Indian
Weddings are celebrated in days of celebration and fanfare. It is a time
of rejoicing of coming together of two families, joined together in the
marriage of their respective son and daughter.
It is a celebration dictated by tradition
and religion. India has a very diverse society and this is reflected
in the great diversity of the wedding rituals. Indian weddings are
dictated by economic, social, religious and regional differences. It is
an elaborate and lengthy ritual and involve much planning and
participation of families, friends and religious and social leaders in
the community.
It is a showcase of wedding fashion and accessories.
The brides wear the most expensive bridal dresses and jewelries the
family can afford.
Indian
girls dream of
a grand and glitzy wedding with colourful silk sarees and
gold jewelry and diamond tiaras. Lots of henna, singing, dancing,
costumes, posh reception, music, flowers, garlands and the groom riding
on a white horse back to meet his bride. A dream nurtured by
endless and countless bollywood movies.
Indian marriages emphasizes the
importance of women in society and she is showered with gifts and
attention.
Marriage is considered the most
important decision a girl will make, the family considers it their
duty and prerogative to take an active role in choosing the
groom. The girl is considered immature and too young to make
such an important decision. And in majority of cases she is still in
her teens. The parents work with marriage brokers to look for the
suitable groom.
Today, Indian Weddings are still very
much a family affair. Not only the immediate family but also includes
the extended family, cousins, aunts uncles, etc.
However more and more of the modern
generation are breaking tradition and opt to choose their mates and
arrange their own marriages.
