The Wedding  Divide

                February is usually the season of weddings. One can see the preparation in full swing- Pre booked banquet houses prepping for upcoming ceremonies, catering services inviting customers for recipe trials , bands and shehnai walas rehearsing for their forthcoming performances, family pandits packing their bags for pooja ceremonies, beauty saloons crowded with men and women of different age groups with the purpose of looking their best on their or others’ ‘big day’. We also had few wedding invitations of family and friends lined up for this season. There were two weddings on consecutive days one in South Delhi, and other one in a village located at outskirts of Faridabad

.

                         For wedding in South Delhi, the venue was a five star hotel located in a plush area. Market place brimming with luxury cars, roads lit with aesthetically twined light cords, the aroma of cologne spread all over.  Inside it was a huge airconditioned hall decorated with dandalions, roses and pearl strings all over. Women in beautiful silk and chiffon sarees, dolled up with makeup, diamonds dripping from them, men dressed in their black berries and Van Hessen flaunting their latest models of I phones.

               I sat in the second row to watch the ongoing ceremonies. Mother of the groom was busy in pooja, some gifts were given from bride’s side. My balloon of enthusiasm was pricked when I saw the photographer taking photo of the cash and gold as soon as it landed in the lap of groom’s mother. Although the giving and taking dowry is a dead debate, people have already turned cold shoulder towards it and normalized the system. It’s a pride to get a good deal and boys family was elated with their latest acquired bargaining chip.  As majority of guests get engrossed in chatting. I sat next to two elderly ladies dressed in beautiful silk sarees, from their conversation I got to know that the girl is very beautiful and well qualified professional as compared to boy. The boys family spent 3 to 4 lakhs more to blow the dust of propaganda in order to bag the money for car and furniture from girls parents. After greeting and congratulating the couple. I met bride’s parents the expression of relief rather than joy was more pronounced on their faces.

                          There was another wedding to attend next day. We reached the venue little early. It was a decent tent house with chandeliers hanging, coolers installed all over. At the back of the tent, halwais were busy making pakodas and other snacks for guests, women dressed in beautiful sarees with modest jewelry, children playing all around. As I knew that the financial status of this family was not that they can afford this much also. I greeted the couple and sat on one of the chairs near stage area. After sometime bride’s sister came to invite us for dinner, on the way to dining hall, I asked her who has done all the arrangements?  Village people are simple, they often reveal more than what is asked contrary to stone faced city people. She cheerfully said , didi we halved the expenses so that we can arrange a good party for guests of both the sides. After dinner we headed for dance on the dj floor and merrily danced with the parents and relatives of both the sides.

                  While coming back I inadvertently found myself comparing the two wedding functions. I kept wondering whether our actions are the outcome of circumstances or can we come forward voluntarily shedding our prejudices.