The Extravagance of Indian Weddings

Indian marriages, both among the rich and the poor, have had their full share of condemnation as a wasteful and extravagant display. Even apart from the waste, it is most painful to see the vulgar display which has no artistic and aesthetic value of any kind. For all these, really guilty people are the middle class. In their effort to protect themselves as equals of Haves and a part and parcel of the elite, they drain out their limited reserves and sometimes even go overhead and cars in debt. After having appeased their ego for a few days by winning the applause for their elaborate decorations and lavish cocktails thrown by them followed by a rich variety of dishes in dinners, they have to lead a prolonged life of frugality and simplicity. Even the poor on these occasions become extravagant, even at the cost of burdensome debts. Their poverty is attributed to social customs, but it is often forgotten that the life of the poor is terribly dull and monotonous, and an occasional marriage ceremony brings with it some feasting and joviality; it comes to them as an oasis in the desert of soulless toil, refuses from domesticity and prosaic business of life. Who would be cruel enough to deny this consolation to those who have so few occasions for laughter? Waste and extravagance apart, these marriages are big social re-unions where distant relations and old friends meet after long intervals. India is a big country and it is not easy for many friends to meet one another whenever desired. The only rituals to these social reunions are political gatherings, conferences, etc.