Wedding Revolution

By Author: Dev M
Total Articles: 4
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India is a nation of diversity and the democracy of India is made up of various states and union territories and more than a 100 crore population who are from various castes and creeds. Put the word “Indian wedding” into Google’s image search, however, and all you’ll see are snaps of ladies wearing henna, chudiya, a golden red lacha. You can blame it on film industry or on the fact that Northies really know how to party, but today, the big, fat Indian wedding is actually the big, fat Punjabi wedding. And the most important part of a wedding is a wedding Mandap.
We find a number of mandaps manufacturer in India, these people are the one who has noticed the revolution. Originally, the rites of marriage parties in south India were way different from the festivities that are standard practice in Northern India and Movies south India was not so famous for its mandaps they performed all the functions mainly in temples. In Hindu marriage, there is no dance, drama or liquor and wedding stage. Traditional silk shalu, rather than gems studded lehengas, ...
... are the customs and even some mandap suppliers tell it was just small platform instead of Wedding stage. For males, it’s the dhoti- kurta; not Armani or sherwanis. Christian marriages are less sedate, since dance and liquor are very common at the party that is effectively a big gathering held after the church marriage where they use Mandaps and wedding stage. But, in the past, the songs you’d hear at a Christian wedding party wouldn’t include something like Dabbang 2.
Infact, Dabbang 2 featured quite prominently in Kerala Protestant Pheba Thomas’s marriage. She buyed mandap for sale from a mandap supplierAlthough she is Malayalam, Thomas was brought up in US and Hindi movies had an important role in her life. For her marriage, Thomas added all the North Indian rites, including sangeet nite and mehendi. Even the cuisine was Punjabi, with varieties like dahi bhalle and ras malai in the menu. Thomas also sought permission from the priest granting her marriage to have henna on her hands. The only thing Pheba couldn’t manage was convincing the males in her Malayalam family wear pink turbans.
“At first, the family members were a bit hesitant about having a dance function before the wedding,” said Thomas. “However once the Program begun all enjoyed every bit of it.” It proved to be a great ice-breaker and allowed Thomas’s fiancé, who didn’t know her relatives very well, to meet his newly-acquired family in a relaxed setting. “We know a person better when we sing and dance together,” said Thomas.
Many times, it’s not about succumbing to movie charms but wish to include roots of the tradition you’ve grown up with into that special occasion. Kim Dias, for instance, is a Christian from Kanpur. She got married in church but before that, she had the turmeric function and wore henna. Instead of throwing a bouquet, she threw rice, following the Punjabi Hindu tradition.
“It’s all about mixing and associating with the crowd around you,” said Kannan Sharma, who runs a recruitment firm in Noida. For her Nephew’s marriage, Sharma, a Marwari Brahmin, arranged for a sangeet function with henna and a drinks party. “The elders in our family are progressive Marwari Brahmins and we had all the rituals in place.” The additions included Naak pakadna.
Detailing the different cultural mix ceremonies that are the latest trend, a socialite Ananya Sharma said, “Individuals no longer live in their hometowns, they work in corporate where they share their space with people from multiple cultures. So they adapt what they like.” Sharma was surprised when her Tamilian friend invited her for a sangeet.
With appreciation of the fun aspect of these weddings, Sharma also voices concern. “Imitating food and functions is just superficial. People have these functions because it’s fun, but there’s also consumerism involved,” said Sharma, saying that these opulent functions borrowed from Punjabis often make a statement about personal wealth and social status. Kohli’s experience of planning weddings professionally matches Sharma’s observations. “A lot of money is involved and parents are pressurised into spending a bomb to arrange whatever their children desire. A Neeta Lula lacha or a Sabyasachi saree is not something everyone can afford,” said Kohli.