Designer Weddings
The changing face of the urban Indian wedding
Recently, newspapers flashed pictures of a couple suspended mid-air (by wires 27 ft above the ground) in a shopping mall exchanging rings and wedding vows! An aerial wedding with a difference seems to be the latest in line of unconventional marriages.
Simple, quiet and dignified weddings are passé. The traditional dhol, naadswaram and shehnai have been replaced by recorded film music or even remixes churned out by the ubiquitous DJ. Thanks to the upsurge of Bollywood films depicting new look Indian marriages, weddings today, have become a showcase of everything contemporary.
Extravagant affair
Traditionally too, weddings in India have been an extravagant affair, spending being the barometer of one's status. Along with politics and cricket, marriage is a big business in our country. Even the poorest father will mortgage all his assets to give his daughter a marriage of style and pizzazz. But extravagance has been taken to higher levels now and how. Designer outfits, theme weddings, presence of 'paid' film stars, pretty young things looking straight out of Bollywood and plastic 'five star' venues is the stuff today's weddings are made of. The face of the urban Indian wedding is definitely changing.
Laptop, calligrapher and detective - wedding paraphernalia!
This is apparent right from the initial stages when the horoscopes are made and matched. Earlier, where this important task was assigned to the trusted family pundit, now a modern avatar that goes by the title 'astrological consultant' does it on his laptop! Till yesterday, where uncles and aunts or the ever-obliging neighbours used to provide information on the prospective groom or bride, it is now the detective who plays the role. On many occasions, a private investigator is often hired for this purpose!
Horoscopes done, the invitations have to be written out. In the good old days, writing out cards to relations and friends was a big affair. Relatives were invited and amidst good food, wedding songs, fun and frolic invites were hand-written. Picture this. Today, a professional calligrapher is hired to write addresses!
Everything has to be way over the top. Right from the invitation cards, which come fancifully in silk, leather or even silver and cost something like Rs. 1500 per piece (what with semi-precious stones studded all over) to the bandmaster who could be an out-of-work Bollywood composer or a professional DJ.
Designer wedding
Ladies sangeet held in the warmth of the bride's house is definitely a thing of the past. Today, the sangeet session is as grand and flashy as the wedding itself. Women and young girls turn up in designer-wear and choreographers are hired to train daughters of the family to gyrate at film songs, which leave you red in the face. A simple solemn affair has been substituted by a well-designed package called 'designer wedding'.
