then there is a big section of society who really can not afford these big arrangements. They save money entire life, and then spend it on their kid’s marriage in a day. And there are people, for whom their entire savings are not enough, and they take loans (which they pay over years) for the marriages. Since a grand party, is matter of social prestige, it is not very easy to get away with simple weddings in most part of the countries.
Finally some one seems to be putting some effort to control the fatty weddings. DSGPS is thinking of setting some guidelines for the Sikh (a sect in India) weddings. These guidelines are aimed at controlling the expenditure on weddings. I hope that other religions also come up with similar guidelines.
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