The Great Indian Wedding - Is it Really Great???????????????????

Wedding – the name itself is enormous enough to fill anyone with so much energy, enthusiasm and hope – of celebration, food, dance, music etc. that, thinking about it gives you a natural kick from inside to be ready to enjoy, to do something “toofani”. The mere imagination of everything- 3 days or 5 days celebration, delicious and lip–smacking flavor of all food items, thrilling music having the power to change the gloominess spread on anyone’s face forcing him/her to tap his/her feet parallel to the wordings, the eyeball-grabbing decorations, beautiful flowers, new dresses – can tickle your childish part of brain and sends chills down your spine. And, when it comes to Indian wedding, everyone just get struck in an awe surprise. Indians totally and literally go crazy during the 3 or 5 days bash and, they celebrate & enjoy up to their last tinge of energy. They are just fully unstoppable.

But, this is just the brighter side of wedding celebration that gets success in catching the eyeballs of the people living in the society. No one cares or think about what it takes to organize such a grand celebration or, how much work the bride’s family has to do to make it to the wedding. There is no doubt that Indian Wedding is beautiful and soulful but, some of the rituals and customs followed during this huge celebration aren't good and necessary.

The custom of “Dowry” driven with the sole force of greediness and financial superabundance is neither a necessity nor important. The groom’s family and relatives open their mouth too wide shamelessly in front of bride’s family and ask for a lump-sum amount. This tradition-cum-greedy intention, which needs to be criticized and stopped, is flourishing at a large scale and increasing rate, in spite of the fact that it’s a crime and may result in a large amount of fine and prison-sentence according to Indian Penal Code. The bride’s family whether or not capable of meeting the requirement as per the groom’s family, give their consent to fulfill it. And, the darker side of this tradition is that, the groom and his family who ask for such a huge amount of dowry, are well literate and prosperous. It has even become a saying that’s already making rounds and which states that, “the more literate you are or, the more high position you are at, the more eligible you are to get or ask for - huge and huge amount of money as dowry.”

Other customs that need to be criticized are – “Kashiyatra- followed in southern states”, “Carrying of Matka by the bride on her head”, “Treating the presence of mother during girl’s wedding as a curse in some Bengali wedding” etc. There are other customs too which in addition to the above are done for fun but, this fun sometimes becomes a burden for the follower and demands an end.

To be continued………….............................